Plan now to Join us for
a relaxing sailboat ride with your friends, family, or business
associates aboard the Catboat "Eventide" as one of the many Fun
things to do on Cape Cod in 2008. We are open till, October
13.
I am a year-round native Cape Codder and
have been sailing in Hyannis Harbor since 1960. Since 1987, my crew
and I have been having a great time operating public sailboat excursions
in Hyannis Harbor for over 105,000 satisfied passengers from around
the world. Whether landlubber or old salts, many of our guests return
again and again.
Atmosphere aboard the boat is friendly, informal
and relaxing. We'll be glad to explain some of the unique local
history of areas we see along the trip, and I love to trade anecdotes
with our guests.
Help celebrate out 21st year by using discount
coupons for Catboat offered Rides by our
Partners. You or a friend can contact me to Apply
for work on the Catboat
I invite you to come sailing with us when
you are in the Cape Cod/ Boston/ Newport area. Bring your camera
for those once in a lifetime shots and plan on having fun!
We will close for the season October 14,
the day after Colombus Day. I look forward to meeting you aboard
the Eventide.
You can truly enjoy some peace and quiet— listening only to
the waves and the breeze that fills our sails, moving us along without
a noisy motor.
The Eventide is a Catboat class of sailboat, an authentic traditional
local design. She is 34 feet long, has a wide 10 foot beam and a
sloop rigged mast 38 feet tall, assuring a steady, smooth, and comfortable
ride. With our centerboard up, we can sail in only 30 inches of
water, allowing us to get much closer to coastal attractions than
other Hyannis excursion boats.
The boat is in excellent condition with beautiful hand varnished
teak and mahogany furnishings and secure nonskid painted decks.
Passengers are welcome to move about the boat from cabin-top to
cockpit or into the cabin.
All seating areas are comfortably padded and excellent back support
is available in most seats. Handicapped passengers are readily accommodated
in safety and comfort, however a wheelchair cannot be used on board.
The clean and practical toilet and washbasin in the “head”
may be used in complete comfort and privacy.
History
Catboats were so named because they behave like a cat: quick,
agile, well-balanced, and quiet. They were developed in the early
1800’s and used extensively around Cape Cod for all types
of coastal fishing and local transport. Working catboats saw their
peak use about a century ago. Catboats are now very popular for
cruising and racing.
The Eventide was built in Kingston, Massachusetts, in 1933—the
last and largest of several big cats built by George
W. Shiverick. George learned catboat building between 1890
to 1895 while working for the well known catboat builder C. C. Hanley
of Monument Beach. The Mystic Seaport Museum collection includes
the half model of Eventide and three Shiverick boats, including
a 25-foot sloop once owned by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and sailed
by the former President at Campobello, Maine.
Attractions
A typical sailing cruise includes departure from Hyannis Inner
Harbor, sailing through the Hyannis Yacht Club anchorage area past
more than 200 fine boats and yachts and then through scenic Lewis
Bay. The following routes and destinations of our scheduled public
excursions may be selected to suit the desires of a private charter.
12:15 & 2:15 pm Hyannis
Port Trips - We sail out Hyannis Channel, past Dunbar Point
among busy harbor traffic, past Great Island (the 600 acre estate
of the Chase family), past Kalmus Beach and over to peaceful Hyannis
Port Harbor to see the impressive waterfront homes of the Kennedy
family and other residents. We sail especially close to the Kennedy's'
beach, passing near the Kennedy's' beautiful sailing yachts anchored
off the Hyannis Port Yacht Club. Your favorite beverage and a
sandwich served from our galley
will compliment the ambiance of this popular cruise.
The Eventide can operate in water as shallow as 30" allowing
our sailboat to get closer to the Kennedy
compound and other attractions than the tour boats
4:00 Blue Water Sail - When
the wind is best, The Eventide heads offshore into Nantucket Sound
for a good rousing sail off Point Gammon before returning back
to dock. We get excellent views of three historic lighthouses;
Olde Hyannis Light, Point Gammon Light, and Channel Point Light.
A premium bottled beer from
our bar is refreshing in the warm afternoon sun.
7:00 Sunset / Cocktail
Cruise - The accent is upon serious relaxation. There is no
particular destination or route and the Captain takes best advantage
of the conditions to spend maximum time under sail power only.
We usually sail over to the Pine Cove Wildlife Sanctuary,
a beautiful unspoiled salt marsh up close. This area is inhabited
with several species of protected marine and shore birds, including:
osprey, black cormorant, blue heron, green heron, white egret,
loon, swan, canada goose, various ducks, terns, sandpipers and
gulls. Sometimes we see white tailed deer, red tail fox, and coyote
on the shore. Nature lovers and children will be delighted. Here
the only sounds are bird calls and wind in the rigging.
We find the tranquility of nature is best observed aboard our
quiet wooden sailboat silently powered by the wind.
This is a quiet time of day with little distraction from other
boat traffic. Enjoy your favorite beverage with a lobster roll,
shrimp cocktail, or prime roast beef sandwich from our galley.
8:30 Starlight Cruise
- (24 hour advance reservation required). We enjoy the fading
colors of the sunset and the gradual emergence of stars and planets
in the quiet night sky. Lights twinkle along the shoreline of
Lewis Bay. Careful sky watchers will usually be able to sight
a brilliant meteorite or a passing satellite. The Eventide leaves
a trail of phosphorescent plankton glowing in its wake. Lovers
can cuddle under a blanket with a bottle of champagne.
The
Eventide is thoroughly inspected annually by US Coast Guard Marine
Safety Officers and is certified
for up to 22 passengers.
It is equipped with all safety equipment required by the US Coast
Guard. The Eventide is equipped with an FCC inspected and licensed
VHF radio station, marine GPS locating system and weather radar.The
Captain may cancel or shorten a trip due to anticipated unsafe sailing
conditions like heavy fog, heavy rain, very strong winds, or approaching
thunderstorms. The Eventide is fully insured for property damage
and personal liability.
Your captain, Marcus Sherman,
began sailing in Hyannis harbor over forty years ago and is
licensed by the US Coast Guard. He is assisted by a qualified
first mate. Captain Sherman and his crew have completed Red Cross
CPR and First Aid training, are enrolled in a Coast Guard approved
random drug testing program,
and do not drink alcohol before or during any sailing excursions.
Our Captain's Coast Guard license is renewed regularly. He meets
all Coast Guard standards for capability of operation of Auxiliary
Sail Vessels of not more than 100 gross tons.
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