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ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/23/2010 : 14:49:22

The trip from East Greenwich, RI to Point Judith, to Mystic CT and back was a success! Thanks to David Bristle for all the info on Mystic. Round trip was aprox. 106 nautical miles. Fifteen gallons of fuel consumed.

Day one: East Greenwich, RI to Point Judith, RI. Sunny, mid eighties, SSW winds 2-20 kts. Departed 9:20 a.m. We motored because winds were initially non-existent and we had to keep to our time schedule. A race was gathering toward Bristol RI. It was fun to watch all the big beauties under power trying to reach their goal. We put up sail past the James Town bridge. SW Winds were blowing aprox. 20 kts but waves and swells were 3-6 feet which made for fun. Notice the reefed main.

Naturally our sailing was short lived as we could make little rapid progress to our SW goal. We were quite surprised at the business and narrowness of the Point Judith approach. It was fun to watch all the fishing boats and high speed ferries. We arrived at our wonderful little anchorage behind Plato Island around 4:30. We cooked while our kids plaid with a couple’s kids in a fishing boat next to us. Chatted with the captain and he told us that this was his last year of fishing because he could not make a living due to all the fishing regs. While I’m generally in favor of protecting our marine life, it’s a shame to see someone like this man be forced off the water. I woke up at first light and snapped this with my i phone.

Day two: Point Judith to Mystic CT. Departed at 6:30 a.m., winds SSW 10-15kts. Tacked a bit toward the CT beaches. It was fun to see all the beach people crowded on the sand while we enjoyed our little deck. Otherwise we mostly motored. When we at long last reached the Watch Island approach some 15 NM. after departing we were shocked at the short steep chop. We finally wended our way up the river through the rail road bridge. The kids were really psyched to see that massive hunk of steel close behind us.

The seaport Marina gave us free dockage as we waited a half hour for the mystic road bridge to open. It opens at twenty till each hour. We were generally entranced as we entered our anchorage. Loved the tall ships!

Finding the right depth was tricky. Was quite glad to only be drawing 3.5 feet! It was now 2p.m. and time to get to hoof it to the Aquarium. It was stinking hot. Kids loved the exhibits though.

Ate at a lovely little restaurant within dingy distance and then spent the evening in the mostly closed down old seaport which is accessible via the dingy dock. Kids got to stretch their legs, plus we stumbled across a wonderful bathroom with showers.

When the rest of the mega yacht owners were complaining about the cost I was whistling with a bar of soap!

Day Three: Mystic to Point Judith. Light Winds NW! grrr.... Small craft advisory to the south, (NY and Long Island) Scattered thunderstorm warnings to the north. Watch Hill passage was calm although storm was fast approaching. Sky turned purple and the sea bright- aqua green. Holy...@#$%&*!!!! At CT beaches all hell broke loose. Family was down bellow while I hunkered down at the wheel with sodden foulies. I said many prayers which is fine because I’m a minister who had missed church. We were in a down pour and lightning was striking all around every few seconds. Lighting and thunder were simultaneous. Why O’ why did I decide it was okay to venture out in this madness! I ought to be shot by the Catalina 25, 250, Capri firing squad!

We arrived around 3:30 and treated ourselves to the Point Judith Marina. Sure it cost 75.00 but we were bushed (understatement) and the kids really enjoyed the pool. Met a guy named David Clark who lives in the town next door to where I was raised (Peterborough NH) who built the Winfield Lash, a 38’ two masted schooner. All around us were meg-yachts from Long Island (New Catalina 44’s and C&C 32’s) and my 14 year old was feeling very small in our little dwarf sloop. It was fun to see this beauty of a schooner and be able to communicate to my son that where there is a will there is a way regardless of one’s income. There were European carvings from the 1600’s, prisms in the deck, beautiful hand rendered paintings and all metal work was hand cast.

