New York to Block Island

[sailor25b]

Planning a trip to Block Island soon, cruising along the south shore of Long Island. We'll start from Brooklyn, and make stops along the way. We're not trying to set any speed records.

Any good ideas where we can stop in Great South Bay for dinner? How about Shinnecock Bay? Any anchorage recommendations?

Also, should we try to make the stretch from GSB to Montauk all at once, or break it up? It looks like a long way for a day's sail.

[chuckg5]

the fog can be a nightmare
having radar should help out

[hellosailor]

Fog, what fog?

But you'll need shoal draft to go east of Moriches Inlet and stay inside. Either way, Moriches and Shinnecock inlets can be killers in bad weather due to shaoling and currents. You're looking at some 45-50nm from Moriches to Montauk, under the best of circumstances and ignoring tide and wide, but unless you use Shinnecock Inlet there's no real way to break that up, is there?

[camaraderie]

Stay off shore and just keep going...it is safer!

[USCGRET1990]

If you want to stop at Montauk, keep in mind, you'll have to round the point and go back west a bit to get in there. I was stationed at and lived in the Montauk lighthouse 1971-1973.

[nk235]

I actually keep my boat in the Great South Bay and am also planning on doing a trip to Block Island probably in August. If your coming from Brooklyn and want to break up the trip I would enter the bay in Fire Island Inlet which is the Western most part of the bay and then you have about a 15 mile stretch where there are plenty of places to stay for the night either on Long Island's south shore or even if you anchor up by Fire Island where there are a couple real nice outdoor restaurant and bars that are only accesible by boat / ferry. Then the next day you could continue heading east throughtout the other side of the bay and exit via Moriches inlet. But like others have said these inlets can get pretty nast especially when wind and tide are oppossing eachother. If it is a nice calm day you should have no problem but if its blowing or rough out maybe just stay off shore and continue straight out to Block. If you do head into the bay send me a PM and I will give you a list of places to go and how to get there. Have fun though on your trip!

[JimsCAL]

If the thought of going the entire length of Lond Island without a stop doesn't appeal to you, consider going through the East River and Hells Gate to Long Island Sound. Once in the Sound you have lots of choices to stop and can make the trip as slow or as fast as you wish.

[hellosailor]

Jims, the only problem with sailing in LISound this time of year is that in about 2-3 weeks the wind may die for the usual two months. On the south shore you can pretty much rely on wind, but in the sound...that can be brutally hot and humid and still as you get into July.

[JimsCAL]

As someone who has cruised on Long Island Sound for 30 years, I don't agree with your generalization about zero wind and brutally hot and humid for the entire summer. I recall many days of brisk breezes and wearing jackets to stay warm, especially on the eastern end in July when the ocean temps are still in the low 60s. The sea breeze that builds around noon on the South Shore does take a few hours to make to the Sound, but 10-15 knot afternoon SW breezes are pretty much the norm on the Sound. Long Island Sound is not Chesapeake Bay.

[USCGRET1990]

[QUOTE=JimsCAL]As someone who has cruised on Long Island Sound for 30 years,
Ever sail through The Race off Fishers Island on a changing tide? I did it in a 16' boat and it scared the bajesus out of me and the Mrs. We were going from Montauk to Mystic. We went around The Race on the way back!
If you are not familier with it, it's a little area of some majorly confused water.