Cape Cod to New York?

bushway9172

bushway9172

New Member
Apr 11, 2009
490
Cape Cod, MA
Boat Info
270 Select EX 2009
Engines
496 Mag DTS
375 Horsepower
Bravo III
Well, as the boating season is quickly approaching for us on Cape Cod (hopefully the weather will permit, unlike last Spring), we are thinking up some cool, new trips.

Does anyone have any experience going from Cape Cod (or Boston) to New York City? Is this somewhat outrageous, or does it sound reasonable? Wondering about how many miles it is, and how many hours it would take. We'd definitely stop off at Newport, Block Island, and Mystic along the way (and spend the night at each port). I have looked through the charts and it doesn't look too complex.

Yes, our boat is not "huge," but I figure we could do our traveling on calm mornings (from port to port).

Anyone have any experience with the typical sea conditions from the Cape to New York (Long Island Sound)? Just looking for opinions from anyone that have done similar trips.

It's definitely a long haul, but it's a neat possibility to explore.

Thanks :thumbsup:
 
Bush, I would think with all of the available ports to tuck in along the way, and you took your time it would be fine. Might be tough to do in a long weekend, but I say go for it! Thinking of trying to get some folks to do a Memorial Day weekend get together. Any suggestions?? Vineyard, Tarpaulin, maybe ACK?
 
capecodcruiser said:
Bush, I would think with all of the available ports to tuck in along the way, and you took your time it would be fine. Might be tough to do in a long weekend, but I say go for it! Thinking of trying to get some folks to do a Memorial Day weekend get together. Any suggestions?? Vineyard, Tarpaulin, maybe ACK?
Click to expand...

Thanks, yeah New York City would be incredible. Imagine going by the Statue of Liberty on the boat! :lol:

And yes, a Memorial Day weekend get together would be nice. ACK would be a great kick-off to the Summer. We actually prefer Lambert's Cove over Tarpaulin. Have you been?
 
I did the reverse... NYC to Maine, actually. It took 6 or 7 days, if I remember correctly - and that was cruising through the night a few times. 'Course we had to zig-zag the whole way - there only a few times we could actually go straight since we were on a sailboat... wait... can I say that on this forum? :smt001

Like any large body of water, the Sound can chop up fast.

It's doable, but you really have to plan your routes well. Know the forecast and keep an eye on the weather. NEVER, NEVER try to rush or think "maybe we can go just a little further till we pull in". It's also possible you may go a few days where, because of weather, you may not even get on the boat. So you really need plenty of time to do this. In other words, don't even think about being able to accomplish this in 3 or 4 days. It might actually take you less time, but it may just as well take you much longer.

Can I assume you're going through the Cape canal and not around the cape? Any chance you could do this with someone that's done a long cruise before? That would really, really be a good idea.

If you don't already have them, get a Cruising Guide and a Chart Kit.
 
I've done the sound part of the trip in my 280 a few times. The run to block in your boat would make me take up praying regularly. If you're not fogged in, and the seas are calm (nice gentle breeze from the southeast) you can have nice big rolling seas on the way to block, like 8'. The run from Block to the sound, if you hit that at the wrong time you can expect 4' very sloppy seas with a current ripping through the race. If you go through plum gut, be prepared to crap yourself at least 3 times. It's very foggy over in that part of the sound, you could end up sitting for days waiting for the fog to lift if you don't have radar. I've never gone through the eastern part of the sound in "ideal" conditions. No wind, slack tide, no fog. that's what you are going to have to roll for a comfortable non-white knuckle trip.
 
Bush, haven't been to Lambert's. Where is it? I am in the process of getting a new to me 2001 310 so I will be chomping at the bit to go anywhere!!! Have beer, new boat, will travel!
 
Dennis- Thank you for the advice. I appreciate your expertise. We actually live on Cape Cod, so the CC Canal would not apply.

Mike- Thank you as well. Maybe we would leave out Block Island, and stick closer to the RI and CT coast. Probably a safer choice, and more accessible to marinas in case we had to duck in.

Also, how do you actually get into the downtown area (marinas, etc) in NYC from Long Island Sound? Just glancing quickly at Google Maps/Earth, it looks relatively narrow.
 
capecodcruiser said:
Bush, haven't been to Lambert's. Where is it? I am in the process of getting a new to me 2001 310 so I will be chomping at the bit to go anywhere!!! Have beer, new boat, will travel!
Click to expand...

Lambert's is almost directly across Vineyard Sound from Tarpaulin, on the MV side. We usually spot it as "one bluff to the West of Lake Tashmoo." Very nice, typically calm. Beach is as close to tropical as it gets around here, complimented by very blue water. Note: the water starts getting shallow quite a ways out from the beach, so anchor earlier rather than later (and swim/walk to shore).

