Annual Group Trip / Route Questions

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Radiowaves

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Its trip planning time again, the Mystic group sure got us beat this year with the very early plans. Looks like a fun trip guys.

Our group of 7 or more boats are going from Thursday 7/12-Sunday 7/22, and will have a varied number of boats at different legs. The core group is traveling to Block, American Wharf, Essex Island and Fishers Island. Others may vary the trip a bit with longer stays and possible stops at Westhampton and Greenport.

My wife and I decided to skip the Wharf and stay at Block an extra day and go to Essex a day earlier than some of the group. So there is a good chance that we will be traveling alone from Block to Essex. Instead of a B-line from Block to Essex, I am planning to head to Montauk to fuel up and to possibly meet up with a friend that is not going to Block. It only adds about 7 miles to the trip.

My route question is, would it be better to head towards Connecticut River / Essex going though Plum Gut or Stay slightly east of Plum and head to Connecticut River after passing Plum Island ? I have never been through the Gut.

MTtoEssex.jpg
 
The couple of times I've done that trip I stayed east of Plum Island. Probably no big deal either way, but a little less current that way, fewer boats fishing, just seemed an easier option to me.
 
Thanks John... east seems a bit easier.

Next Question....

Has any RO here gone to Fishers Island? Looks like a quiet place with a possible New England appeal. I was told that they will bring cooked lobsters to your boat.

Next Question...

To Race or not to Race? Going and leaving Fishers, some of the group depending on where they are comming from or going to, would most likely have to go though the Race area. Is it as turbulent as some say? Would it be more advisable to head a bit west to avoid it?
 
I have always heard that Fisher's Island was mostly private and there really aren't any public docks or mooring areas where you can go with your boat unless you know someone. This may be incorrect, but I can't recall a single person ever telling me they went there by boat.
 
With John that the only real difference between the 2 routes will be traffic – mostly fishing boats hanging around the gut

Also like John said, I have never heard of anyone going to Fishers Island
 
I've been through the Race and the Gut many times.

IMO, if sea conditions are not too bad in Block Island Sound, then the turbulence in the Race will be no big deal for anything but a small boat. You will get a chop - if wind opposing tide etc. and you will feel the current affect the boat but its not something to plan a route around unless it is a nasty day in general.
 
NY- I knew someone that was a NYS trouper that worked there for a while
 
Mark, thanks for the Race information. Weather is a factor and for some reason BI sound seems to attract the winds and fog. One summer while at Townsend in GP, a couple came in very pale and shaken. It was a bit hazy out, but nothing crazy, they had no visibility going though the gut and came too close to a ferry. That stuck in my head about the gut.

We are booked at Fishers Island for 2 nights; the Fisher Island Yacht Club has about 9 transient slips. The woman who took my reservation was very nice and gave me the run down on the Island and YC. It seems very nice. It may not be a Block Island, but for a 2 night stay to check it out it should be fine. It’s another destination to add to the possible destinations.

www.fishersisland.net
www.fiyc.net

Dave, thanks for the marina photo links.
 
Sounds interesting?
Andy, Any desire to split our sag stop up. 1 or 2 nites at Fishers then 1 or 2 at Sag? It's on the way down from Mystic for me.

Brad, What sort of dock fees they quote you? Any pool?
 
Been through there in the fog as well. Pretty hairy either way you go but the Gut does have the ferry and alot of fishing boats to contend with. There's a little more room to play with in the Race as well.
 
Dave, you know I did not even ask about the rates, I am sure it is in line with most other places. I will see when the first night deposit hits my CC. I was very happy to hear about the very near by beaches, nature trails etc. I am not a real pool person, except at happy hour or band/DJ day at the Montauk YC pool…. Some nice sights. The Champlins pool is ok too.
 
I don't do pools myself either.
Kids like pools.
I have a $50K backyard pool that gets used 10 times all summer!
And the wife thinks the boat is expensive!
I use the boat!
 
Dave......I don't use my pool either........ but I do use the hot tub all the time though.

Do you use the pool at the AYC ????
 
Next questions: I have never been to Essex Island. It seems to be about 7-8 miles up river. Also I see a few steerage speed only spots.

Are there any unobvious cautions to be taken? Can you go more than no wake anywhere heading up?

Best eats? We like 5 Star to no (0) Star finger foods / drinks.

Does the little ferry a few yards to “main land” cause an inconvenience? Maybe a late night return?

Any close by attractions for the needy :--)? For me I prefer a few walks and lots of just hanging.

Are the morning spider webs as bad as I was told?

Any other first hand info is appreciated
 
When goin up the CT river, make sure you do not throw any wake in the Steerage Speed zones. The local police are always looking to catch and ticket. There are a few spots on the way where you can open it up, the areas are marked failry well.

The Griswald used to be the best place to eat, not so sure any more, new owners. There is also the Black Seal. Good food there.

The ferry isn't a problem, kinda fun for the family.

Essex island isn't called Spider Island for nothin!!!

Esses is a great stop. Enjoy it.

Jonathan
 
Jonathan speaks from experience with the local police!

Yes, EIM is "spider island".

For dinner you have the Gris - which is not as good as it used to be, and the Black Seal, which I think is much better and cheaper.

Breakfast and lunch, you can eat on the marina grounds at Marleys, or go to the Crow's Nest for lunch. Olive Oyl's is a gourmet deli in town. There is also a coffee house there. At the western end of town is the Village Provision company that has pretty decent food. There is a farmer's market on Friday afternoon right on main st.

Essex is a gorgeous village to walk around in. The "ferry" runs late on weekends, check with the driver for times.

You can take a cab to the Essex Steam Train.

Ask Wallly or Dawn if they will take you to Bennies market, awesome provisions there.

They have BBQ area's, lawns, badminton, shuffleboard, bocce balls, volley ball and the pool.
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

Sounds interesting?
Andy, Any desire to split our sag stop up. 1 or 2 nites at Fishers then 1 or 2 at Sag? It's on the way down from Mystic for me.

Click to expand...

Dave
We’re going strait to SAG from Huntington, we have no problem with 3 days there, if you go to FI just lets us know when you should be getting into SAG, if you pass on SAG we will catch up with you at WHB
 
Mike,
We walked to the train ..... LOl was fun...

Train ride was very cool.... Could do with out the smoke in the face though.....

Essex is a nice relaxing place....

Rob
 
AYC has a pool, never been in it!
Kids like pools, adults like hot tubs!

Andy, we will go to Sag, thats fine.
 
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