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Sailing in CT

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Cate
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199 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/19/2007 : 06:33:13

We are thinking or relocating to CT in a couple of years and are wondering where we could keep and sail our boat. Obviously there is the entire CT shoreline, but what about Candlewood Lake? We have been in salt water here on NJ shore and were hoping for a "fresh" start. If not, what is sailing on the sound like? We usually like to sail in winds about 10 knots and don't want a lot of chop.
Thanks in advance.

1983 C-25, Standard rig, swing keel

Edited by - Cate on 07/19/2007 08:04:29

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/19/2007 : 08:22:36

Candlwood is not a sailor's lake... You'll feel like you're in a free-fire zone of drag boats, water skiers, and PWCs. Also, winds are fluky since the narrow lake is surrounded by wooded hills. Fuggetaboutit.

L.I.S. is wonderful sailing for a 25-footer. The western end (where I was) has lighter "variable" winds in July-August because Long Island blocks the ocean breeze--somewhat like the Chesapeake. The eastern end (where I am now) has a more reliable sea breeze--SW 10-15 most days, with 1-2' seas until you get to open ocean swells. Nice destinations include the harbors on Long Island, the Norwalk Islands, the Thimble Islands, the CT River (Essex, Hamburg Cove, etc.), Mystic (of course!), Shelter Island (NY), Fisher's Island, Watch Hill (RI), and Block Island. Day sailing is relaxed, with just an occasional st!nkp*t wake--there's room for all.

Where are you thinking about living?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/19/2007 08:26:36

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/19/2007 : 08:30:08

PS: Pick up a Maptech Embassy Guide for Long Island Sound, with charts, arial photos, and narratives for all of the destinations.

Edited by - on

Cate
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Response Posted - 07/19/2007 : 10:01:38

Thanks Dave for the good advice. Sorry to hear about Candlewood. Our current sailing area has way too many rude motor boaters and one of the big reasons for a move from NJ to CT is to get some SPACE!

That said, can you recommend a good "sailors" marina on the LIS south of Danbury?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/19/2007 : 10:12:55

Let's see... The most obvious to me from Danbury is Norwalk Cove Marina--good location, facilities, and storage. (I stored there.) Take a look at http://marinas.com/view/marina/3543 (click the thumbnails on the right), and http://www.norwalkcove.com/ .

If you go further east, you can get "more space" and be closer to the water--with cheaper and better marinas and better sailing.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/19/2007 10:18:26

cks
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Response Posted - 07/19/2007 : 20:59:24

If you're going to be around danbury, norwalk is probably your best bet-just go down route 7. Norwalk Cove is a good suggestion. Other option is Stamford or a mooring.I'm a relative novice so I can't compare, but to me there's nothing like a warm day on the sound with a steady 10knot south-westerly breeze. this season's been outstanding so far. I can also only compare to Huntington Harbor in LI - but when I entered LI waters, I was struck by how many large motor boats there were going full throttle compared to CT.

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Cate
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Response Posted - 07/20/2007 : 13:16:42

Okay. We have now expanded our regional search to include eastern CT around the Essex area. I see there are several marinas on the CT river. Does anyone know if people sail on the CT river? It looks a little dark brown and narrow. Commercial traffic? Also any recommendations for "sailor" friendly" marinas around Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Old Lyme area?

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bmelchionda
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Response Posted - 07/20/2007 : 13:39:35

I'm 10 minutes from Candlewood and do a fair deal of sailing and motor boating there. There is one nice marina on the west edge named Candlewood Marina which probably holds 95% Catalina's ranging from new 22s/old 22s and a few 25s. They also hold races as well. Family orientated and friendly. With that said, I agree with Dave; if you are looking for space, freedom and consistent winds, this is not the place. It would be a nice place to have a second boat though.... :)

I keep my Catalina 25 in Stamford at the Stamford Avalon Marina. Beautiful harbor, great sailing.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/20/2007 : 15:14:38

The CT River, itself, is not for sailing--it's fairly wide, but lots of moving shoals. The main channel is reliable, but only for getting to/from the Sound (which in the right conditions can be done under sail). No commercial traffic. All marinas there are "sailor friendly"--that's sort of the western end of "Sailors' Mecca"--the eastern end is Stonington. (Sorry Chesapeake folks--yours is nice too, but we have wind, nice summer temperatures, and hardly any bugs!) People all over New England keep sailboats in that area because the sailing and nearby destinations are so great.

