Long Island Sound (from Mystic, CT)

August 12-19, 2023

Itinerary

Saturday, August 12:

Arrived in Mystic via car from New Jersey and boarded our two chartered monohull boats by 4pm.  Purchased provisions then had heavy appetizers in the cockpit of our larger boat.

Sunday, August 13:

Departed for Newport and moored at Newport Public Harbor. Our larger boat (46’) was able to snag a mooring, but the smaller one (34’) wasn’t so lucky, so we rafted up.

We hired the launch boat to take us all the way to King Park for a wonderful BBQ and beautiful sunset!

Monday, August 14:

We motored under the Narragansett Bridge, then set sails in the bay with a 4-knot wind. Passed Gould Island and turned around heading south, reaching 6.5 knots. Had nice photo opportunities near the bridge.

Returned to mooring for the night. Took launch boat into town, walked up to Hotel Viking to get a drink on the rooftop bar, then dined at Benjamin’s Restaurant.

Tuesday, August 15:

Started raining at 4:19am but it was done by 8am.

We de-rafted at 9:15am. Set sails at 9:25am with 7.2 knots of wind. Sailed for 10 miles with 4 to 6 foot swells, and wind gusts up to 22 knots. Cloudy skies. Arrive at “the Block” at 1pm as desired as moorings are on a first come, first serve, basis. Payne’s Fuel Dock was occupied so we went straight to the mooring which we easily secured. Went to the Oar Restaurant with most of the group then walked into town to see the sights. Walked on the porch of the historic Harborside Inn (which was totally destroyed by fire on August 19th!). Stopped for ice cream, then had dinner at Ballard’s with green mojitos.

Wednesday, August 16:

After a delicious breakfast onboard, we took the launch to the Oar’s docks to rent bikes and scooters. Biked up to the north lighthouse, then south to the Mohegan Bluffs (142 steps plus rocks!).

Stopped at the south lighthouse. Some went to the Yellow Kittens for drinks (they have a Mudslide machine) then picked up groceries. Dinner onboard with both boat crews, with singing afterwards, accompanied by Alecia’s guitar.

Thursday, August 17:

Filled up with diesel and also got a free pump out. Wind was out of the east so we started out motoring to Shelter Island at 9am. Raised the genoa headsail once we were 14 miles out which added 1.5 knots to our speed. The current was pushing us west as well. Top speed was 8.2 knots with one to two foot swells.

Raised the main sail five miles out from Shelter Island at 1:05pm. Reached a max speed under sail only of 7.3 knots on a broad reach. Cloudy skies the whole way but no rain. Arrived at Shelter Island mooring at 3pm as planned. Took the free launch to the yacht club for hot showers and then some exploring of Shelter Island. Most took the ferry to Greenport but two went to the famous Chequit Inn for a drink and appetizers. At 6pm we all met up for cocktails at the beautiful SIYC bar and then had a fabulous dinner on the porch.

Friday, August 18:

Woke up to heavy rain and wind at 7:15am. Two went back into Greenport to shop, and others took showers. Had breakfast on the boat. At 11:15am, left Shelter Island at Crossed Plum Gut and recorded a dept of 324 feet. Set sails at 1:34pm on a broad reach. Made it to Gardner’s Bay at 2:22pm with an average speed of 6.8 knots. We actually reached 9 knots (!) as we headed for Fisher’s Island. Bright sun the whole way, and even saw a submarine!

Tried in vain to get one of the five moorings offered by Pirate’s Cove Marina but they were all taken by the time we got there around 4pm. But we secured a good anchor spot which thankfully held all night.

Saturday, August 19:

At 3:40am, the anchor alarm sounded. High winds had the boat rocking like a cradle gone wild, with unknown doors slamming. Turned out to simply be the fridge latch failure.

Sailed back to Mystic, refueled, pumped-out and returned both boats by noon.