2026 Marine Trawler Owners Association (MTOA) Northeast Region Inaugural “Port Call” Flotilla

​Sunday, 6/21/26 (Cuttyhunk, MA) Day 1 ~ Father’s Day

​Coordinator Host: Kathy & Tom K (M/V Liberty)

Attendees: Janet & Jacques L (M/V Soul Mates), Jill & Bill F (M/V Seahorse), JoAnn & Kent T (M/V Grace), Kathy & Tom K (M/V Liberty), Maryanne & Bob O (M/V Ocean Magic), Sandi & Rich V (M/V Ocean Lady)

Special Comments:

• By early afternoon Marine Trawler Owners Association (MTOA) Members began to arrive like dominoes, two tied vessels on the docks (Cuttyhunk Marina) and majority on mooring balls.
• Shortly, after arrival tenders were dropped to commence exploring the quaint town charm. We enjoyed a delicious lunch, Cuttyhunk Lobster Shack. Lobster Roll, of course! Picnic tables overlooking Cuttyhunk Pond. Noticing another couple with the touristy gaze and a Loopers t-shirt, Bill & Jill F (M/V Seahorse) joined us for lunch.
• Slowly, we all began to connect, of all places the Cuttyhunk Corner Store (Cuttyhunk, MA).
• impromptu 5PM dinner, we met at the on the dock picnic tables where a variety of take-out style meals were available from BBQ (ribs), Cuttyhunk Lobster Shack (lobster), and/or Cuttyhunk Shell Farms (seafood). Fortunately, walking around with Jill & Bill F (M/V Seahorse) as text messages were sent to our yacht landline with dining plans. Shortly upon our arrival we had made arrangements for a seafood skiff delivery from Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms (Cuttyhunk, MA) to us on the mooring ball, really for the first experience. We ended up canceling the skiff delivery for dockside pick up.
• Compliments of MTOA everyone enjoyed a scoop or two of ice cream (Cuttyhunk Ice Cream Shop) for dessert.
• One by one our crowd began to depart and retreat onboard their vessels.

My Recap…

There is a rare, quiet magic to Cuttyhunk Island, a place where the modern world gently fades into the background and the rhythm of life is dictated only by the tides.

On this tiny slice of land, doing nothing becomes the most fulfilling thing you can do. Without the constant hum of mainland distractions, the days stretch out, long and beautifully empty, filled only by the sound of the ocean and the whistle of the wind.

Community here is not forced; it is woven into the very fabric of daily survival and connection. With only a few local businesses to gather at, these spots become the warm, beating heart of the island. You find yourself striking up effortless conversations with residents, sharing stories over morning coffee or fresh seafood, immediately feeling less like a visitor and more like a part of the collective whole.

Life simplifies beautifully when the Wi-Fi turns temperamental. Instead of screens glowing in the dark, you see children playing innocently in the lanes, their laughter echoing through the salty air as they discover the world the old-fashioned way. On Cuttyhunk, you learn to unplug from the digital noise and plug back into humanity. It is a sanctuary that reminds us how sweet life can taste when we finally agree to slow down, look up, and just breathe.

Monday, 6/22/26 (Falmouth Town Marina, Falmouth, MA) Day 2

Port Captain Host: Maryanne & Bob O (M/V Ocean Magic), Pat & Joe Apicella

Attendees: Janet & Jacques L (M/V Soul Mates), Jill & Bill F (M/V Seahorse), JoAnn & Kent T (M/V Grace), Kathy & Tom K (M/V Liberty), Maryanne & Bob O (M/V Ocean Magic), Pat & Joe Apicella, Sandi & Rich V (M/V Ocean Lady)

Special Comments:

• Maryanne & Bob O (M/V Ocean Magic) departed before everyone to receive us at Falmouth Town Marina (Falmouth, MA). Also, where Pat & Joe Apicella will be joining us for dinner, Flying Bridge Restaurant (Falmouth, MA).
• A impromptu short anchorage stop at (Naushon Island) Tarpaulin Cove (N41°28.504′ W70°45.621′) for a pit stop. Tenders drop for a walk and photo opportunity at Tarpaulin Cove Lighthouse (Gosnold, MA). A pooch was greeted by ticks and humans with branches on exposed skin.
• Due to hull designs Janet & Jacques L (M/V Soul Mates) and Sandi & Rich V (M/V Ocean Lady) did not raft up with the others and luncheoned on our own. Since, it wasn’t communicated how long was our stay was going to be we did not drop the tender, but Tom K (M/V Liberty) was gracious enough to give Jacques a lift to the island to see the lighthouse.

My Recap…

Tarpaulin Cove offers a timeless sanctuary for weary sailors. Located on the east coast of Naushon Island (privately owned by the Forbes Family, managed and preserved, Naushon Island Trust), this protected harbor wraps around anchored boats like a quiet embrace.

Here, the frantic pace of the mainland dissolves. The only sounds are the crying of distant gulls, the creak of rigging, and the steady hum of nature. It is a place to drop anchor, breathe deeply, and find stillness.

Standing on the cliffs of Woods Hole, Nobska Light is more than just a historic lighthouse. It is the literal and emotional heartbeat of Falmouth, serving as a timeless symbol of comfort and connection.

For the seafaring community, this bond deepens on the water, where MTOA cruisers seamlessly blend into the local fabric through shared traditions like docktails at Falmouth Town Marina (Falmouth, MA) and dinner, Flying Bridge Restaurant (Falmouth, MA).

Tuesday, 6/23/26 (Plymouth Yacht Club, Plymouth, MA) Day 3

Port Captain Hosts: Chris & Rudy S (M/V Serenity)

Attendees: Chris & Rudy S (M/V Serenity), Janet & Jacques L (M/V Soul Mates), JoAnn & Kent T (M/V Grace), Kathy & Tom K (M/V Liberty), Maryanne & Bob O (M/V Ocean Magic)

Special Comments:

• Jill & Bill F (M/V Seahorse) and Rich V (M/V Ocean Lady) decided to depart tomorrow, Wednesday, 6/24/26 due to unfavorable cruising conditions (fog, rain, 1′ – 3′ swells) today. Pat & Joe Apicella remained in their home town.
• Plymouth Yacht Club unable to accommodate us, we opted to stay at adjacent property, Safe Harbor Plymouth (Plymouth, MA).
• Impromptu dinner (5PM) at the Plymouth Yacht Club. We opted for a quiet dinner at Surfside Smokehouse (Plymouth, MA) over looking the harbor.

My Recap…

We departed from Falmouth Town Marina (Falmouth, MA) right into a wall of dense fog, our fog horn providing the perfect, eerie soundtrack for the Stephen King novel we had apparently been trapped inside. But just before the plot twist could happen, the fog lifted, and our eyes feasted on a cinematic view of the shoreline and islands. Horror over!

Navigating the Cape Cod Canal required clicking off the autopilot and gripping the wheel for manual driving, intense attention and focus. Avoided like the plague, a chaotic minefield of lobster traps (even in the channel) turned the boat into a steel ball bouncing through a high-stakes pinball machine.

Approaching Brown’s Bank, we were treated to a view of Plymouth’s shifting shape-shifter of a sandbar. This massive, square-mile shoal pulls a complete vanishing act twice a day, rising from the sea at low tide only to completely disappear under the waves a few hours later. Lurking right on the edge of the deep channel, a TowBoatUS vessel sat completely idled, just hovering there like a vulture waiting for its next victim to miscalculate the tide. It was an incredibly comforting and not-at-all intimidating welcome party <insert sarcasm>.

Finally cruising into Plymouth Harbor, centuries of history rushed out to greet us as we caught sight of the Mayflower II proudly docked at Frazier State Pier (Plymouth, MA). Gliding past this full-scale 1957 replica, it was wild to realize we were tying up lines in “America’s Hometown” the historic 1620 landing site where a fragile group of 102 Pilgrims survived a brutal first winter to establish New England’s very first permanent European settlement. Seeing that majestic tall ship framed against the shore was the perfect reminder that while our own navigation had been a bit of a thriller, we luckily didn’t have to draft a governor or negotiate a peace treaty just to step onto the dock.

