Anchorages in and around Mystic, CT

[Daniel H. Pitman]

I am a Narragansett Bay/Block Island sailor who is looking to venture down the Long Island Sound for a change. The first logical destination for me is the Mystic area. This trip looks to be do-able in a day (or maybe a long day depending on the wind and tide). Can anyone recommend me some nice places to drop the hook from say....Watch Hill, RI to West Mystic, CT? Thanks in advance,Dan Pitmans/v "Essayons"

 

[Chris McLoughlin]

If you are traveling. . .

mid week, you can drop the hook at Napatree, just outside Watch Hill cove.Check your anchor, there are some patches of ell grass there, There is a dingy dock at the Watch Hill town dock you can use to go to town. If it is the weekend, Napatree will be VERY crowded, but doable if you don't mind crowds.You can also rent dock space at the town dock. A little pricey about 2.00 a ftBut watching the Sun set across Little Narragansett bay in the evening is priceless. If you want to do that get there early they only have about 5 transient slips. I can't remember what vhf channel they monitor, but it's not 9 Check the cruising guide.In the Mystic area, the first mooring area you come to in Mystic harbor (its actually Noank) is crowded and far from town. Just south of Murphy Point, before the first bridge (the railroad bridge) is a small mooring area to your starboard. There are always a few town transient moorings available (STAY IN THE MARKED CHANNEL) This is an easy dinghy ride to the dinghy dock in town. Farther up the Mystic river, Past the rt 1 bridge and past the Mystic Seaport there are 3 more town transient moorings available.BTW if you are a Mystic Seaport member you can get a discounted slip at the seaport. If you are traveling with children (or even if you are not) thats a real treat, the seaport to yourself and the other boaters after its closed for the evening to the general public!Hope this helps.Let me know if you need more info.ChrisS/V Tidsong

 

[Daniel H. Pitman]

Thanks Chris, I plan to arrive Sunday ....

I plan to arrive Sunday and stay through Tuesday Morning. It is always nice to avoid the weekend crowds the first time to a new destination. I plan on visiting Mystic Seaport on Monday. I will put your local knowledge to good use.Thanks,Dan

 

[Paul]

Check out Stonington

Also consider Stonington, the first real town after you enter Fisher Island Sound. There is a nice sheltered anchorage just inside the harbor breakwater, and another deeper in the harbor.Also, there's a restaurant in the harbor with a long pier, free tie-up for "dock-and-diners." I forget the name, it's to starboard and well marked. Tie up, get a drink and a little food, then walk around town for as long as you like. It's not a floating dock, so a fender board is nice to have.Mystic is much larger and more interesting, of course. But this is a cool little town.