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Thursday and Friday sail

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Voyager
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Initially Posted - 06/28/2010 : 17:51:49

Later this week, I plan on sailing Passage from the Housatonic River, over to the Norwalk Islands (about 13 nm) and cruise around that area including Five Mile River, then head over to Eaton's Neck and Huntington Bay where I plan on exploring and staying for the night.

Next day, I plan on heading up to Port Jefferson harbor, then sailing back to New Haven harbor. From there, I'll take it home.

Round trip ought to be no more than about 70-80 miles, which I can do in two days (provided currents and winds are right). At the moment, weather forecasts look pretty good and current sets west in the AM and east in the PM.

I realize that there are a few folks who know the ins and outs (Scott, Dave, Peter, etc) of these parts of LI Sound. Any suggestions?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 06/28/2010 17:59:08

OLarryR
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Response Posted - 06/29/2010 : 04:15:30

Bruce - Have a great sail ! I lived on Long Island for many years before 1985. In 1980, I bought a brand new ODay 23 and the dealer dropped it into Port Jefferson Harbor. There is more to this first day story but it was a great evening sail to Huntington Harbor where I kept my boat on a mooring.

During one of the seasons, one sail we had was to the Oyster Bay Sandhole - A nice place to stay overnight in a protected cove. In the morning, a dense fog lifted and then we set sail with a long tack over to the Connecticut shore and what was going to be another long tack directly into Huntington Harbor. Only thing was that as we approached the Connecticut shore, the fog settled in again and then we could not see anything. heard a bunch of fog horns far away from us and we sounded ours off occasionally as we slowly made our way on our tack supposedly to Huntington Harbor relying on the compass. Then we heard what sounded like a slow rumble of a train ? We sounded off our fog horn and then we heard a real loud horn back. This was not good...It was something big....real big ! I suspected whatever it was was heading west to east along the length of Long island Sound while we were heading perpendicular toward Huntington. Our fog horns were by now more frequent and then i heard a guy yell....Do you see us...This was not good ? My wife by this time had already heaved over the side a couple of times... which was not exactly adding to the enjoyment of the moment. Anyway, I saw something big and I immediately yelled out we are turning around. I did not turn back onto my original course for a long time until I had time to put together exactly what it was that I saw. What I had in my mind at first was a tugboat and thought of it pulling a barge on a long cable...and that is why I did not turn back to my original course for quite some time. But then I realized what I had seen. It was the Port Jefferson Oil Tanker ! Anyway, back on our original course and about a half hour later or more, the fog started to clear and with satisfaction we were just about to enter Huntington Harbor. A great weekend came to an end !

So...watch out for any oil tanker(s) out there !

Anyway, when my wife tells this it is a scary boat story. When I tell it it is one of a great adventure !

Have a great sail and...adventure !

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/29/2010 04:22:55

DaveR
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Response Posted - 06/29/2010 : 05:38:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> It was the Port Jefferson Oil Tanker ! <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I trust the wife had an extra pair of underwear for you?

Edited by - on

cks
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Response Posted - 06/29/2010 : 19:47:46

You may want to stop at norwalk harbor for lunch and explore sono. Everything from seafood stands (overton's) to fancy restaurants (across the bridge) are within a short walk. You can approach through Cockoene Harbor. There should be space at the visitor's dock off of Veteran's park.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
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Response Posted - 06/29/2010 : 20:07:06

Bruce -- most of all enjoy the trip!

I agree with above, plus . . .

Depending on the time you have, Captains Cove area of Bridgeport is fun to visit as you journey west(you may already do that based on Milford being so close) and if you head to Norwalk you can dock in East Norwalk at Overton's/Island Lights? for a quick bite (Overton's) or fine dinner (Island Lights). SONO is great but less accessible by water unless Rex or Veterans Park has adequate space. Yes, enter Norwalk via Cockonoe (Westport).

