Stuck in CT! What would you do?

[unbusted67]

Hey so after an endless refit we are snow birding it this year down to the Bahamas. So far we've made some good time down from Penobscot Bay in Maine but now we find ourselves stuck fighting tides and weather in Long Island Sound. We are currently tucked in nicely in Saybrook CT in the North Cove avoiding a pretty gross system that's blowing through.

The current starts flooding at 1pm tomorrow. What would be your plan if you were trying to make it to NYC ASAP? Here's the five day forecast with an awful lot of West in it:

Today S winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Rain this morning...then showers this afternoon. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.

Tonight SW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft. A chance of showers in the evening.

Fri W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft... Building to 2 to 3 ft in the afternoon.

Fri Night SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas around 2 ft.

Sat SW winds 10 to 15 kt...increasing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 ft.

Sat Night W winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft.

Sun NW winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 15 to 20 kt after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft...subsiding to 2 ft after midnight.

Mon NW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft...then 1 ft or less.


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[Cotemar]

You will never be able to fight the weather or currents as they are a given.

1) Embrace it for what it is and go if you have to.

2) Sit tight and make small hops as the favorable flood current will allow. Keep in mind that a west wind coming into a flooding tide will make for a very lumpy sail.

Pick your Poison

[hellosailor]

NYC ASAP?

I might just get up and go.

Check Eldridge, see what's doing with the tides in the Sound. Mid-sound they are often very different from shoreside, sometimes you will even see them reversed so knowing whether to go shoreside or mid-sound makes a difference.

When you get near the Throgg's Neck bridge, check again. If you're not making much progress, or need sleep, there's a general holding anchorage in Little Bay, just SE of the bridge by the USCG station. You can hang out there if you need to. There are a number of odd little anchorages charted in the approach to Hell Gate, don't be afraid to use them.

As for the HG itself....max current through there rarely exceeds 6 knots, so with a 35' boat and a little wind, you should be able to motorsail if need be and keep on pushing through. If you figure it can take 2-3 hours to transit the HG, East River, and round the Battery...no matter how you time it some part will be against you. You can get some odd square waves in the East River, and odd wind shadows from the buildings, so foulies and securing the hatches might be advised.

But if the key word is "ASAP"...break on through. The worst that can happen is that you'll be stuck in one place making no forward progress at the Hell Gate for 3-4 hours if the current is too much for you.

[unbusted67]

The problem is it's pretty snotty here now that S 10-15 is really 15-20 with no vis. Thinking of staying till monday


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[Stu Jackson]

Sounds like a typical day here on The Bay. What's your question?

[a64pilot]

I'd wait, what's the hurry?

[Tayana42]

Wait it out sounds like wisdom to me. Go to a nice seafood restaurant and have some hot chowder.


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[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Sounds like a typical day here on The Bay. What's your question?

Stu, let's take your boat!


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[Cotemar]

unbusted67,
If you’re in Old Saybrook, Connecticut in the North Cove, then chances are that you’re on a free mooring with the yellow marker. Stay on the free mooring until Monday and enjoy Old Saybrook. It’s a great town with lots to do and great restaurant’s.

[JK n Smitty]

I'd leave at dawn tomorrow and head for Mildford. Nice harbor, some good restaurants and nice town dock that often doesn't charge this time of year. It's about a 35 nm run from where you are.

Then on Saturday I would get down to City Island or so. That way you are set to run into NYC when you have a favorable current.

Good luck,

Jesse

[skipmac]

If you don't want to rent a car or take a taxi (and it isn't raining cats and dogs ), take the dink out the channel, turn right and less than a 1/4 mile on the right tie up at the Old Saybrook Inn. Good food not cheap but not too outrageous.

[OneEye]

How is Gonzalo affecting your plans?

[unbusted67]

Thanks guys JK I think I'll take your advise. Lil hops are good. We are on a free mooring and Old Saybrook rules. What a cool town with a nice main st. Now that we've resolved not to leave today i see the massive list of things we have to do on the boat. Might as well get to work. Thanks again all.


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[Arthur Garfield]

hellosailor has good thoughts for you.
If ASAP- Slog it into the Throgs Neck and sick your head up for plan while resting.
Gonzalo may give you favor when north of L.I. though I expect it ugly.
Take little bites.


All the Best

[hellosailor]

Zero vis can be a stopper. I know I sailed under the TN Bridge one day, at least under what sounded like the TG Bridge one day, without ever seeing it. I much prefer to SEE things that big, that close. And without radar, certainly would never try navigating the HG in the blind.

Zero viz...rarely lasts very long though.