Block Island

[Steve Braverman]

Have any of you been to Block Island? I am thinking of taking a cruise out there this summer with my wife who will be 7 or 8 months pregnant at the time. Where is a good place to get a transient slip and a hotel room for a few nights? Am I crazy? It's about 45 miles from where I live. This will be our first sail to an actual destination.

 

[JIM H]

Steve have been to block island numerous times, the best marina to stay at( considering your wife's condition) is the Block Island Boat Basin. They do not raft up boats there. They do require reservations however.There are many hotel's and b&b's to choose from, again i would do some research and make reservations as soon as possible as the summer is very crowded. good luck and congradulations jim h.

 

[Rob19574]

Brave Man

Steve - You are a brave man 7-8 month preg but if she is OK with go for it. My wife is the same 7.5 monts preg right now....at best we will do an overniter to Greenport. I sail out of Mattituck - Catalina 30 named "Rum Swizzle"Check out my Blog: http://cruisingguide.blogspot.com/ I have a whole section on Block Island I wrote from several trips I made myself. It about a 9-10 hour sail from Cutchoge.Your best bet is to sail into the New Harbor and get a place at the Narraganset Inn. You could safely anchor just off the pier at Paynes marina and get a lift in via water-taxi or take your dink (there is a beach you can leave your dink on off Narragast Inn).You could also stay on the boat in the harbor - very protected and safe. 3rd opton is Champlains marina (in the NEw Harbor)...you can keep your boat at a dock for a fee....Paynes is also a docking option and much cheaper than Champlains. Look their numbers up on my blog.PS - BI is my favorite sailing destination!!Good Luck - Rob

 

[tweitz]

There is a nice destination video available at www.t2p.tv . Go to the archives of films and there is a seciton on Block Island race week and it includes a destination video. You need to sign in for free, so I can't just paste in the link. Have a great time. I sail in the same general vicinity, out of Three Mile Harbor, East Hampton. I may be stopping over in Mattituck this weeekend on my way home with the new boat (weather and crew permitting). Any suggestions on overnighting in Mattituck?

 

[Rob19574]

Mattituck

Ted - which side of the fork in Mattituck? Their is the LI Sound vs. the Peconic Bays. On the Sound side you could moore at the end of the canal and then walk into town. Ground is very soft though for anchoring...you could pick up a mooring or try one of the town docks.On the Bay side of Mattituck - its very residential....James Creek (where I keep my boat) has an area you could drop anchor....may want to try Robbins Isalnd area in Cutchoge...some restaurants and stuff in range of an overnight stay.Check my blog on the link I posted earlier.Rob

 

[tweitz]

Mattituck

On the sound side. I had my new boat delivered in huntington and intend to sail it down to Three Mile Harbor. If I stay on the Long Island side, there is no midpoint for a stopover, its either short first day (Mt. Sinai or Port Jeff) or short second day (Mattituck). I am disinclined to try to push it in one day since its a long trip and i don't want to try doing the Race at dusk or after dark in a brand new, unfamiliar boat.

 

[Rob19574]

Did the same run

Funny - I picked up my Catalina 30 in Huntignton too! Did the exact same thing:Huntington - Port JeffPort Jeff - Mattituch Inlet (Sound)Mattituck inlet - Peconic bays (around Oreint).Not a whole lot to do in between...good luck- Rob.

 

[BarryL]

Mattituck

Hello,I can't help you with Block Island (never been there, one of these days...)But last year I sailed from Mt. Sinai to Mattituck. The trip is about 25 nm. We stayed at Matt A Marr Marine2255 Wickham Avenue Mattituck, New York 11952 631-734-2308$3.00 ft + $6 30A elec Monitor VHF Channel 9, 10, & 68Note that the water gets pretty shallow in the creek. I timed my trip so that I left Mt. Sinai at high tide and arrived at low tide. My boat draws 5'. I saw 4' on the depthfinder a few times (the transducer is located at the bottom of the hull, so it's about 2' under sea level). Matt A Mar was nice, and the town has some cure stores. It would be a good place to lay over.Thanks,BarryBarry LenobleNoble Prize1986 Newport 28Mt. Sinai, NYlenoble@optonline.net

 

[nick maggio]

Crazy

Where are you coming from the sound side or peconic side,block is a great place but by boat with wife pregnant 7 0r 8 months,its a long trip and weather is a big if good luck.I am hoping to make the trip as soon I have the time to make it fun.