If you venture further west to Rowayton you can either sail around the Sheffield Islands or cut in through Norwalk Harbor (per above) and motor or sail between Sheffield and Mandrisa/Wilson Cove. Rowayton is quaint. Zieglers Cove is just west between Rowayton and Darien and is very popular for spending an afternoon or evening. If you stay on the Connecticut shore for the night and do not want to "fend for yourself" in Zieglers' but need a mooring in the Norwalk area give me a holler as Rowayton Yacht Club (Wilson Cove) has guest moorings and launch service.

As far as Long Island is concerned others have more intimate knowledge. I will say that the winds are southwesterly and can be fluky typically ranging from 0-4kts to 10-15kts in any given afternoon so do not plan on consistent speed especially heading from Norwalk to, say, Oyster Bay.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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Response Posted - 06/29/2010 : 20:39:34

Peter,
I think I will spend the night on the CT side. The wind is forecast for Thursday and Friday for 10-15 knots with 20 kt gusts, so the chop can really get fierce on the Long Island side.

I want to explore Norwalk Harbor, and Ziegler's Cove. What's the best way to reach you if I decide to stay the night?

BTW, what is the trick to finding your way into Ziegler's Cove. It looks like it is surrounded by nasty rocks!

Edited by - Voyager on 06/29/2010 20:45:14

OLarryR
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Response Posted - 06/30/2010 : 03:26:23

Bruce,

More about Long Island side:

I mentioned in earlier posting about the Oyster Bay Sandhole but not sure if you know where that is and it is a good idea to know about it in case you need to put in some place due to bad weather. Pulling brain cell info from eons ago, the Oyster Bay Sandhole (at least that's what we called it) is near the opening to Oyster Bay on the east side). It is a large protected cove (land on 3 sides). I think there use to be and probably still is a Coast Guard station or something like that all the way inside this cove. There are no facilities in this cove. It is just a protected area for overnighters.

Huntington Bay is excellent for whatever you would want to do. As you enter Huntington Bay, there is a sand spit on the east side. Many will anchor their boat just east of the sand spit and then swim around or use a dinghy to get to the sandy beach. Inside Huntington Bay, there is Huntington Harbor directly south of the Huntington bay opening and that has mostly marinas. If you were to enter Hunrtington Bay and then sail to your east inside of it, you then come to Northport Harbor area and I recall there being a nmber of restaurants insde there. I don't know what the arrangements are these days but they use to have moorings that you could use and a water taxi would take you to the restaurant(s).

Edited by - on

bigelowp
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Response Posted - 06/30/2010 : 14:53:19

Bruce -- I sent contact info via forum e-mail

Edited by - on

bigelowp
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Response Posted - 06/30/2010 : 15:04:17

Regarding Zieglers -- I don't have a chart in front of me but as you head in give Fish Island a wide berth and keep it on your starboard side and then turn to port and head straight in and stick to the center. At high tide you should be ok -- but look (the rocks are pretty easy to see)and keep the depth on especially at mid to low tide. That said some pretty large boats hang out in their so don't be too concerned.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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Response Posted - 06/30/2010 : 19:25:35

I've got a reasonably up to date Maptech chartbook showing Huntington Bay and Harbor, including marinas and restaurants. Larry, I see the spit you're talking about.

Peter, I also have the chart for Ziegler's cove, so that's cool.

BTW, the Forum email doesn't seem to work, but you can ping me on bruce2sail at aol dot com.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 06/30/2010 : 19:30:26

There's not much to "explore" in Ziegler's Cove--it's a nice anchorage for a weekday evening--this Friday will be crazy in there. Don't be tempted to go into the larger Scott's Cove next to Ziegler's--detailed local knowledge is required for a sailboat drawing 4'. (My "very good friend's" home looks down on Scott's.) Looks like you have a few great days coming up!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/30/2010 19:30:58

SEAN
Admiral

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Response Posted - 06/30/2010 : 19:49:11

Westport has their fireworks friday ..anchoring off Cockonoe island has a good view

Norwalk visitor dock is nice too.. Sono seafood across the river has outdoor eating for lunch ..

there's a little cove on the point of Hunington NY..there's a Coast Gard station there ..nice quiet spot ..