Day 4: Point Judith to E. Greenwich. Clear, hot, no wind. More motor madness. Most of the kids just slept. Watched hundreds of German cars unload near Wickford RI. We arrived around three or four p.m. Boys took dingy to town as soon as we hooked the mooring. Kat, Brynn and I shoveled the four days accumulation of wet cloths and towels into bins and loaded the launch to capacity. We waved good by to Hajime and went home with the feel of the heaving swell still lodged in our bones. As I write this I’m wishing I was back out there. I am in love with the sea.

97 Catalina 250 TR/ WK
Hull #301
Attleboro, MA

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2010 : 14:54:18

Nice photos. Thanks for sharing. If you put a hard return before the first one, it will line up to the left and not amke the post wider than the visible screen.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2010 : 06:28:47

Looks like an awesome trip!. Didn't read the story because your photos are so large it makes the reading difficult and tedious. So 1/2 size photos all the way to the left of the page

Edited by - DaveR on 07/24/2010 06:29:09

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2010 : 09:27:49

Well done, Vern! A lesson learned about checking NOAA forecasts?? And you must've caught Watch Hill Passage in a SW-erly against an incoming tide--good for your progress but lumpy! Then you get into the Fishers Island Sound Slop--wakes of every size from all directions...

Sorry I wasn't there to show you where to drop the hook by the Seaport--it's hard to explain, and of course there's usually some competition. Was the "lovely little restaurant" at the Seaport, in the village down by the highway bridge, or north of the Seaport?

I live just about the same distance from the Seaport as the aquarium is, on the river just north of the I-95 bridge. But I probably couldn't have added much to your experience in your short stay, since you'd already toured the river and spent time at the aquarium.

BTW, those were RI beaches (e.g., Misquamicut) you saw on your way to Watch Hill Passage (which is essentially at the state line). CT is pretty much just rocky shores.

I'll second the request to put in a few "carriage returns" between photos--before each {img} and after each {/img} to make the thread more user-friendly. It's too nice to miss!

Port Captain standing by on 9, 1-3 and 1-6.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/25/2010 09:53:40

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2010 : 20:21:14

Sorry for the difficult to read article. The restaurant was near the mooring area to the north of Mystic. It was a fried seafood place, (but fresh tasting and reasonable). I'd go back to Mystic again. This was by far our coolest outing so far.

Edited by - on

Admin
Forum Admin

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460 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2010 : 17:10:34

Forgive me editing the post.

Paul

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Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2010 : 07:13:40

Nice. Just a suggestion, from the first photo -- after you've pulled the reef down, you need to harden the halyard to take the big bag out of the bottom of the main. That big pocket catches wind and reduces the effectiveness of the reef.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2010 : 09:23:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ruachwrights
 ...The restaurant was near the mooring area to the north of Mystic. It was a fried seafood place...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yup--the Seaview, with outdoor tables looking right at the Seaport and anchorage. Immediately south of that is one of my favorites--Kitchen Little, a tiny blue (used to be red) shack with a patio on the water--breakfast and lunch only, but outstanding! Come-on back now, hear?

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 16:10:44

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 19:38:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SEAN

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">C'mon up, Sean! Port Captain standing by...

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 06:50:14

Thanks Dave

thats real nice of you !!!

actully we were thinking of heading to watchhill this weekend..
we can leave at 12pm thursday ..so well see if the weather holds out ..

ill send a hello email if we make it :) but we dont have that much time ..

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 07:54:14

I can buzz you over there--it's a quick trip, although I have some things going on this weekend... It might not work. Forecast looks great.

Edit: Did you get my e-mail?

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/04/2010 07:58:35

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 16:04:21

no i thought it might be where you click on your profile ..pretty sure mine is ..

ya i really enjoyed anchoring ocean side at watch hill ..
if the wind is right we hoped to try that again
or maybe try the channel again to the harbor if its not

we only made that trip once so its hard to judge the time we need
hope to be there friday night

thanks again for the invite summers not over yet

Edited by - SEAN on 08/04/2010 18:58:27

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