I have been 10 years away from sailing. We are in the process of buying a 40' sailboat. Last summer we had a Formula 27 PC and it opened up LI sound for us. Our home port was in East Haddam on the CT river. We spent every weekend in either Block Island, Greenport or Montauk. Block Island was under 3 hours dock to dock, we didn't need to deal with traffic or tides. We didn't like the pounding, noise and lifestyle of powerboating though and have decided to go back to sailing. But, we don't want to give up our favorite ports so we are looking at Spicers in Noank, Crockers in New London and Between the Bridges in Old Saybrook for our summer slip.
We've been told Noank is about 21 miles from Block Island, that seems a reasonable 3-4 sail with Greenport about the same. I wonder how much the race and Plum Gut will factor into our trips, though.
Old Saybrook is only 30 minutes from our home. We'd be out on the water quickly, although the railroad bridge may be keep us in the harbor longer than we'd like. I heard it can be a 20 minute wait (any confirmation of this). Block Island is 40 miles away. Maybe to far for a weekend when weather can be so unpredictable.
New London is 50 and Noank 70 minutes without traffic. So with these ports less spur of the moment or last minute trips will be possible as rush hour needs to be avoided, but we are less hampered by bad weather. New London is not a very pretty harbor though and the town doesn't offer much.
My previous sailing was done out of Milford and Bridgeport so the eastern end of CT is new to me.
I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on sailing out of any of these ports and what advice you might have.
We've been told Noank is about 21 miles from Block Island, that seems a reasonable 3-4 sail with Greenport about the same. I wonder how much the race and Plum Gut will factor into our trips, though.
Old Saybrook is only 30 minutes from our home. We'd be out on the water quickly, although the railroad bridge may be keep us in the harbor longer than we'd like. I heard it can be a 20 minute wait (any confirmation of this). Block Island is 40 miles away. Maybe to far for a weekend when weather can be so unpredictable.
New London is 50 and Noank 70 minutes without traffic. So with these ports less spur of the moment or last minute trips will be possible as rush hour needs to be avoided, but we are less hampered by bad weather. New London is not a very pretty harbor though and the town doesn't offer much.
My previous sailing was done out of Milford and Bridgeport so the eastern end of CT is new to me.
I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on sailing out of any of these ports and what advice you might have.