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Marthas Vineyard, Greenport, Block Island, Port Jeff, Matiuk, Stonington, New Lo

14K views 94 replies 22 participants last post by  Minnewaska 
#1 · (Edited)
We are leaving the Chesapeake for our annual trip north on Thursday after having almost all of out elctronics as well as engine panel and lights taken out by a lighning strike from the water 3 weeks ago moored in Annapolis visiting Sailnet friends (4arch, Captain Rizzo, Wingnwing)

Tenatively in a perfect world I will list some of our iteinerary. We choose to visit and vacation in small blocks rather than do the leap from Cape May to Block Island as we love some of the towns we visit on the Jersey Shore and the western LI Sound. There are 5 weather days built in to this as we dont have to be back in the Chesapeake until September 10. The long range weather looks good for the first week or so so god willing wer should be be staying close to our itinerary to Marhas Vineyard, after then who knows..haha.

We would love to meet any Sailnetters from up there if your shedules permit you to hang out for dinner one of the nights, have drinks if we are in a marina cloise by or raft up.

Also please make suggestions as to restaurants, things to visit etc. We have been to some of these ports in the last 7 years, but I would like to hear your perspective on them. In addition recommend other places to visit on the Sound in case we dont have to use any of our weather days. We would love to see new towns. We have been to Mystic, Newport ( not on the Sound), Old Saybroooke, Westport already.


8/16- Reedy Island Delaware River - Anchor
8/17- Cape May- Utsch Marina
8/18- Barnegat Light- Anchor
8/19- Atlantic Hihghlands-Mooring or Jersey City- Liberty Landing Marina
8/20- Port Jefferson-mooring- Seatauket Yacht Club
8/20- Greenport- City Dock Mitchel Park Marina
8/21- Greenport- City Dock Mitchel Park Marina
8/22- Block Island- Mooring or anchor
8/23- Marthas Vineyard- Oak Bluffs Marina
8/24- Marthas Vineyard- Oak Bluffs Marina
8/25- Cuttyhunk- Mooring or anchor
8/26- Poert Judith- Anchor or mooring
8/27- Stonington- Mooring
8/28- New London- Mooring
8/29- Matiuk- Anchor
8/30- Northport- Mooring -Seymors

Hope to meet up with some of you. Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions

Dave
 
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#3 ·
I will try to keep an eye on your progress, if you are posting along the way. I am supposed to have a full boat of family over the weekend you will be nearby, so I'm not sure we can track you down. But, if we can, would love to say hello.

We found a great place on the Vineyard in Edgartown for dinner. I would say it is "smart casual". Food was outstanding!!

Detente wine bar and restaurant-Edgartown fine dining on Martha's Vineyard - Detente dining, refined

I'm not a huge fan of Oaks Bluff. You'll have to give their Brew Pub (name escapes me) a try. Its loud and fun and very popular.

If you've been before, I'm sure you've tried the somewhat famous Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven. Not much to write home about, other than to have said you've been there. VH was a dry town, but now allows beer and wine service if you order food.

Have a great trip!!
 
#4 · (Edited)
Dave,

I recently bought two books in anticipation of eventually taking such a trip - "The Coasts of Summer" by Anthony Bailey and "A Visual Cruising Guide to the Southern New England Coast" by James Bildner, a sailor and helicopter pilot. "The Coasts of Summer" chronicles a sailor's voyage around that area and includes many interesting attractions. Reading the book along with the cruising guide and a nearby chart is helping me to decide on a list of most-likely ports of call.
 
#5 ·
Dave,

Sounds awesome! If you don't care about cholesterol have some clam cakes at George's in Point Judith. A local legend! If you want to explore Narragansett Bay try Jamestown, Wickford, Dutch Island (great anchorage, not much else). There was an article in the NYTimes last week about Cuttyhunk.

Joel
 
#6 ·
You don't have to wait for a hurricane to visit New Bedford. Maybe won't fit in your itinerary this year, but I encourage people to make the effort. Great atmosphere, friendly working harbor. Great food, great festivals. Sailor friendly. Historic section in town. Seaman's Bethel, whaling museum. So, it is certainly not a cute New England tourist spot, but it is special. If tempted, maybe leave OB and go through Woods Hole, go into NB, and then from NB to Cuttyhunk and then on your way. Check online for harbor promo info, they are really making an effort and doing a good job of it. Can you tell it is my home port? Have a good trip.
 
#7 ·
Atlantic Highlands vs. Liberty Landing === I just spent 5 days mooring at Atlantic Highlands (second time in 3 years) and have also done transient nights at Liberty landing.

Mooring at Atlantic Highlands was $50/night which includes launch service. The Yacht Club was welcoming and food there was good. If you want "city" action, you can catch the high speed ferry to NYC. Not sure of restaurants in town except "Memphis Pig Out" .. good if you like BBQ.

