Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
Alex,
Most of the places you list are nice stops, but not necessarily destinations.
Manhasset Bay (Port Washington) - skip it unless you need fuel.
Huntington Bay is nice - we like Northport rather than Huntington because the town is closer to the harbor. Some great beaches and nice anchorages.
Port Jefferson - has a beautiful harbor but it is getting harder and harder to find anchoring room as there are more and more private moorings in the outer anchorages. Town is kind of honkey tonk, but worth an afternoon visit. The sand dunes are worth a visit.
Greenwich CT Skip it. Go by car.
Stamford CT - OK place to stop if you need to but not a destination.
Norwalk CT - Fun downtown with great restaurants and super Maritime Aquarium for the kids. Cove Marina is a long way from town and dockage nearer town is slim pickings.
NYC (possible stop, time permitting) - Slow down and take some photos, but keep going. NYC is a destination all its own and not a place to squeeze in.
The problem with cruising on LIS is that there are hundreds of great gunkholing destinations. Your list only scratches the surface, but you are right to try and prioritize. Given that you will miss a ton of good stuff no matter what you do, I would focus more on the Eastern Sound and skip most stuff West of Port Jeff.
Basically, Huntington/Northport are the westernmost destinations that you should consider. Other spots to think about would be Westbrook, Essex, Mystic, Montauk, Greenport (this is your access point to the wineries).
Jeff,
Thanks a lot for great tips. I’m starting to get better idea and looks like Greenwich and Stamford are getting crossed off the list. Chances are NYC might be off the list for this trip as well, but I’m still debating. However, I’m not too concerned about NYC as I’m in the city every day and took my boats here on several occasions. It’s only 3 hrs away from us, so I can make the trip there anytime.
For starters looks like the best candidates in the LI Sound are:
- Huntington Bay or Northport
- Port Jefferson
- Norwalk CT
Other destinations you mentioned like Westbrook, Mystic and Essex are much further east (about 65 miles eastbound). Do you think it’s worth stretching this far East or there are other closer destinations I can pick between LI and CT? I’m just thinking that when I’ll do a trip to Rhode Island (and north of it) someday I can include Mystic and Essex.
Thanks,
Alex.