Have fun looks like a great weekend !!

Edited by - on

Voyager
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Response Posted - 07/01/2010 : 19:37:21

Turned out we had 10-15 northwesterlies, which in and of themselves were fine, but then we had long intervals of gusts I clocked between 20 and 25. I took the run from Stratford to Norwalk, and arrived there at high tide. The entire harbor, aside from the main channel, is very skinny water! I came in from the eastern entrance and followed the bouys and charts religiously, and followed a local fishing boat who knew exactly where the rocks were.

I gunk holed all around the usual haunts watching the depths (glad I was there at high) then exited out by the western main channel. I headed up to Green's Ledge light, then crossed the bar (6 foot depths) around Sheffield Island. Since wind and waves were from the north, I anchored to the south of the historic lighthouse, and had a sandwich and took a dip. Water was warm for LISound, about 72.

Rather than cross over to Huntington bay, I set out back to home base around 5pm. With 20kt breezes on a broad reach, I hit 5.5 knots with a favorable current and got back into the slip at 9PM.

I've got photos and videos, and will post when I get back to the ranch. Tomorrow, I plan to run up & back to the Thimble Islands off Branford. They call them a "little bit of the Maine Coast" in Connecticut.

Again, skinny water, lots of rocks, but high tide will be at 4pm, so I should have a little lee-way.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 07/01/2010 : 20:33:58

Thimbles... Great spot! An even greater spot for a chartplotter. Without one, move slowly so if you touch, you'll tough gently. It's all granite. Do you have a dinghy and motor? That's really the way to explore the islands--leave Passage on the hook in safe water. It's easy to find a quite anchorage protected from wave action--a nice place for an overnight.

There's a very nice deli maybe a hundred yards from the town dock.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/01/2010 20:38:46

Voyager
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Response Posted - 07/01/2010 : 21:52:30

Yes Dave, my slip-mate cracked the keel and hull on "Dick Rock" last fall. Check chart 12372b (inset) http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12372b.shtml for details this feature. He just got his boat back in the water last week, and showed up in Stratford last night.

I have a sea kayak that will handle the area just fine.

Two years ago on Columbus Day weekend (Oct 12) my son & I cruised the Thimbles, and stayed overnight. His comment to me was "if somebody blindfolded me, took me here, and removed the blindfold, I would not have believed this was Connecticut".

We were tied to a mooring between High Island and Pot Island, and were all set to settle in for the night. At 11PM, a SWerly wind picked up, and built to 15 kts. Then the wave action started. It turned out to be a lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-ong night! In the morning, the wind shifted, wouldn't you know it?

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bigelowp
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Response Posted - 07/02/2010 : 19:41:41

Bruce -- sounds like a great trip and close to perfect weather!

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 07/03/2010 : 14:10:02

Made the run up to the Thimbles yesterday and met up with some fellow kayakers. We did the run around the islands, and it was very busy. At least three other kayaking groups and dozens of power boaters going in and out. Many big sailboats offshore heading east and west.

There was a fleet of 18-20' sailboats with spinnakers flying out past Outer Island in a regatta. With the puffs in the high teens and lulls in between, they definitely had their hands full.

After my mates said goodbye, I settled in for the night on the hook between High and Pot Islands. The high bluffs kept the northwesterlies at bay. Saw fireworks going off somewhere along the CT coast. Got cool for a July night, with temps in high 50s (13C?). Lovely night, full of stars.

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bigelowp
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Response Posted - 07/03/2010 : 16:10:32

Bruce -- I was out today (Sat) sailing in what I thought was close to perfect conditions when my sailor son said "Dad, you think this is good you missed the last couple of really perfect days!. You seemed to have picked well the timing and were able to enjoy the best that few days on Long Island Sound -- sorry not to have been around, but glad you have had a great journey!

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