Liberty Landing is more "citified". A very nice new facility with showers and a good restaurant nearby. It looks like it is now $4/ft for transients. There were a couple of large party/tourist boats at the outside dock - loud for a while ....

Personally, I'd take the mooring at Atlantic Highlands.

Don't let the kids use the high powered binoculars just before you round Sandy Hook ;-)
 
#8 ·
Ron,

Two funny about the binoculars on the beach at the hook. Wehave satyed before on the moorings at the Yacht Club at the Highlands. Nice place. We have also stayed at Liberty Landing on a few trips when we want to go to NYC. They have a high speed fderry to the finanacial district at the dock. For us depends on our mood when we round Sandy Hook where we will stay on the way up.

On the way back if we dont head right out NY Bay with the tide to the Jersey Coast we will stay at Horshoe Cove right inside the Hook on the way to Atlantic Highlands. You have to watch for fish traps entering there so not a good place to come in after dark or a NW wind

Dave
 
#12 ·
Just got back last Thursday from my annual cruise, hitting a few of the ports on your list. If you've never been to Watch Hill, RI you should put in on your list. Nice anchorage, great beach, and town is a short walk or dinghy ride. A bit of a pain to get in and out via the long channel from Stonington, but worth the detour. One caveat - the channel seems to have shoaled near the northern end as we saw a 40 foot sailboat hard agound in the middle of channel at mid-tide and a friend with 6 foot draft reported touching bottom in the channel this year. Another convenient spot to consider is Milford, CT. Cute town and from Milford Landing marina you a right in town and steps from a nice choice of restaurants, bars and stores.
 
#13 ·
Dave,

I'm sure you've looked at it, as you've done this trip many times; But the favorable currents up the East River are pretty early a.m. on the 19th. you might want to stage yourself in Jersey City. Current turns against you in the gate around 11:47 a.m.

Really you'll be fine either way..leaving the highlands at 1st light..puts you through nicely.

I only say this because I was thinking of going up this weekend myself and was looking at the currents. Though, I may wait another week now. Maybe we'll cross paths somewhere.

Have a Great Trip!
 
#14 ·
Dave/Chef2Sail,

I can't promise that I'll be available when you pass through NYC but if it works out I'd enjoy meeting your culinary Highness.
I can tell you that Liberty Landing Marina has added about 16 new moorings on the Manhattan side of the Hudson just north of the LLM site. They charge $75/night for a transient mooring and do provide a launch service with (I'm sure) limited hours, and a dinghy dock.
Within walking distance is our favorite, affordable, good food place called Walker's: Walker's Restaurant - Tribeca - NYC which will not break your wallet and provides good sized portions of comfort and healthy food.
There are a bunch of 'fancy' (read: expensive) places nearby on Greenwich St. like 'Tribeca Grill' and 'Wolfgang's Steak House'. Throw into the mix a Brazillian Steak House: tribeca new web and the choices are fairly broad, if not cheap.
If your palate veers more toward the orient there is 'Tamarind - Tribeca' (http://www.tamarinde22.com/) which is an upscale Indian food restaurant. I found the food to be very good, the setting elegant but not cheap.
Also within walking distance are: Kutsher's Tribeca (not quite Kosher but almost), Welcome to Flor de Sol NYC (tappas that used to be quite good but overrun with too many young folks), a few Italian and Continental places and even a McDonald's (which I do not recommend).
There is even a Whole Foods with a hot food court within walking distance of the $75/night moorings.
I'd bet that the moorings there (north of Battery Park City) get a bit bouncy but it is a cheaper alternative to a slip at LLM (by a few dollars).

I'll monitor your progress and see if we can arrange to meet up.
Enjoy your end of summer cruise.

Caleb D.
 
#15 ·
Mt Gay is good stuff. So are the margaretas. Shoving off here at 7 AM. Can't sleep as I am always psyched at the beginning of our vacation to get it started. This year with new electronics will be interesting.

Hope to meet you up there Minnie to put a face to the writing

Dave
 
#16 ·
Caleb, l shoot for the ride back. I would love o hang out for a beer or drink. We used to race a T27 with our first boat an Islander 28 and were very evenly matched. Always loved that model of Tartans. I have followed you posts and progress. Loved the bottom job you did a few years ago

Dave
 
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#27 ·
Ok Dave.
I'll follow your progress and with some luck we can meet up on your way back down to the Chessy.
Nice report of your progress down Delaware Bay.
I was on a boat in Utches in June. The no-seeums or whatever were terrible around 0600 so we left for NYC. It took all day and night to get to NY Harbor. It was also exhausting, but fun. I'd rather break the trip up as you seem planning on doing.

Cheers.
 
