Sailing through the Race (Eastern Long Island)

[tweitz]

I am planning a cruise for a little later in the year in eastern Long Island and Connecticut. Although I know that the ideal time to hit the Race is at slack tide or with a favoring current, the tides in my home port are such that the best time for me to sail through the Race is precisely at maximum flood. I will be sailing from Gardiner's Bay up towards Mystic, so I will be perpendicular to the flood, not fighting it directly, but I would welcome any local knowledge as to how rough it is likely to be at that time.

[nk235]

I wouldn't worry about it too much especially if you are leaving around slack tide and crossing perpendicular to it. I would just plan your course knowing that you are going to be moving at times 2-3+ knts sideways. What you do have to worry about depending on the size of your boat is when you have wind against tide because then the seas can kick up pretty nasty around there so if you are leaving at flood tide and have a strong easterly wind, it might get nasty as it ebbs, BUT the wind is usually from the west so...

Also watch out for the 2nd Montauk Monster out those ways! Just in....

Montauk Monster sighting refuels Plum Island rumors -- Newsday.com

Cheers,
Nick

[tommays]

As you get out into the sound and its really running there will be a line in the water with crazy waves on one side and dead flat on the other


Its not a 7 wonders of the world stuff BUT its really something to SEE

Many trips in a J24 and 19' powerboat you should be fine

[BarryL]

Hi,

The race will be fine IF the wind and current are running in the same direction. If you do hit the race at max flood, and the wind if from the opposite direction, it will be real nasty there.

good luck,
Barry

[tweitz]

Well, I have done Plum Gut many times, it just works out that leaving as the tide rises enough in Three Mile Harbor puts us in the Race at just the wrong time. Should be interesting. Of course my big concern is now that Montauk Monster.

[tweitz]

As an update, came back from the trip, did Plum Gut northbound, the Race on the return. No problem at either place, on a pretty light wind day. The standing waves were pretty interesting though, that line is very visible.