Marinas near North Stonington, CT, Watch Hill, RI

[inthesprings]

The wife and I are going to sail across the sound tommorow for a little overnight trip. I was planning on dropping a hook in Watch Hill and catching a nice dinner at the restaurant there. However, Laura wants some accomodations (shower, shore power) so Im wondering if anyone has some suggestions for a nice marina around there. Im thinking I dont want to go to Mystic, but maybe thats fine mid week at the end of the season.

Thanks,

Shawn

[tweitz]

Hi Shawn --
Essex is really nice and an easy trip from here. The Griswold Inn is a nice place for dinner, and there are numerous marinas with full accommodations. i was trying to talk the admiral into going there myself this past week, but she had made some other appointments, so we were reduced to daysailing.

[inthesprings]

Hey Ted,

Thanks, Ill check that out. didnt really think about going up the river.

-Shawn

[mysticsailor]

Hi Shawn,

We're moored at the mouth of the Mystic River, and from our experience this summer, there has been minimal traffic during mid week. Dodson's Boatyard in Stonington looks like a nice place and you can dock at the Skippers Dock restaurant in Stonington. We enjoyed a nice dinner there in July. Have a nice trip.

Bob

[Fareast]

Brewers next to RR bridge up the Mystic River, you can easily walk into Mystic from there, or Esssex up the CT river. Also nice quite anchorage off Bluff Point in Groton, very pretty spot.

[inthesprings]

Hey, thanks guys. Getting ready to split. I think we are going to Dodsons. Thanks for the advice.

[inthesprings]

Hey guys.

So we went to Dodsons. A very nice operation I must say. And what a bunch of very expensive sailboats floating in the harbor there. Very few powerboats around relatively.

Anyway, we had a very nice sail both ways. Came through the race on the way back which was interesting. It was supposed to be slack tide, but there was still a lot of water moving around. 3' waves sprang up too when it was otherwise less than a 1'. Good times.

Thanks for the help guys.

[tweitz]

Glad you enjoyed it. I will have to try there some time, though its so close to the Mystic Seaport, I will probably go the rest of the way. I did do Mystic Seaport earlier this year and it was great.

[Bene505]

Glap the trip went well.

DavidPM came and rafted up with us, along with a Hanse 47 that happened by with a big family. It was quite a party. And my 44 pound CQR held us in spite of 25+ knot winds. (Stayed up a bit doing anchor watch, and Colin from the Hanse 47 popped up on deck every 90 minutes to take a look too.)

I dove on the CQR the next day and it was filly 3 inches under the sand. The only thing I could see was the little piece of (floating) poly rope that is attached to head of the CQR. Otherwise it would have been difficult to find. The anchor was really dug in.

[tweitz]

Those winds on Sunday were pretty strong in Gardiner's Bay. I went out with my son and son-in-law, both of whom turned a bit green, and we came back when some of the UV screen on the genoa started to shred. A lot of boats out, but a lot of wind and some pretty good waves for the bay.