Wednesday, 6/24/26 (Plymouth Yacht Club, Plymouth, MA) Day 4

Port Captain Hosts: Chris & Rudy S (M/V Serenity)

Attendees: Chris & Rudy S (M/V Serenity), Janet & Jacques L (M/V Soul Mates), JoAnn & Kent T (M/V Grace), Kathy & Tom K (M/V Liberty), Maryanne & Bob O (M/V Ocean Magic), Sandi & Rich V (M/V Ocean Lady)

Special Comments:

• Free daytime to explore on our own. Again omitted from text messages.
• Sandi & Rich V (M/V Ocean Lady) arrived this afternoon.
• Annual Fundraiser BBQ dinner (5PM) at the Plymouth Yacht Club (Plymouth, MA) complimentary of MTOA. Joined by Kathy K (M/V Liberty) two cousins.
• MTOA burgee left at Plymouth Yacht Club (Plymouth, MA).

My Recap…

Our eyes had to do all the heavy lifting in Plymouth, MA today, since the rest of our senses were completely overwhelmed by the smell of seafood and the temptation to spend money. Walking along the harbor’s stone path—flanked by an endless gauntlet of cozy benches, restaurants, and shops—it became immediately clear that the Pilgrims didn’t just land here for the history; they stayed for the waterfront views and the perfect window-shopping conditions.

No offense to the S/V Mayflower II, but walking this stone path lined with restaurants and shops is definitely the best settlement we’ve made all day—even if it turned into a total Mayflower-power spending spree.

You would expect a random Hump Day in Plymouth, MA to be completely dead, but the tourist trade is out here making serious waves. Massive tour buses are constantly unloading crowds, and we even spotted several miniature Senior Living Community buses joining the invasion too. It turns out that escaping to the coast on a Wednesday is a timeless tradition, whether you arrived on a 17th-Century (1601 – 1700) ship or a bus.

We expected pinkies-up formality but found pure warmth instead.

The Plymouth Yacht Club (Plymouth, MA) completely subverted our expectations during their annual BBQ fundraiser.

When social events are plagued by poor communication, it creates completely unnecessary frustration for anyone trying to plan beyond gatherings. While we all have the right to choose our battles, there comes a point where the continuous lack of clarity starts costing us our joyand time. Needless, to mention the money we spent to attend. Our resources are valuable, and it officially became time to reclaim them by stepping back from situations where our presence wasn’t respected enough to be communicated with properly.

The absolute icing on the cake was the mockery and laughter that followed when the issue of the group text messages was brought to light. It is one thing to deal with organizational chaos, but it is another entirely to be left in the dark and then turned into a punchline.

Thursday, 6/25/26 (Constitution Marina, Boston, MA) Day 5

Attendees: JoAnn & Kent T (M/V Grace), Kathy & Tom K (M/V Liberty), Maryanne & Bob O (M/V Ocean Magic)

Special Comments:

• Chris & Rudy S (M/V Serenity) remained at their home port in Plymouth, MA.
• Sandi & Rich V (M/V Ocean Lady) are relocating their vessel (Quincy, MA) with intentions to drive over by car, reuniting for dinner.
• Cruising conditions couldn’t have been any better. Silky smooth!
• Based on known sightings, there was a possibilty of us encountering whale sightings; however we weren’t so fortunate (this time).
• Docktails (??) at Constitution Marina (Boston, MA).
• Dinner (??) at the Warren Tavern (Charlestown, MA).
• At 5:30PM we were advised via text about 7PM dinner at Warren Tavern (Charlestown, MA). By then, our dinner was being prepared onboard for a quiet dinner onboard instead.

Best experiences are defined by hospitality, not exclusivity.