Sippican Harbor Making for Sippican Harbor Beverly Yacht Club History of Marion Harbormaster Where to Eat Things to See and Do New Bedford Marine Rescue (TowBOAT/U.S.) -- New Bedford Marine Rescue (TowBOAT/U.S.) -- Tow Service: (508) 990-3997 (BOAT/US and NBOA Tower); Channel 16 (156.8MHz), or 1-800-391-4869 It's hard to imagine a busier harbor than Sippican when there's a foot of ice blocking the entrance and the boats have been hauled ashore, shrink-wrapped and forgotten for the rest of the winter. But, when the crocuses bloom and the trees begin to fill in, the harbor bustles with activity and downtown Marion takes on a hint of its summer busy-ness. You know the summer sailing season is just around the corner when the students at Tabor Academy start their spring training on the water in March. The three-masted schooner Tabor Boy takes to its mooring, and students and instructors begin rowing back and forth on the cool and often choppy waters. Tabor sailors-in-training start their drills in 14-foot Club 420's, getting ready for races against local teams from Cape Cod, the South Coast, and teams from other private schools like Milton Academy, Portsmouth Abbey and St. George's. Yard workers begin readying power and sailboats for the summer launch schedule and the inevitable For Sale signs appear for those hulls that have retired, gone South or traded up for a new model. If you decide to scope out Sippican Harbor - from landside, dockside or seaside - you can find the Marion General Store, Isabel's and the Sitting Duck gift shops within a short walk, and the Sippican Café, Harriet's Restaurant and the Beverly Yacht Club, among other places, to get lunch. The yacht club is the stateside home of the biennial Marion-Bermuda race and sits ashore under a navy blue and white star-studded tent awaiting visitors. Within a short drive or long walk are sports shops, banks, a laundromat and places to reprovision. Making for Sippican Harbor To get to Sippican Harbor and the town of Marion, use NOAA charts 13236, 13229, or 13230. Like most of the other harbors on the west shore of Buzzards Bay, Sippican Harbor is open to the southeast. However, after you pass Ram Island, you are well protected. br> Enter Sippican from the southeast (from the northeast approach and the Cape Cod Canal, you cannot pass inside Bird Island without going aground no matter what your boat draws) between the flashing tower on Bird Island and green can no. 3 off Converse Point. From the south, round can no. 3 (it marks Mendells Rocks) and stay well off Seal Rocks, keeping the can to port. From the north and east, round Bird Island south of Butler Point on Sippican Neck, keeping the island to starboard. At the harbor entrance, head for red nun no. 6 directly east of Planting Island. For those sailing in at night, there are no range lights in Sippican Harbor. The harbor channel is narrow - local boaters recommend you steer from green to green, maintaining the cans close to port. You may find a place to anchor on the north side of Little Island, north of can no. 9 or on the north side of Ram Island. Another place to find a spot is the water south of Allens Point and along its western edge. Watch for submerged rocks south of the point. The marinas in Sippican Harbor - Barden's Boat Yard, Burr Brothers - and the Beverly Yacht Club provide launch service if you can find a guest mooring and, for short trips ashore, you can tie up to the town dock. Beverly Yacht Club The Beverly Yacht Club, one of the oldest yacht clubs in the United States, was founded in 1872. In alternating years, the BYC shares responsibility for hosting the Buzzards Bay Regatta with the New Bedford Yacht Club in Padanaram Harbor. For 2004, the BYC hosts one of the premier yachting events on the East Coast on Aug. 6, 7 and 8. In odd-numbered years, the BYC hosts the Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race. History of Marion The town of Marion was the home of Capt. Benjamin S. Briggs, master of the doomed Mary-Celeste, a ship whose crew disappeared off the Azores in 1872. The Sippican Historical Society maintains the Mary Celeste Museum, where memorabilia of the ship and her captain are on display. Settled in 1679, the town was named for the famous Revolutionary War Hero Francis "the Swamp Fox" Marion. On May 14, 1852, the town became officially known as Marion, though the harbor and some of the town's commercial establishments are still known by the earlier native American name, Sippican, meaning "land of many waters." Marion is in Plymouth County and is the home of Tabor Academy, home of the Seawolves. Harbormaster You can reach the harbormaster on VHF Channel 16 or by telephone at 508-748-0458. Emergency shoreside and marine services: Tow services: New Bedford Marine Rescue (TowBOAT U.S.): 508-990-3997, VHF Ch. 16 (156.8 MHz), or 1-800-391-4869; Cuttyhunk Marine, VHF Ch. 16, 12, or 22, or 508-991-0858. Police and ambulance service: Emergency: 911; non-emergency, 508-748-1212. Taxi service: Del's Taxi, Wareham, 508-295-0947; Wareham Taxi, 508-295-5459. Where to Eat During the summer sailing season, the Beverly Yacht Club serves lunch and dinner. Contact them at 508-748-0540. You can walk to Harriet's Restaurant, 7 Cottage St., Marion, 508-748-9956. A Short Ride from the Harbor are: The Sippican Café, 167 Spring St., Marion, 508-748-0176 The Frigate Steak House, 806 Mill St., Marion, 508-748-0970 The Wave, 210 Spring St., Marion, 508-748-2986 The Ansel Gurney House, 403 County Rd., Marion, 508-748-1111 Gilda's Stone Rooster, 27 Wareham Rd., Marion, 508-748-9700 And a Little Farther Afield: Cranberry Cottage, 246 Marion Rd., Wareham, 508-291-1515 Hong Kong Island Chinese Restaurant, Wareham, 508-295-0524 Woh Lun, 172 Main St., Wareham, 508-295-3122 Mattapoisett Inn, 13 Water St., Mattapoisett, 508-758-4922 Nick's Homemade Pizza, 27 County Rd., Mattapoisett, 508-758-2277 Oxford Creamery, 98 County Rd., Mattapoisett, 508-758-3847 Turks Seafood Restaurant, 83 Marion Rd., Mattapoisett, 508-758-3117 Things to See and Do Everything you, the transient boater, need is located on Front Street. You can walk to the Marion General Store, the U.S. Post Office, a pharmacy, a laundromat or an ice cream parlor. The Marion Art Center is located nearby (508-748-1266). You can take in the Marion Natural History Museum on Spring Street (508-748-2089), or visit the Mary Celeste exhibit at the Sippican Historical Society (27 Main St.). The Marion Sports Shop can outfit you, and Barden's (508-748-0250) or Burr Brothers Boatyard (508-748-0541) can outfit your boat. Try the Marion Art Center for a virtual walking tour.