Block Island - Sept 10-13th

[DropTop]

heading out to Block Island, planning to depart Mystic on Friday the 10th, and return on Monday the 13th. If anyone is interested in meeting up let me know.

One question, I've been trying to determine if there is any reason not to depart Mystic and turn east and stay on the north side of fishers island heading out past Napatree Point / Sugar Reef Passage into Block Island Sound instead of going south west past Fishers Island to the race and into Block Island Sound?

according to the current predictions I'm seeing, the current is much weaker going that route which means less critical to time it with the tide change, and it's also a shorter trip if the wind is cooperating.

[CBinRI]

The race is fun when it's with you but against you? -- not so much.

[rwy36]

From Mystic, it would seem that plotting a course past Napatree Point would offer the shortest route. We sail out of Old Lyme and take the Fisher's Island Sound route often since we usually break up the trip to Block I into two short days (and enjoy a stopover in Watch Hill, Stonington, East Harbor, etc).

For 9/10, if you plan on leaving Mystic in the early afternoon, I think you will can look forward to catching a favorable tide past Napatree Point & Watch Hill (max ebb tide about 3pm). Shortest route plus a favorable tide - can't beat that combination!

[JimsCAL]

Going that way will make the hop to Block shorter, especially from Mystic. But go out the Watch Hill Passage. Don't try one of the others without local knowledge.

[mattstamour]

We go to Block Island most every weekend from Mystic. I have never gone via the Race to get there. Current in Fishers Island sound can really help, or hinder your progress as it can run over 2.5knts

By far Watch Hill passage is the best marked way to go. I would not recommend Sugar, or Lords passage as the approaches are more difficult.

I do use Wicopessett Passage quite often. The current can rip in there also, but i feel it's marked better and easier to get through. Approaching southerly from Latimer light be sure to leave Seal Rocks (C "15) to starbord, and C "13" to port. This will allow you to line up the mid-channel mark (c "1) with the RW "W" Bell on the south entrance giving you a safe straight line through.

This gets you out of the drastic currents a few miles earlier and, I think, is a bit shorter than going through Watch Hill.

When on Block Island, be sure to check out Mohegan Bluffs if you want to see a beach (rocky) with dramatic cliffs as a backdrop.

More than likely we will be there on the 11th, our boat is a '76 Catalina 30 named Perseids. Dinghy over for a cocktail.