#17 ·
Tempest,

Thanks, i saw that. Was planning on leaving at 6AM and riding the Express in from the ocean. Will have to fight a little till I get to the Ambrose Light but then it's a big push to the Battery and through Hellets Pt. we tend to get up early so we can make our destination by 3 and explore where we visit and reconnoiter a good restaurant. One hat has Lobsters in some form is a favorite as all we see here in the Chessie is those delicious blue claw crabs. My wife requires we have lobster rolls for lunch/ dinner/ appetizer at leat every other day, and I agree easily.

We should be transiting on Monday if everything holds. I'll pm you my cell.

Dave.
 
#18 ·
Ottos,

I am up or that as we are spending two days in Cape My on our way back. We always go to the Ebbit Room in the Virginia Hotel for my birthday when we come through. I rank it in my all time top 5 restaurants. The chef has won the Beard award 3 times.

I still have a mug hanging at the Ugly Mug I think.

Dave
 
#19 ·
Should be in Block on 20th,21st. A day ahead of you.
Fishers Island is Special. Extremely quiet. 1 bar, 1 restaurant, 1 movie theatre built around time of ww2, 1 ice cream parlor, 1 bowling alley which I hear has better food than the restaurant. Pirates Cove marina has trans morings $30. Nice anchorage. Oh, not too many people. Did I mention it was quiet? Because it is. Quiet that is.
 
#21 ·
If you get down to Menemsha, have a bite at Larsen's Fish Market. They have great seafood that you can order and sit out next to the harbor. Menemsha is probably the closest you can get to what MV used to be all about before it became the focus of the rich and famous. A trip up to Gay Head for breakfast is also nice and has the best views on the Island.
 
#22 ·
If I were you, and if you have the time, I suggest a detour up Narragansett Bay to visit the Herreshoff Museum in Bristol, RI. You can pick up a mooring for $35 right out front, and explore Bristol (a quaint little town) and the museum for a day. The museum is well worth the trip.
 
#23 ·
Ehrlily,

Thanks for the info. We visited Bristol a few years ago in a C&C raftup. Our boat was one of the few which were made in Bristol before the fire destroyed the plant. Most we made in Niagra by the Lake. Next year when we re up we will try your suggestion.

Dave
 
#25 ·
We motorsailed 52 miles out of the hot Chesapeake, through the C&D Canal and are anchored behind Reedy Island waiting for the tide change to get to Cape May. Our last experience here was an keel wrap from our anchor rode. Current runs 3+ at peak ebb and flood. Upon one of your suggestions we rigged a Kellet on our 60 foot nylon anchor rode plus 60 feet of chain. It consists of an 8 lb mushroom anchor on a double Swivel lowered 15 ft below the water surface with the rode running through on of he swivels.

Current was amazing as we ate grilled NY strips, grilled adapragus and fresh buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes and saw all sorts of flotsam and jetsom rushing past us. including a bobbing beer keg.

Tomorrow fresh seafood in Cape May. Looks like we may be able to SA il most of this leg which is unusual fr the Delaware River. Just glad to escape the August heat of the Chessie to the cool confines of the LI Sound and further north.

Dave
 
#26 ·
We are on a slip in my old friend of 30 years who owns a marina in Cape May called Utches. In my 50+ trips down the Delaware River I have never had a better ride than today.

Up at 5 AM with the Salem nuke plant blinking at us I checked our homemade Kellet out and it the job perfectly. The tide turned twice after anchoring, with no keel wrap. Weighed anchor immediately, had a 2 knott current for one hour, then against us for 3.5 hours as we motorsailed south to meet the next ebb tide beginning. At that point the Delaware River opens up to Delaware Bay and it's famous earned reputation of the 6second interval square wave. This caused by the shallowness and long fetch can make for some of the nastiest place to be on opposing tide wind or any storm. We hit this area as the winds built to 20 kknotts steady from the SW (210 degrees). Heading at thatoint put us on a beam reach to the Cape May Canal and we took off as we unfurled our 150 at speeds averaging 8+ knots. (10+ SOG) We made record time to Cape May from Reedy Island (52 miles) in less than 7 hours total. Was a spray filled ride,but not rough as our angle cutting across the chop was perfect albet the spray.

We fit under the Canal bridge (55 feet) as our mast height with VHF is 54' so we docked and went to dinner with our friends. Nice sesame crusted tuna with Asian slaw. Big T storms
Forecasted for later on. Picked up some fresh swordfish steaks for tomorrow nights grill hopefully in Barnegt next to the lighthouse. 62 mile jaunt with winds on the nose forecast, with bailout in Atlantic City where I worked or 20 years if necessary.

Time for a movie and some good Pinot

Dave
 
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#28 ·
Dave,
Following your progress last few days...if your looking to p.u.
a mooring in western LIS (less than 2 miles east of Throgs Neck Bridge, south of the Steppingstone light house) either when going or returning...let me know. Real handy if waiting for the East River current...or if time allows just stop by for a cold one.
Best,
Hugo
 
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