Overview of a Pleasant Bay Marine Ecology Excursion
As a new Member of Triumph Sails, you will set off down a sandy beach-road through the scrub oak towards Little Pleasant Bay, an easy ten-minute walk from the parking area to the private access to the Bay. Smell the honeysuckle and beach peas and note the calming rustle of salt meadow grasses that greets you as you step out and view the vast vista that is Little Pleasant Bay. This is a special place tucked just north of the elbow of Cape Cod. Pleasant Bay is dotted by a group of barrier islands and is the longest bay along the continuous Cape Cod National Seashore. It’s very calm on most summer days, protected behind the expanse of Nauset Beach, which juts out in a long peninsula sheltering the bay. As you look out on the unspoiled expanse of the bay, the silhouette of the majestic 46’ schooner-Triumph is picture perfect on her mooring. This double-masted sturdy sailing vessel upon which you will enjoy this excursion, can accommodate ten guests after an introduction to Pleasant Bay and review of safety rules for our time together.
Let’s sit on the sandy beach and discuss the incredible marine ecosystem that makes up Little and Big Pleasant Bays.
Your leader will talk with you about your surroundings and what makes this area unique. Here are some things we might discuss:
What makes a beach?
What sort of water is Pleasant Bay? Where does that water come from?
What is a tide and how does it work?
Why is Pleasant Bay so calm without big breakers?
What can storms do to a Bay?
What sort of animals might we see while we are here?
Your leader will pass around some examples of creatures found over, in and beside the bay such as moon snails, horseshoe crabs and whelks. Where do these creatures fit in the food web?
We will then form teams and set out on a beach scavenger hunt.
Upon returning, we take a short break where you can enjoy a snack (please bring your own and pack it out).
Then life jackets will be put on and a few groups will be shuttled out to the Triumph for a sail around the barrier islands and an on the water discussion of the Triumph and beauty of the bay.
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