Cruising around Long Island, NY

[lehighsail]

Can anyone suggest where I could get some itineraries for a cruise around Long Island, NY. I would like to start around the middle of May and take it leisurely stopping at points of interest and good restaurants. Would appreciate any information regarding ports, places, and generally things to be aware of. Post here or my email is Lehigh375@aol.com. Happy New Year.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I have been using ActiveCaptain to plan my sailing for this coming year. Lots of good information including reviews from people who have actually used these anchorages, marinas, etc.

Supplement that with a good cruising guide and you can spend all winter planning and waiting for spring.

(or be bold like Bene505 and go sailing all winter)

 

[Alan]

Have done this more than a few times. Do you plan to start your trip from NJ going clockwise or counter-clockwise? How long do you expect to take? There are some nice spots on the south shore but the water is skinny there so watch the channel markers. North side is not an issue. Plenty of nice picturesque harbors to visit. Make a point of stopping at the Thimble Islands on the CT side. If you have the time take a detour up the Connecticut River to Hamburg Cove and Gillette Castle (fresh water).
You'll love this trip, enjoy.

 

[Prime Time]

A ton of places

I grew up sailing the sound. There are an incredible number of choices. The waterway guide is a good place to start. Very marina oriented.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|9489|38715|803258&id=1601969

"Cruising Guide To New England Coast"
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|9489|38715|803258&id=1497807
This is a bit dated but very descriptive about the sound, yacht clubs, harbors. I use both books. They are complimentary.

There are so many great harbors, yacht clubs, anchorages to choose from.

Some of my favorite places: City Island, Oyster bay, Port Jefferson, Milford, Essex, Mystic, Fisher's Island, Stonington, Green port, shelter island.

The south shore isn't a great place for a boat with a keel. Sheepshead bay offers good restaurants.

 

[seadaddler]

Northsore LI

I think the south shore is not great for sailing your size boat,I had a 2001 290 while living on LI and sailed the east end mostly.
I did get to sail over to CT and many nice places to go to as Alan mentioned but if you really want to have a great time go to Greenport and Sag Harbor,great towns to get off the boat and walk around and eat dinner or lunch or Ice Cream and than make the trip to Block Island or over to Mystic for a great places to enjoy.
Before Leaving LI and moving to Florida my wife and I did 4 weeks on the east end of LI and CT.,my wife loved it and she is not a woman that likes to be on a sailboat that long but she had a great time and found all those places very interesting walking and eating in the nice towns in Ct.
Her'sand my most fun places was Mystic,Greenport,Sag Harbor,Block Island,you will always remember it as the best trip.
Nick

 

[tommays]

In my experience the south shore is pretty much a no go because of the issue of when you can enter the inlets and even if you get in safe your very limited to wear you can go

I love the water between the north and south forks all the way into Riverhead and never tired of the beauty and varity

The sound is nice but a lot of caution is required in knowing wear the rocks live especially on the Ct side

In general you really have to plan around the current if you want to get any wear once your around Montalk and going north

 

[RAD]

The problem with the south shore of Long Island is the inlets cause getting in and out of them can be nerve racking and forget about Moriches inlet, forget about Moriches bay too cause as of last summer there was shoaling of 3 foot at high tide in the channel.....Its a shame because if you come in at Shinnecock the inside route is so nice, friends of mine with a 42" draft called Tow boat US and asked for local knowledge and they got through coming and going so thats an option also Fire Island inlet was shoaling badly at the end of the season and I don't know the condition now (going to check after this post) any way once your inside there's a lot of place's to explore while heading toward East Rockaway inlet which is a pleasure to exit and enter of all the inlets and if you get this way PM me and I'll give you the info you need to stay out of trouble.
I bought a cruising guide at West Marine that has a lot of good info that I use a lot

 

[Bill1565]

Can anyone suggest where I could get some itineraries for a cruise around Long Island, NY. .

Itineraries is a very bad idea. If you want to enjoy yourself, you need to decide each day whehter to go or stay and if go, how far and when. Weather forecasters do the best they can, but in other fields accuracy like theirs would get yu fired.

 

[petersea]

Think about going to Mystic CT. and the Seaport. If inclined the Thames River has the sub base but very limited access sine 9/11. However it's a awesome site if you could see a sub submerge or surface (they do this outside the mouth of the Thames) Fort Trumbull is there as well . New London is also up the Thames. Not a long trip from L.I. to cross the sound if there is time. Watch Hill R.I is also a very popular anchorage area near the mouth of Pawcatuck River near Stonington CT. Block Island is a half days sail from Montauk NY or Stonington CT and is always interesting. Lots of great things and sights to see but never enough time.... Good Luck !

 

[shemandr]

Do you stay in marinas or do you prefer to anchor/moor? I can offer suggestions regarding the "East End" but need to know how you like to travel.