September 26th Fishers Island

Having been for a few walks around Oyster Bay and with the forecast wind from the South West at 10-15kn I left Port Jefferson on Tuesday 25^th at 7.30am to make best use of tides and currents in Long Island Sound;

I got the main up and jib out fairly quickly, but soon refurled the jib with the wind close behind us (blowing SW 15-20 gusting 25) we still were making 4-6kn with a little help from the engine, so I changed my destination from Milford (15 miles out) to Duck Island (36 miles out) the swell was about 2m from the south so was helping if making it a bit bumpy! Duck Island bay has three large breakwaters to anchor behind with about 3-4m depth on the chart, however we had one bad moment when it looked as though we had run out of water, however we found a bit more water and anchored in 2.5m close to the North breakwater to try to get some shelter, at 3pm and had a welcome cup of tea.

Sunset Duck Island

 Got up at sunrise after a fitful night on anchor watch, we did move once about 3m, and after listening to the forecast and sniffing the air decided to go, so raised the anchor at 8.45am into 1-2m swells which raised periodically to about 3m and SW winds of 15-20 gusting 25 again, got both sails up and stopped the engine! We were sailing and averaged 5.7knots for the journey, arriving in West Bay Fishers Island at just before 1pm, with only one incident when two ferries and a Coast Guard Vessel were converging on my position but we all managed to find our own bits of water and passed safely.

Long Island Sound being boisterous

West Harbour Fishers Island

September 23rd Port Jefferson

After checking tides, currents and weather on Thursday afternoon,

Sunset Oyster Bay

  I lifted the anchor at 6.45 am on Friday 21^st and left the protection of Oyster Bay, raising the main as soon as I could, although the wind was fairly close to the bow most of the way in a short swell. I managed to raise the jib for a couple of hours while tacking across Smithtown bay, working well into the bay to use a favourable current there, but getting out before being shadowed by the North Eastern shore, finally dropping all sails and motoring around the headland into Port Jefferson (after slowing to allow the two ferries to enter and leave the narrow entrance) and anchoring in 7m (5m at low water) at the Northern end of the mooring field at 4.30pm. The bay has high wooded banks on all but the seaward side which has a substantial sandbar, so is fairly well protected.

Port Jefferson Bay

Port Jefferson

Port Jefferson

September 19th Oyster Bay

Having put a towel around my head and worked out a way to get across to the North Shore of Long Island Sound without being pushed up or down the bay by strong currents or wind; I raised a very muddy anchor a little before 9am on Tuesday 11^th and with the wind tight on the bow raised the main and motor sailed across to Larchmont Bay, 

New York from the head of Manhasset Bay

Larchmont Bay from shore, Snow White far right

 anchoring on the outer edge of the mooring field (a mooring can be taken for $44 per night) at 11.30am, and was immediately taken to lunch by a cousins (Grant Rogers and his sister Sandy Thirlwall) I had never met.

Houses in Larchmont

Houses in Larchmon

Black squirrell in park

 Having been well wined and dined over the weekend, with bad weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday and Larchmont harbour not being very protected, I raised the anchor and left at first light on

Monday 17^th to use the last of the outgoing current to again cross the Sound to Oyster Bay, with little or no wind we motored all the way anchoring just before 11am and enjoyed the rest of the warm pleasant and still afternoon and night. In the morning (Tuesday 18^th) the winds were 15-25knots rising to 35-40 in the afternoon gusting to 45 from the south, the anchor bedded in nicely only moving about 3m, in the late evening after some light rain, the wind shifted to south west and brought heavy rain and lightening (still at 20-30kn) then at 3.30am shifted again to north at 15-30kn for a short time dying to 10-20knots when I went to bed! The rest of Wednesday was a glorious autumn day (if a little chilly, we have dropped to the low twenties!) I went ashore in the afternoon and found the home and grave of Theodore Roosevelt within a mile and a half of the landing at the south end of Oyster Bay. 

Sagamore Hill, Roosevelts home

Oyster Bay

Swan and egret

While I was having my breakfast an osprey splashed into the water beside us and left with his breakfast, and at teatime a swan swam by, it has been a lovely day.

September 9th Manhasset Bay

With the weather looking horribly iffy, I decided to stay put as the bay seems nicely sheltered, so I took a few walks around Port Washington and around, allot of trees so photos did not show much, a nice town with a mix of old and new and all well hidden with green stuff. They designed, built and flew the flying boats from here, though there is no museum only the odd pictures and a art piece.

Pond in Port Washington

Horseshoe Crab

Manhaset Bay from S end

Flying Boat Memorial

Yesterday (Saturday 8^th ) was one I hope does not get repeated, the forecast 15-20 knot winds started early rising quickly and staying at 20-35knots gusting to 48 until evening when the wind shifted from South to North and thankfully died to 1-5 knots, leaving today a glorious sunny day with only the odd breath of wind, even the yacht races were abandoned with a number of boats being towed back to shore.

Storm lifting