Bogus Journey... Linda sails home to CT

The plan today is to head to the CT shore and up the CT river to Essex CT. Linda is from these parts and the wheels were already turning for family and friend visits.

We booked a mooring at Brewer's Dauntless for $50, but as the forecast started to deteriorate, we tried to get a slip instead. Note: there are tornado warnings in CT for tonight. We figured it would be no fun to ride the dinghy back and forth in that. Brewer's slip price is $4.00/foot. Yikes. Oh well - maybe someone will buy us dinner!

We had a couple time constraints today:

• Slack current in the Race was not until 11:00
• The weather was forecast to turn to crap as the day went on

So we wanted to leave as early as possible from Montauk for Essex, CT but we also didn't want to get to the Race too early and have a nasty current opposing the wind. We ended up leaving at 08:00 and getting fuel.


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Leaving Lake Montauk

Looking back through the channel into Lake Montauk

Weather
Wind was up as soon as we left Montauk. We started out with a reefed main and jib. The waves were not so bad yet. Eventually we unfurled the full jib and were doing a nice 6kts on a broad reach.

Ooops... no chart
We realized that we never bought a chart book for all of Long Island Sound. Our current book only shows as far west as New London CT. So Linda bought a single chart for the sound at Star Island YC's marine store. They didn't have the whole book in stock. They mostly cater to power boaters in there so not all that surprising.

Linda studying the new chart

The Race!
We conquered the notorious Long island Sound Race. We arrived at it a little before slack with an opposing current of about .8kts. The wind was really up but just as we were about to cross it, the wind gusted very high. We took a quick break to re-reef the jib.

Back with our people
The further north (away from Montauk?) we got, the more sail boats we saw in the sound. In fact on our second day at Montauk YC, we were the only sail boat in the whole place.

Some crappy weather up ahead?

The Old Lyme RR bridge

Linda poses with her dear brother

Full photo album of this trip

... Bogus Journey - Back to NY

After Leslie trapped us for an extra day in Block Island, we finally made a run for it to Montauk Long Island while the seas were only 4-6 feet (previous day 7-8 feet).

Linda's new friend at the animal farm in Block Island

Biker Chick - moped rental on Block Island

Good look for me

Sunrise at Block Island Old Harbor.  getting ready to leave

South East point light Block Island

Linda reviewing the options at Montauk

Entering Lake Montauk

Short Stay
We had the shortest stay ever at a marina at Star Island Yacht club.  We got all settled in there and paid the bill.  Then we went for along walk around to the west lake side and back.  On the way back, we stopped into Montauk Yacht Club.   We noticed all the much nicer accommodations at this marina so Linda asked about the rates.  They were the same!   Nothing against Star island YC but this place is much more what we were looking for.  Star Island YC is much more for the sport fishing crowd.  We were the only sailboat in the place.   So anyway we decided to switch marinas and drove around to the other side of the island.  We're now being pampered at Montauk Yacht Club (at offseason rates).  It's awesome here

They have complimentary bikes.  Although there is a reason they are free.  If you want to bike here, rent from one of the real bike shops in town.  They have an hourly shuttle that runs you into town (3 miles away) for free.  We went in for a grocery run.

They also have complimentary Sunfish sailboats!   yeah!    I had a tough time getting started but eventually we both had a great ride.

The Neighbors at Montauk YC.  This unit is for sale: $30 mil

All fixed docks here.  Tide swing is only 2.5 ft

Bob and Linda's Bogus Journey - To Block Island

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A little problem leaving
This boat "Miracle" (dinghy name: "minor"), came in next to us late in the afternoon.  The skipper was very kind and asked if we minded him anchoring so close.  Overnight we all swung 90 degrees and there he is now right over our anchor the next morning.  We wanted to get moving early so we started up our engine and put out fenders to try to come as close to him as possible and get our anchor.  Eventually he woke up and hauled in some of his anchor scope to give us a little more room.

What a nice photo of bob on the bow

Underway to Block
There was great wind on the way to Block Island but it was from directly behind us.  Normally we can do ok going wing-and-wing but it was too busy out there to keep it stable enough to do that.  So we Jibed back and forth a few times.   Eventually the wind lifted us a bit and we were able to do a starboard tack directly at Block Island.

Linda was not feeling so great by the end of the 4 hours in the sound.  No fish feeding though.

Took a sextant sighting of the sun and moon.  Got us pretty close

Land Ho!
Eventually Block Island came into view.   Linda called Ballard's marina in the old harbor and spoke to "Breezy the dockmaster".  Later she identified herself as the "chick dockmaster".

First glimpse of Block Island

Entering the breakwater at Block

Interesting landing
The docks at Ballards are between pylons and your stern ties up to the dock.  She had room for us on the end and we drove in very close to the jetty and turned up between the pylons.  It was a little bit fun and took two approaches.  Our depth gauge says we're sitting in 5.4 feet of water.  Hmmmmm.

Breezy the "chick dockmaster" helps us tie up

Linda and Breezy strike a pose

Posing with a martini

On the beach at old harbor on Block

Big ferries come in to this little harbor

Navigational Aid
We rode bikes to South East point light.   This light is way up on a hill and a major navigation reference in Block Island sound.   An interesting fact is that this light was actually moved back from the edge of the cliff by 200 feet back in the 90s.  Block Island is disappearing by about 2 feet per year so they thought they would get another 100 years out of this light

South east point light on Block

Looking over Mohegan Bluffs

Descending the 122 steps to the bottom of the bluffs

The last part of the descent is at your own risk

Apparently Bob beat her up the stairs

Over the shoulder bike shot

Arm shot with South East point light

Full Photo Album Here 

Bob and Linda's bogus journey - Short sail to Cuttyhunk Island

Everyone says to go to Cuttyhunk Island.   Well, we're here and so is everyone else!   Town moorings?  Forget it!   We're over in the north edge of the pond on a hook.  Well we saved $45 and we're secure so who cares.

Cuttyhunk is beautiful.  Not what I expected.  I've only seen the island from the north and from a distance so I thought it was basically wilderness.  Well, there's no malls or restaurants here but there are lots of beautiful homes and a pretty busy marina.  I'm told we can even get ice cream at 7PM.  It's like Manhattan!




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Leaving Hadley Harbor under a mackeral sky

Entrance to Cuttyhunk Pond

Narrow vhannel into the pond

very crowded this weekend.  rafting is common

All moorings taken.  Found room to anchor right on the edge of the dredged part

The shopping mall on Cuttyhunk

Looking over the pond and the sound beyond from atop the hill on cuttyhink

Hiking up the hill on Cuttyhunk

Hiking around the backwoods of Cuttyhunk