Author: BobS

Through some cosmic randomness we arrived today at Liberty Landing Marina exactly 2 years to the day when we arrived on our way to the Bahamas. Life, eh?

Set off from Oyster Bay after a few boat tasks including emptying one of the jerry cans into the fuel tanks as we might or might not make it to NYC if we didn’t. A low wind day sadly although we have had some of the best sailing of the trip on Long Island Sound. Today’s route took us down the East River and at the mid point is Hell’s Gate where the confluence of two rivers and the the tide can make for an uncomfortable ride to say nothing of slow. So, we departed at 10:30 to arrive at Throgs Neck Bridge (no, not a spelling error) so we would mostly have current in our favour but not too much to affect our boat handling. The most current we hit was about 3.5 knots so a good ride without being dangerous. We met some traffic mostly ferries but also barges and some pleasure boats. Along the way we passed Rikers Island with its prison and opposite a weird looking ship that turned out to be a prison ship. We went under the flight path of La Guardia Airport and past the UN Building, under the Brooklyn Bridge and by Battery Park with its great view of the Statue of Liberty. For those keeping track, Battery Park marks the most southerly point of our voyage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pleasant sunny morning. Ramble On crew took the tender into shore for showers. This driver did not recognize the Canadian flags on our boats.

With the winds piping up we left at 10:30 and enjoyed a pleasant run down Long Island Sound to Oyster Bay home to Teddy Roosevelt’s Summer White House. Before turning in we could see the the New York City skyline including the distinctive Empire State Building. This is an interesting park like harbour with many arms to it. Many, many expensive homes and sailing boats. We went in about 6 nm to West Harbor. Tucked in this far there are some moored boats but we are the only anchored boats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pleasant passage the few miles back up the river. No wind forecasted but we saw largeish white caps as we got to the Sound so we had quite a nice sail ?⛵️ sometimes 7+ knots. Arrived early afternoon at Port Jefferson and took a mooring ball which includes a tender.

Linda, Wilma and I took the tender ashore although it wasn’t much of a town I enjoyed walking some of the residential area and seeing some historic mid-1800s homes. On the tender back to our boats the driver asked us if Canada uses the euro as its currency. We told him no the dollar but pretty sure he took that to mean USD. Kinda went with the enormous 9 storey high US flag on the power plant on the harbour’s west side.

Beautiful evening on Ramble On enjoying pizza made from scratch and the sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was forecast to be a very low wind day but nonetheless we had most of it under sail as we headed down Long Island Sound under overcast skies. It’s roughly a 2 nm trip up a narrow winding waterway to a large anchoring pool. Very calm and peaceful place (thank you US Chris!) Unfortunately we don’t have many days to spend chilling here as it’s a perfect spot to do so.

After lunch we dinghied into the quaint town there. It’s on the rail line to NYC and we expect has some very wealthy folks there given the cars we saw and the upscale shops. Then it was back to the boats for some boat work, chilling and, of course, cocktails. Lovely evening although now nightfall comes much to early. ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decided to see more of Mystic especially the Seaport Museum. It is an Upper Canada Village meets ships. Fabulous place. We spent the afternoon but it wasn’t nearly long enough. Apart from coopers, blacksmiths, etc. there are several old ships. The most delightful was the whaling ship built in 1841 and is the oldest still floating merchant ship in the US. After its restoration a few years ago it was once again taken out sailing, the first time in 90 years! It has lots of information on-board and demonstrations like taking the sails in at the end of the day. Will make a point of going there again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrible night with the boat rocking a lot-most unpleasant. Not unhappy to leave at 8:30. Had to avoid a fleet of pleasure fishing boats getting out of the harbour but after that it was a straight 20 nm shot on mostly a beam reach. Full jib and partial main kept us going at 7 knots, very pleasant and made up for last night.

Passed north of Fishers Island and then took down the sails to begin the winding trek up the river to our marina.

 

 

 

 

Late afternoon we took an Uber and enjoyed walking around the well preserved old town and had a lovely dinner at the 1750 Captain Daniel Packer Inne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off at 8 to do the 48 nm to Point Judith. Sunny skies but curent against us for Vineyard Sound. Because of the current and the batteries badly needed a charge we motor sailed. Out of the Vineyard Sound and into Rhode Island Sound we turned the engine off and enjoyed four and a half hours of sailing. The wind was directly behind us so we had to head up and throw in a few jibes to make our destination. Even from three miles offshore at Newport (think New York YC, America’s Cup) we could plainly see the enormous mansions (summer homes) the Robber Barons had built in the late 1800s. Good grief!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day opened calm but very overcast. As we were making our minds up when to leave heavy rains came with winds in the high teens. Decided not to go and just hunker down. Rains ended late morning but the cold winds kept up. Had to go ashore to pay for the extra night and was soaked within 20’ of leaving the boat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to winds we stayed to explore. The island has a very good bus service, one can get an all day ticket for only $5. Saw a bit of our town, Vineyard Haven, then hopped a bus for Edgartown. Lovely old town with treed streets and lovely old homes and churches. A pleasure to walk around. Somewhat touristy but enjoyable nonetheless. We then hopped a bus to Oak Ridge to do some alcohol shopping … our town has no such store as it was dry up until recently. Oak Ridge was almost the antithesis of Edgartown rather down market with a Coney Island feel. Returned to our town and enjoyed a nice (but late) lunch before a bit of boat then groc shopping and returning to our boats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off the dock early to fuel up and catch the favourable current on the canal. There are many warnings against moving with a foul tide using words like, “bank suction”! All went well and we even broke the canal speed limit but the patrol boats didn’t pull us over.

 

 

Then it was into Buzzards Bay and some sailing. We decided against the Woods Hole cut due to unfavourable currents and aimed for Quicks Hole but seeking entertainment Peter and I went through the narrower but closer Robinson’s Hole. Tricky — faced only 1+ knots of current against going in and coming out but over 3 knots halfway through. Lots of eddies but the boat steered well and we popped out nicely at the other side.