Did a quick google image search to find some pictures; although, it's something you have to check out.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2840922065_79d86ef228.jpg?v=0

http://www.weneedavacation.com/Cape/mamvin/3173-9.jpg

http://www.rwilsonphoto.com/store/images/Product_Images/CC_5.jpg

The new boat sounds great! Legal Limit is actually my parent's, (I am a high school sophomore), and I do all the CSR stuff for them, and I'm also the designated Captain :lol:. Anyway, they're looking forward to doing some raft-ups, etc. this Summer :thumbsup:
 
Hey everyone.....great points presented and I agree with them all. I went with a couple of boats this past summer to NYC. Will left out of Milford, ct and headed to Oyster Bay Long Island....great anchorage! We then headed in to NYC....hells gate is the real deal but well worth checking out the brooklyn bridge, the UN, south street sea port and the Big Lady of Liberty. There is a nice marina on the Jersey side called Liberty Landing, it is a cool spot and has fuel and restaurants. I would def suggest going with another boat or two.....it could get dicy.
 
I have done the Sound into NY part of the trip many times and out as far as Block on my old 27ft. without radar.
Heck, we use to go with just a compass and a cooler.
It is pretty easy with a GPS and charts for back up.
The water can be absolutely anything.
Plan to ride with the weather and you will have a great time.
The sound dumps into the East River and past Manhattan and out to Lady Liberty.
Hard to get lost once down there.
Just fill the boat with money and go..the closer to NY you get the more everything costs.
 
Thank you guys! We definitely appreciate the optimistic outlook, and I agree that it would definitely be ideal to go with another boat (we'll have to do some planning). :thumbsup:
 
Here's something you can have some fun with...

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/AtlanticCoastViewerTable.shtml

Keep that internet window open - open the actual charts in new windows/tabs.

First, look at chart #12363. Then, pan through the Sound towards the Western end and you'll come across "East River", even though you're still basically in the Sound. Zoom in some more and you'll see "use chart 12339". Now, open that chart. You probably get the idea by now of what to do.

Note... somewhere on each chart is a scale (nautical miles). This may help answer your question of how big various areas actually are (hint... they're much bigger in real life:smt001:lol:) However, you can also use the Lines of Latitude (not Longitude) for a scale. 1 minute (1') of Latitude = 1 nautical mile.
 
For just browsing new areas over the web (eg: If I don't have the charts for my mapping software) I prefer http://marine.geogarage.com/routes It overlays the NOAA charts with GoogleEarth imagery. Let's you adjust the transparency among other things.
 
ChuckW said:
For just browsing new areas over the web (eg: If I don't have the charts for my mapping software) I prefer http://marine.geogarage.com/routes It overlays the NOAA charts with GoogleEarth imagery. Let's you adjust the transparency among other things.
Click to expand...

Thanks, just figured it would be ~180 miles one way.
I know it all depends on conditions, wind, etc. but if I averaged 30mph for the entire trip, it would take 6 hours. Obviously this would not be a race, as we would leave ourselves plenty of time on each leg of the trip.

Nice to see that this idea looks promising. If any MA/RI boaters are interested in doing a big trip like this (Wet Paint?!???!?!??!?!), it would be nice to get a whole bunch of boats going, and obviously stop off on the way. Newport to Mystic to somewhere else (maybe New Haven/Stamford/Bridgeport??? not sure).

This is sounding better and better. :thumbsup:
 
I am doing the reverse this summer. I will be leaving from my home port on the Hudson and traveling up to maybe as far as Boston. Not sure of all our stops yet, but we will hit Greenport, Newport, Provincetown, Plymouth, ???. We will be taking two weeks. We already hit Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block and Mystic so I think we'll skip those. Did you have any dates in mind yet?
 
Greg said:
I am doing the reverse this summer. I will be leaving from my home port on the Hudson and traveling up to maybe as far as Boston. Not sure of all our stops yet, but we will hit Greenport, Newport, Provincetown, Plymouth, ???. We will be taking two weeks. We already hit Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block and Mystic so I think we'll skip those. Did you have any dates in mind yet?
Click to expand...

Wow sounds great. Just realized your boat is almost double the size of ours.... What were the seas like on your trip to MV and Nantucket (manageable for a 27 footer?)?

We have no dates in mind. Do you have any idea when you'll be returning back to New York? Maybe we could follow you back. :huh:
 
We actually made that trip in our last boat, a 34 Sundancer. The seas were great that week, 2-3 ft rollers, no problem at all. I hope they are as nice this year. I think if the weather is right, it would definately be doable in a 27'. Although looking back now, I think I should have been a little better prepared for emergencies. I had a dinghy on the platform, but that's about it. No real 'ditch bag', EPIRB, liferaft, etc. and we were by ourselves. But what did I know then, that was our first year boating. I think traveling with others would be good, but at least be sure you are prepared for the unexpected.
 
Legal......

How about you ditch your parents, bring some chics (over 18 of course) and we take off.....Just kidding mom and dad.......It is nice to see you so passionate about boating.....Thats how I was your age and still am.....Make sure to thank your mom and dad for such a great opportunity they are providing for you........

Here is my planned trip

http://cruisingwetpaint.blogspot.com

I am going to do block island because I have Mud Slide withdrawel.......You are more than welcome to come along....I'm sute they can make slurpy's for ya.......I am always willing and looking to do trips.....to nantucket, vineyard, anyway........I can help you come out of your shell from a boy to man......just kidding again mom and dad......I know there are a few boats that would like to do a trip.....If you plan it, I will come....




 
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