Padanarum (Dartmouth)

Leave New Bedford and take a right at Fort Taber and ahead of you, a few miles away, you will see a forest of disembodied masts representing the impressive fleet of sailboats lying at anchor in Dartmouth's harbor (more popularly known as Padanarum by boaters and those in the know).  Before you get to Padanarum, though, you will sail across the mouth of Clark's Cove which is a large open harbor that contains few obstructions and some nice protected sailing.  But we'll leave that for another day.  Mind your charts as you approach Dartmouth from any distance in any direction.  There are rock outcroppings littered within the general environs.  As you approach the harbor, you will see the harbor breakwater extending from the shore on the right.  A short section of breakwater, closest to eastern shore, has disappeared from storms leaving an apparent gap.  This gap is not navigable.  The rest of the breakwater is still there below the surface.  Enter the harbor, leaving the end of the breakwater and its marker on the end to your right.

All of the various cruising guides that give some attention to Padanarum talk about hanging a right, immediately after entering past the breakwater and finding anchorage there.  This was probably possible when these guides were written, but the mooring field now populates the entire area behind the breakwater.  There is not only no real room to anchor, but it is specifically prohibited.  What is being left for those of us who like to anchor is the area on the left as you pass the breakwater, up to the beginning of the other mooring field which begins on that side.  This is not a well protected area and it is a long dinghy ride to the head of the harbor.  The holding is fine, but you get a lonely feeling anchored there watching the protection afforded to those fortunate enough to be protected by the breakwater or the inner confines of the harbor.  The prevailing breeze is from the S-SW in the summer and there is not much to stop what is coming at you from Buzzards Bay.  There might also be some spots to anchor further into the harbor on the left side of the channel, but it is hard to get this clarified, and Padanarum, like many popular harbors around here is now heavily polluted with moorings.

 

In terms of transient moorings, that can be confusing.  Davis & Tripp advertises transient moorings, but I've not been able to determine what their rate is.  There is an application form on their site.  The harbormaster's site says that Concordia (which is not on the water) has transient moorings, but I can't confirm or comment.  The New Bedford Yacht club (which is headquartered not in New Bedford, but in Padanarum) has some transient moorings, but I have been told over the radio that they don't. The harbormter's site says they do. South Wharf is a marina in the harbor, but I believe it only has slips.  I can't comment on transient slips at any of these places, because I've never used them or sought them out.  I will say that the harbormaster's office has been very helpful in finding me a place to either stop and have a sandwich or help me find someone to rent me a mooring, so don't despair.

The harbor is very pretty and focused on sailboats.  You will see some nice sailing done by dinghies and large yachts from early morning to evening.  One nice thing about the outer anchorage is you can watch a parade of sailboats going in and out of the harbor all day.  There is a public dinghy dock to your immediate right after you pass under the bridge separating the north and south harbor.

Downtown is a little odd.  Nice homes, and a Main Street with cute retail spaces that seem to all be filled with real estate offices, selling the properties that you have been ogling either on the way in by boat or car.  There is a little liquor store/market that sells ice.  An ice cream place over by the bridge and a little restaurant or two.  A couple yacht brokers, marina, and the New Bedford Yacht club.  Across the bridge from town is a nice public space with a boat launch, beach and such.

We often will sail over to Dartmouth when we are short on time but want to go somewhere.  We throw out the anchor have lunch, take a swim off the boat and head back to New Bedford.