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Transiting Long Island Sound

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DrDre
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/10/2004 : 18:43:13

Ananda has been thoroughly tested over the last 10 days going from City Island, NY out to Block Island, RI and back. That's about 100 water miles folks, each way! My fiance' and I have been planning this trip, to get out of the city during the GOP convention, for a couple of months and now that we're back I can say it was a massive success! We had perfect weather and found some amazing gunkholes along the way. On the way back we encountered some HUGE swells along Block Island Sound from "Frances" but they were on our stern and enabled us to surf down these 6-7 foot swells. Our GPS recorded a top speed of 13 kts which I didn't notice until we we're at anchorage congratulating each other on our job well done. Surfing at 8 and 9 knots was a constant for about 3-4 hours. We averaged 6.5 knots motorsailing, just motoring and just sailing combined. We used the current of "The Race" whisking us at 3-4 knots then the following swells and favorable winds to maximize our speed and control. It was and incredible feeling to surf down a wave. It must really be amazing in one of those speed sleds designed for such a thing.

We bought Ananda last fall and have yet to really put her through a test. We've been doing daysails and a couple of one and two-nighters but nothing this long yet. The boat proved to be a great cruiser for this trip. She still has some serious weather helm, which I'll try and fix with a new rudder next season, but overall we we're very pleased with her performance. I do wish she wasn't as tender and had more weight up front so I'll try and add a few sacks of sand in the bow and see if that helps. It help my 250 WK friend down in Charleston

In addition to other safety items for this trip we purchased a new life ring and a 14 lb. Delta CQR as our main anchor We have a 13 lb. Danforth as a back up. The CQR held up perfectly in grounds, including a oyster shell bed. Of course we were on constant radio watch (1 fixed and 1 handheld), and wore our PFD's in dicey conditions.

Erica and I really learned a lot about sailing, The Sound, the weather and about ourselves. It was truly the type of journey that makes one look at things a bit differently when you get back to the mooring/home. We both feel so much more in synch with our environment and, I must say, each other. I'm a sappy romantic, what can I say.

We're already staring at the calendar looking forward to next seasons adventures.

Andre'

1998 250 WK "Ananda" #373 City Island, New York

Edited by - DrDre on 09/10/2004 18:51:08

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 19:51:01

Awesome... Perfect trip for a Catalina 25 or 250.

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 20:29:16

I'm jealous. All I've done for the past month is 1.) prepare for a hurricane, 2.) go through a hurricane, 3.) cleanup after a hurricane, 4.) repeat the process.

Sounds like a really great cruise.

Steve

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 20:57:31

Hey Doc--you're making me feel bad!

I was supposed to sail Passage from Darien up to Mystic, leaving tomorrow. That'll be her and my new home by sometime next year--she was going to be living there before I was. But my crew (a Mystic friend) severed his Achilles tendon just the other day, had surgery today, and needless to say, won't be ready to sail for a while. So Passage will spend another winter in Norwalk--hopefully her last.

I was looking forward to three really nice days--Darien to Port Jeff, PJ to Mattituck or Clinton, and then to Mystic. The days will be nice, but I'll be here. Starting next year, I plan many trips to Block Island--but they'll be quite a bit shorter than yours!

Did you find Ziegler's Cove in Darien? It's surrounded by a private estate, but it's a gorgeous anchorage--on a weekday you can pick up a mooring.

Congratulations on a great adventure!

Edited by - on

John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 23:30:41

I have been dying to submit an article to the Mainsheet on cruising Long Island Sound.
I sail out of [url="http://www.obmc.com/once%20in%20the%20harbor.htm"]Oyster Bay[/url] and think L.I.S. is one of the best places for a C25.
Would you please e-mail me and share your adventure?

[url="jg949@hotmail.com"]John Gisondi[/url]
Mainsheet Contributing Editor
C25/C250 National Association

Underlined words are a HOT link.

Edited by - John G- on 09/10/2004 23:35:06

John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 23:41:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 
Did you find Ziegler's Cove in Darien? It's surrounded by a private estate, but it's a gorgeous anchorage--on a weekday you can pick up a mooring.

Congratulations on a great adventure!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

 
Ziegler's Cove is indeed a wonderful spot. It is due north from [url="http://www.obmc.com/once%20in%20the%20harbor.htm"]Oyster Bay[/url] and I can be there for lunch and get home in an easy day. Any one coming up the Sound should check it out. Be careful going in there are rocks but they are marked. Motor early and have a chart handy.

Underlined words are a HOT link.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2004 : 08:53:08

Sounds like you had an excellent adventure, Andre!

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2004 : 16:18:22

That's what it is all about, Andre. You know what they say. Any voyage you come back from is a good one. Thanks for the post. One of these days I hope to retire and just do the whole East Coast. In the mean time I rely on all of yuz guys stories.

Edited by - on

DrDre
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2004 : 18:00:17

A Follow Up To Some Posts:

Dave - We were planning on doing the Southern route of the Sound on the way out to Block and the Northern one on the way back. But the famous Connecticut rocks got us a bit anxious, especially with those big swells. So we opted for areas we knew already, i.e. Mattituck, Port Jeff, Cold Spring and West Harbor of Oyster Bay. We loved each one of those experiences as they were very unique anchorage areas with many different things to appreciate. Zeiglers Cove is on the list for our next long weekend outing. Fall seems to be coming quick so it may have to wait until next spring. Thanks for the tip. Best of luck on getting to Mystic next year.

Ben - That's a perfect plan.

John G - Just sent you an email about submission for Mainsheet.

Lightnup - Our best wishes are with you through all this Hurricane mess. Erica's whole family is doing the same thing down in Orlando and Tampa Bay.

A'

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2004 : 22:03:19

Don't be too afraid of the CT shore--just keep your chart handy and respect the marks. In most places, you don't have to worry about shoaling...

Edited by - on

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