Essex is a beautiful town... Have lunch (or stay) at the Griswold Inn. Just north and across the river is Hamburg Cove--a secluded overnight anchorage. I might have ended up in Essex or in Old Saybrook but for some other factors. Old Lyme (across the river) might be a little less pricey... You just need to visit!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/20/2007 15:21:51

bigelowp
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Response Posted - 07/20/2007 : 21:43:39

I agree fully with Dave's overview of LI Sound as well as Candlewood Lake. I have sailed for years out of Rowayton (Norwalk) and the winds are variable but for most of the summer on the light side. Eastern LI Sound is more open and very nice but can be a pain to drive to if you live cross state becuase of I95 traffic. I would focus on LI sound and if you are in the Danbury area also consider while Norwalk is a relatively quick run down Route 7 consider venturing a bit east toward the Milford/Branford areas.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/21/2007 : 09:33:00

One thing isn't quite clear to me, Cate... Are you committed to living in Danbury and looking for places for your boat, or are you open to living in other areas? If so, what constraints or factors affect how far east you might live? Peter is right--Milford is a nice little harbor with good marinas--Passage (of which I'm a DPO) lives there now.

But it's east of New Haven where the CT shore and its towns take on a whole different character. That's where you feel like you're in New England. West of New Haven is essentially Metropolitan New York--I lived there (Darien) for 25 years. I also now drive the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail (I-95) from Mystic to Darien and back almost every weekend--thankfully opposite the worst of the weekend traffic. (Ironic story there...) I feel for the folks on the other side (or alternately stick out my tongue at them!) I can always feel the difference when I hit New Haven going either direction--the NY/NJ influence is palpable. The best way to feel the difference in living conditions is to get on US-1 in let's say Milford and follow it east as far as you care to--through New Haven and out to Guilford, Madison, and Old Saybrook (also using Hwy 146)--then jump up to Essex. Stop in Stony Creek (at the Thimle Islands) for lunch at their little deli... You may never go back to NJ!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/21/2007 09:42:28

dmpilc
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Response Posted - 07/23/2007 : 22:35:25

Have you considered Nashville, TN? Two good sailboat lakes, one of which would allow you to sail all the way to the Land Between the Lakes in KY, and then on to the Gulf of Mexico, via the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway. The other, where we sail, is landlocked but it is a wildlife refuge, i.e. no houses on the shoreline. Home of new C-25 Fleet 36. Also, Tennessee has no state income tax on earned income, only on dividends and certain types of interest income.
David

Edited by - on

Cate
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Response Posted - 07/24/2007 : 13:35:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Have you considered Nashville, TN? Two good sailboat lakes, one of which would allow you to sail all the way to the Land Between the Lakes in KY, and then on to the Gulf of Mexico, via the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway. The other, where we sail, is landlocked but it is a wildlife refuge, i.e. no houses on the shoreline. Home of new C-25 Fleet 36. Also, Tennessee has no state income tax on earned income, only on dividends and certain types of interest income.
David
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sounds very nice, but I'm a northeaster. Family and friends are here. Also like having four distinct seasons. Wish we had some TN type lakes up here.

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Cate
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Response Posted - 07/24/2007 : 13:40:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 One thing isn't quite clear to me, Cate... Are you committed to living in Danbury and looking for places for your boat, or are you open to living in other areas? If so, what constraints or factors affect how far east you might live? Peter is right--Milford is a nice little harbor with good marinas--Passage (of which I'm a DPO) lives there now.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Initially we were thinking about the Danbury area because of Candlewood Lake, proximity to NYC and jobs...BUT after doing more research on CT and the good advice here, it sounds like we would be most happy east of New Haven and sailing on the sound. Hopefully the job situation will accommodate our location choice.

(I know it's supposed to be the other way around)

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/24/2007 : 14:25:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cate
 Hopefully the job situation will accommodate our location choice.

(I know it's supposed to be the other way around)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Depends on your priorities (or job interests, or age). Somebody here said "Life's too short to spend it living in Dallas." My age and priorities took me from Darien to Mystic, where I then retired. NYC is available via Amtrak (from Mystic, New London, Old Saybrook, etc.), Metro North out of New Haven, or (ugh) I-95. Personally, I've had enough of it.

Go east, young woman!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/24/2007 14:26:15

jerlim
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Response Posted - 07/24/2007 : 19:41:12

Cate - You can't beat the sound/ocean (IMHO). Having lived in New haven and now on Long Island, East of NH is MUCH better than the City side!

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/24/2007 : 20:41:24

Ahh... S. Jamesport--right by Mattituck, another lovely port-of-call on Long Island Sound. Read about it in the Embassy Guide. I'm planning on exploring Shelter Island, Greenport, and some of the rest of Peconic Bay that goes over to S. Jamesport (which isn't on the Sound). The possibilities are endless. (On Candlewood, they end in a hurry, punctuated by the blast from a row of straight-pipes through the transom of a drag boat!)

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jerlim
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Response Posted - 07/25/2007 : 14:28:26

Peconic Bay is best over by Shinnecock, the terrain of the south fork is low there and the ocean breeze can really have an influence

Edited by - jerlim on 07/25/2007 14:29:08

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