Delivering my boat from Wickford, RI to Stamford, CT

shemandr · Jun 7, 2013

I would think Wickford to Stonington Ct would be a leg. Stonington to Stamford another. Assuming you are single handed and not able to go 24 hours you will need to rest. You'll go a lot further if you go with the tide and rest during the adverse tide - if possible.
In Stonington there is anchorage, moorings and dockage.
If you can go through Watch Hill Passage into Stonington from Newport with the tide, you will not have to deal with the Race (although LI Sound sailors say its all about the Race). If you don't like Stonington, I would suggest Mystic River, or Noyack. Fisher's Island Sound can be intimating for those who haven't gone through it much, but if you have a GPS and pay attention it is very doable.
Backing up, the race isn't that bad but if you are traversing against the current it will be a bit slow, you may be making only a knot or two over the ground, and see standing waves. It's easy to get into a course that walks down the tide rip without making much progress across. You should cross it at as close to 90 degrees as you can, despite the loss in speed and get to the other side ASAP.
An alternative is to bypass the race and go south of Fisher's Island, Plum Island, and go through Plum Gut to enter the Sound. If you are lucky, or plan well you can get the early incoming or slack at the Gut and enjoy an incoming tide well into the Sound on the way to Stamford.
I'm sure others have other tips.

jibes138 · Jun 7, 2013

The tide will be a key factor. Also you need flexibility for weather. You can get fog at any time and the prevailing south westerly winds means you will have a high probability of being hard on the wind most of the trip. If you can plan for a weather forecast of southerly winds to get a broad reach the whole way it would help a lot.
The north side of Fisher's Island has two great anchorages. I recommend you anchor the first night in the west harbor, from there you pull the hook and can catch the incoming tide just North of the race and have a favorable current for the next 6 hours. If you end up pounding into it you can stop at Duck Island in Westbrook and drop a hook for the night. From Fisher's Island to Westbrook is a good day sail for a single hander.

So leave Wickford on an outgoing tide, ride that out to Pt. Judith, then catch the incoming tide to ride it along the RI coast through Watch Hill pass and down Fisher's Island Sound. Newport to Mystic is about 35 miles, so at 5 knots figure 7 or 8 hours and add an hour or two for Wickford to Newport, that should be a good day of sailing for a single hander.

This sounds more like a three day trip to me. Bad weather and fog could make it longer.

rajhnsn · Jun 8, 2013

I've gone between Fisher Island and Watch Hill Point a number of times and never had a problem. We usually end up staying in Noanc. There is a break water there if you want to anchor but I don't know about the bottom. There are moorings behind the breakwater but they are likely private. I've pulled up to a T doc at the marine for a layover and was never charged as well. It looks like you would have a short first day (maybe 8 hours) from Wickford to Noank and a long day two (maybe 12 or 13 hours). There are many Southern Shore Connecticut towns to stop in, some better than others, to break day two into two days. Consulting the guides will give you the best options.

JustDucky · Jun 8, 2013

I agree with jibes138. Have done this trip many times and the itinerary suggested is the same one I would plan to use.

FourPoints · Jun 9, 2013

Where in Stamford are you docking at, or will you be on a mooring?

jibes138 · Jun 10, 2013

You can tuck into the Thames River and anchor in front of New London, or grab a dock, or you might be able to drop a hook in Niantic, otherwise you will be looking at the Connecticut River. There is a marina on the Groton side of the Thames River right at the mouth of the Thames you might be able to get a transient slip. Like I said before you reserve a slipyou need to be flexible with the weather. If the wind is a Westerly you can get a lot of chop with the long fetch up the sound and coupled with currents it can really slow you down. I have sailed for an hour straight at 5 knots and remained in exactly the same position. Planning the tides will be crucial to your speed but also your comfort. Try to get at least one more person for a crew.

william24424 · Jun 10, 2013

Sailing...

Sailed from Crockers boatyard, New London, outside Fishers Island to Newport, one long day sail. Then weeks later, from Newport to Marion, Ma. another full day sail. My advice is to leave early, delivering a boat is completely exhausting even in the best of weather. Have radio channels for harbors/marinas you'd like to stay, and write down phone numbers as well, plan to take the following day off work (sleep) when you finally arrive at your destination. I slept for almost 13 hours straight after my last delivery.

FourPoints · Jun 10, 2013

MollyMaguire said:
FourPoints--I'll be on a mooring on the west side of the harbor

I'm over in Wescott cove at seaview. Spent 3 years in the east fork, but got tired of my hull getting stained with "discharge" from the city's waste treatment facility.

Not to hijack the thread, but are you new to the area? Always looking to meet more local Sailors...

newsailor130 · Jun 10, 2013

want crew? i'd help. schedule permitting.

NYSail · Jun 10, 2013

What kind of a boat are you purchasing?

jibes138 · Jun 11, 2013

Be very careful in Fisher's Island sound!! There are many areas with submerged rocks, so study the charts carefully and understand where all the navigation aides are located. There is a channel right down the middle that the ferries out of New London follow. To the South of that channel is a long reef of rocks on the North side of Fishers Island. I've seen many boats hit the rocks, so be careful. The channels into the two harbors are well marked and plenty of room to anchor up in either spot.
If you hit dense fog along the RI coast you can navigate just by depth sounder. Stay in 30 feet of water. If it gets shallow head a little more south, if it gets deep head a little more north. Keep watch for fishing boats but you shouldn't see any barges or large vessels in only 30 feet of water. Watch Hill pass is a little tricky, the chart has a few places to enter. Use the one closest to watch hill, that is the main channel used by the ferry boats. There is a big reef of rocks between Fishers Island and watch hill so best to stay in the main channel

shemandr · Jun 11, 2013

The Watch Hill Pass is easy. It's well marked, and well traveled. It is a straight shot. I've done it in the worst fog you can imagine without a chart plotter. If you don't have a chart plotter make sure the Red Bell Buoy #2, I think, is in your GPS waypoints and the Napatree Point Red Bell #6 too.
Do not use the Sugar Reef, or other passages East of Fisher's Is. You don't need the drama.
From R"6" you go 287 degrees to R "20". Come to 270 and pass Interpid rock and you're through.
There are a lot of Lobster Pods so keep a good watch.
I'll be up there Thursday for Off Soundings Spring Series and I'm really looking forward to it.