 

[nick maggio]

Crazy

Where are you coming from the sound side or peconic side,block is a great place but by boat with wife pregnant 7 0r 8 months,its a long trip and weather is a big if good luck.I am hoping to make the trip as soon I have the time to make it fun.

 

[nick maggio]

Crazy

Where are you coming from the sound side or peconic side,block is a great place but by boat with wife pregnant 7 0r 8 months,its a long trip and weather is a big if good luck.I am hoping to make the trip as soon I have the time to make it fun.

 

[nick maggio]

Crazy

Where are you coming from the sound side or peconic side,block is a great place but by boat with wife pregnant 7 0r 8 months,its a long trip and weather is a big if good luck.I am hoping to make the trip as soon I have the time to make it fun.

 

[nick maggio]

Crazy

Where are you coming from the sound side or peconic side,block is a great place but by boat with wife pregnant 7 0r 8 months,its a long trip and weather is a big if good luck.I am hoping to make the trip as soon I have the time to make it fun.

 

[Steve Braverman]

Other Suggestions?

Maybe I should set my sights on someplace closer. This would be our first real cruise. Last year was our first with the boat, and we only daysailed it around the Sound from Mt. Sinai Harbor. This year we're moored in Cutchogue Harbor in the Peconic. We want to "go somewhere" with the boat before the baby come and "our lives end." (My phrase, not hers.)Shelter Island is so close, it's almost pointless. I taught at Greenport High School, so that town has lost most of its allure for me. Now I'm thinking maybe Montauk, or Mystic.Montauk could be fun, but what's there to do besides fish and drink? Mystic could be fun too. Although I would love to stay at the museum on the boat, she isn't interested in sleeping onboard in her "condition." Are there any accomodations that are very close to dockage in Mystic?My wife says she's up for the long trip, but I'm the one wimping out. (Being trapped on a small vessel with a cranky wife scares me more than sinking.)

 

[Rob19574]

Three Mile Harbor - East Hampton, NY or Sag

Steve,Then try 2 places on the South Fork:1- Three mile harboror2- Sag Harbor. Sag might be your best bet b/c they have a town dock and restaurants/shops all within walking distance. DOn't know how good your wife will be on a mooring so you should probally considor staying on a dock. Rob

 

[John Nantz]

"Walk the Boat" to Better Cruising Grounds

Don't know what size boat you have but it apparently isn't a trailer boat - or is it?I can really understand your urge to cruise somewhere with your still-new boat; been-there-done-that! However, with regard to your wifes 'condition' as you call it, my SO said 'you're crazy' going to an island at 7 to 8 months. Also, boats can lurch which can throw someone who is already "mobility challenged" and perhaps cause injury. 'Stuff' can happen. By the way, the north end of Block can get really choppy.Is it possible to 'walk the boat' to somewhere a weekend at a time? Maybe you singlehand while your wife drives over to meet you at some area with better cruising grounds and then the following weekend you two can do your cruising from an area with roads attached?Use his & her cell phones or FRS radios to stay in touch so you can meet up easier.This is the time of the year where it's really hot and humid so she will likely be pretty uncomfortable. You are very fortunate to have a wife that would consent to such an adventure at this stage (or, for that matter, at any stage!) so take care. For that matter, the timing semed pretty good because it didn't totally ruin the cruising year (could have been much worse). Come next year things should be much better (unless, of course, you have twins!!!! *yks)