Essex...Watch Hill...Block

[NYSail]

Hello all

Getting ready for two weeks away. Never been through Fishers Island Sound. Will be coming from the west with the favorable tide; Mt. Sinai, Essex, Watch Hill, Block. Looking at the charts it looks like a lot of rocks in Fishers Island Sound. Anything I should know except not to hit them?

Thanks
Greg
P36-2 #101
Four the Soul

 

[Rich Stidger]

Greg,

Essex: Good anchoring on the east side of the river opposite the town on the Essex Shoal just east and between R"26" and R"28". Good holding, short dinghy ride across. Several nice restaurants on the main street, easy walk from the water. See picture below.

Watch Hill: Watch the buoys on the entrance. You can hug Sandy Point to the stbd, keep G"5" on the port for entering - it looks scary but it's easy. The water depth drops to 12 feet about 8 feet from the water's edge on Sandy point. Be sure to stay in the channel until you reach R"22". The channel is narrow but well marked. After passing R"22", hang right and head for the beach. Good anchoring in a large area. Nice town and shops. Carousel for the kids. Good swimming on the bay side where you are anchored, cross over the dunes to the ocean side for a nice beach and water. See picture below.

Block Island: Anchor (quite limited) or take a mooring in Great Salt Pond. Best to arrive mid-week; can be crowded on weekends. Champlains Marina offers free launch service. 45 minute walk to town. You can walk from the town to Southeast lighthouse for a tour- figure an hour each way from the town for the walk. It was moved back from the cliff's edge about 15 years ago.

Oh yeah, stay off the rocks.

 

[NYSail]

Thanks! What about heading east through Fishers Island Sound? Anything I should be aware of?

Greg

 

[Rob19574]

Greg - I am not sure if this is your first time to Block Island or not but here are some reccos:
- You can rent a bike for the day (s) right off the salt pond landings (short walk from dingy dock located in front of the Oar). Its a great way to get around the island and explore.
- Take a look at a review on my blog for BI for more reccos:
http://cruisingguide.blogspot.com/2005/02/ri-block-island-new-england-us.html

I think Fishers Island Sound can be tricky so read up on that. I don't have much knowledge on that particular area.

have a great trip!

 

[seadaddler]

Charts

I don't remember being a big deal in fisher Island sound with my chartplotter,pretty sure it is well marked when I went to Mystic a few times also nice place to stop before going to BI.
Block Island is very nice went a few times and had a nice time anchored out in the pond for a week,get to block on a week day,like Monday to Thursday is better and anchoring is better with more room and less boats.
In 2007 I did Essex,Mystic,Watch hill,BI
Have fun on your trip and hope you have good weather.
Boat less on Long Island,doing a lot of Kayaking and biking too hot for sailing in Florida.
Nick

 

[Mike G.]

Fishers Island Sound isn't that tricky. The North / NE shore of Fishers Island is rocky in spots but well charted.

As Rich states, Watch Hill/Napatree looks scary but is easy if you follow the "highway."
If I can do it, anyone can!!

Feel free to send me Private email.

Mike

 

[Amere]

Greg,

I'll echo what Rich said about Watch Hill/Napatree. It's easy but watch the buoys just remember to stay south of the green at Sandy Point. It looks scary especially if another boat is coming the other way. Takes a good 40-45 minutes in.

Essex is about an hour up the Connecticut River, easy trip, but may take longer if the RR bridge is down. Cannot predict when a train is coming through and they usually wait for one in each direction.

Fishers Island Sound is no problem, some rocks close to the island but it's pretty easy. Lots of sailboats, some classic especially out of Mystic. When entering you must cross New London harbor so watch out for the ferries and possible submarine.

BI can be a madhouse on the weekend. Town moorings usually are gone almost every evening. Harbormaster can rent out private moorings sometime around 1700 so you might want to call him when you get in.

Bill

 

[tweitz]

Just did Fishers Island Sound a couple of weeks ago. No real problems as long as you pay attention to the currents and charts. Its a good idea to monitor the VHF for Navy ships, but even more keep an eye out for the ferries, whcih tend to assume you will get out of their way. Its a great place to sail

 

[NYSail]

Thanks!!! I didn't think it would be such a big deal going though Fishers Island Sound, but love to get input prior to a new voyage...

Bill, that is good to know about private moorings in Block Island. Last year we ended up staying at Panes in a slip....not so bad, but not the solitude that we were looking for. We plan to get there late morning / early afternoon and hope to grab a town mooring. Just bought a Honda 2000 generator....WOW the thing is so quiet when charging the batteries. Another addition to help my cruising and staying on moorings.

Again thanks to all for the input!!
Greg

 

[shemandr]

Fisher's Island Sound: Current and Fog. No probem if you follow a chart in clear weather. In fog I would have GPS for sure. Radar is good if you are dodging the New London/Orient Point ferries in the fog.
Watch Hill: All good advice above. One addition: When you get to the end of the channel be very careful about rounding the last bouy on the correct side. There are rocks just west of the channel and a friend seriously damaged his Catalina on them.
Use the Watch Hill Passage to Block Island. Lord's passage and Sugar Reef are OK but the bouyage can be confusing. Study the chart ahead until its clear in your mind.
Have a great time.

 

[Juggernaut]

We ran through Lord Passage last weekend. Going east it can be very confusing. The one nice part was that if you hit it eastbound with the ebb current, you come out like a champagne cork! GPS said 9 knots while the knot meter said 5.5.

 

[jibes138]

Options

If Fisher's Island Sound makes you nervous you can always go through the race, then on the east side of fishers island cut back in if ytou want to go to Napatree point. You can head directly to block by going through the race and it is probably a shorter course than going through the sound. You might also want to spend a night in Mystic where you can visit the Mystic Seaport and Aquarium and the shops along the main street. PETERSEA who is a regular contributor should be looked up in Noank if you have questions about the area. Stonington is another harbor that's a good anchorage out near the breakwater, but not much to do in Stonington village.

Hello all

Getting ready for two weeks away. Never been through Fishers Island Sound. Will be coming from the west with the favorable tide; Mt. Sinai, Essex, Watch Hill, Block. Looking at the charts it looks like a lot of rocks in Fishers Island Sound. Anything I should know except not to hit them?

Thanks
Greg
P36-2 #101
Four the Soul

 

[SanderO]

If you enter FI sound from the WEST between the two dumplings you can fetch the entrance to Stonnington on a straight run. With visibility you simply honor the buoys, in fog radar will do the trick.

Don't eat the tide if you can avoid it, it runs fast so you want it fair or slack.

If you come into the FIS from south there are several passes, well marked and easy to pass. You might consider some engine assist if the winds are not strong enough.

Stonington is known to be a but rolly, but the town is as cute as a button.