Hurricane leslie coming north, need I be concerned?

[Minnewaska]

No, the stretch between Montauk and Block is not protected. At all. In fact, long before our get to Block, you could get nasty seas near the race.

I'm trying to think of a polite way of asking if you've reviewed a chart and looked at weather briefing. It does not seem you have.

[CalebD]

If you look at a chart of the waters between Block Island and Montauk you notice that there really is no protection from ocean swells. "Block Island Sound" is almost a misnomer in that Block Island does not create a protected 'sound' the way that Long Island does. BI Sound is essentially the ocean for all intents and purposes.

As you say though, you could venture out into this stretch of water to check it out and decide whether you are up for a 30 mile transit, or decide to turn around for more protected waters.

Keep an ear on the NOAA VHF WX station for wind and wave height reports.

Waves have a way of bending around islands so I'm not sure about the entrance to the Great Salt Pond.

Have fun!

[Tempest]

Minnewaska has it exactly right....

Simply put, you can call it what you want..but the Block Island Sound..is the Atlantic Ocean.
as is the crossing from Block to Vinyard sound...
The race can be a daunting place on a good day. Get any fog and you're doing it blind.
I'm not suggesting that you don't go sailing..but you should be prepared to be flexible, and know where you can duck in to, should you need to.

[Tempest]

Unless you time your exit at the race at slack, ( there always seems to be current) going out, and coming back..could be painfully slow.
Most of us probably try to ride the currents out; once out, turning around and coming back you could find yourself doing less than 2 kn over ground...against a stiff current

[c_witch]

This may help you. I was concerned about Leslie on Monday hitting me here in Nova Scotia but the track is now well to the east. We will get swells but nothing horrendous.

c_witch

[endevour]

I would either wait for a better weather window, or head through the LI sound.... The south shore had 7' swells today, sat is supposed to be bigger swells combined with gusts around 30+ outa the south, making it even choppier.....

[smurphny]

Originally Posted by peterchech

Thanks for all the advice!

I'll def take the sound then. I'm really glad I convinced my father to get a 50% "storm" jib for the trip, looks like we may need it. If we leave sat morning we should get to block by sunday morning, with all the wind thats predicted. Once we clear montauk, is the stretch between the sound and block island somewhat protected at that point? I would like to get some experience in bigger seas, at least for a 30 mile fast reach, if it's not too dangerous. If not I can always overnight in the sound though...

Will the approach to great salt pond be safe, seems like it would be on the lee of the swells/wind...

I gotta tell you, I would not be be planning to make this passage with the current forecast. It does not sound like you have a good grasp of the area or the conditions that the area can produce. If there are 30 knots of onshore wind with a hurricane-induced swell running, you don't want to be out there.

Please read the top part about wave height. This is the offshore forecast but is closer to what will be happening in Block I Sound and vicinity.

http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.ph...083&syn=anz080

[peterchech]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

No, the stretch between Montauk and Block is not protected. At all. In fact, long before our get to Block, you could get nasty seas near the race.

I'm trying to think of a polite way of asking if you've reviewed a chart and looked at weather briefing. It does not seem you have.

I am usually try to be very humble on this forum, and I take the advice here very seriously. I have certainly read the charts, many times, and it is painfully obvvious that the space between mantauk and block island is fully exposed to the expected southerly swell. However several posters mentioned the potential hazards of mv and nantucket, but did not even mention the stretch between li and bi. I guess I figured I might have missed something.

[misfits]

Peterchech,

Now why would you want to put yourself & others in harms way?
By others I'm refering to those other than your crew that may have to be involved
in a rescue if things go badly for you.

[peterchech]

Originally Posted by misfits

Peterchech,

Now why would you want to put yourself & others in harms way?
By others I'm refering to those other than your crew that may have to be involved
in a rescue if things go badly for you.

Come on let's not exagerate please, don't try to tell me that anyone who goes sailing this weekend will have to be rescued. Especially in the sound, 25 knots winds and 2-3' seas are not exactly rare and dangerous...