Winter Sailing in Western Long Island Sound

[hugosalt]

Sunday January 9th 2011
Brad, David and Hugo on Brad's Beneteau 50,
great day even with freezing spray and icy decks.
Favorite shot of the day...sundown with New York City
in bkgd.
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[hugosalt]

Day started out with thawing lines and removing ice from deck,
and...Brad diving to checks his zincs! Water about 40f give or take.
Spent most of day with double reef main and patch of reefed
headsail as was gusting to around 35 knots. After sunset temp
dropped enough for spray to freeze.
For the observant, we were not trying to BBQ between the gusts
and did secure shortly after photo session!
Did not see another boat on the water.
Anyone else out there this winter in Long Island Sound.
Hugo

[Soundbounder]

NICE!!!!

I have noticed some boats out occasionally.

[Cotemar]

Wow. You guys are crazy. Nice pictures though

[hugosalt]

"Wow. You guys are crazy."

So I've been told!
Next time a little less wind and maybe
wait till above 32f

[hugosalt]

Was going to start a new thread when I remembered this one. However did'nt realize how long ago it was.
Still sailing out of Manhasset bay thru winter here and thanks to mild conditions was able to sail 9 days in January.
Later this week will be the second time this winter I will winterize the motor as temps will dip down to single digits, 1st was around Christmas for a few days.
There are 2 boats who sail regularly other than the YC frostbiters.
Have not spotted any seals yet this winter but every once in a while see a few boats
from nearby, Saturday saw (think) Ranger26 maybe out of City Island.
Also sometimes boats from maybe Glen Cove or Mamaroneck.
Anyone sailing the Long Island sound this winter?
Have cranked up the diesel heater and rerouted a duct thru a port into the cockpit
under a large blanket and has worked better than expected.
Anyone want to sail?

[Jamme]

I sailed out of Stamford until mid Dec this year, and generally I am back out on the water by early March… But have never sailed this area in Jan nor Feb… Definitely hard core, but good for the soul [emoji6]
Fair winds.

[hugosalt]

Sound can be pretty sporty in March as well!
Actually not so hardcore, we pick our days.
A sunny day mid 30's and warmer not so bad.
This January has been kind to us, last year think I had 2nd reef in just about all winter.
Key as far as boat goes is winter slip in creek protected on 3 sides at foot of Manhasset bay that only freezes up with extended very cold spell. Not this year...so far.
Diesel heater helps mostly to warm up after return.
If you want to sail let me know, one of our crew came from Albany another regular
comes in from Pennsylvania.

[Kd9truck]

Well done mate!

Not this season I have stored wet in Glen cove, I still leave it as an option, where do you keep your vessel? I-am in Oyster bay in summer.

[Knotical]

Hugo, I envy you, given the weather that we had this winter I wish I had kept the boat in water, I am at the shipyard right next to you.

Btw, we have spoken on the phone before and have a mutual friend in Little Neck bay.

Happy sailing

[hugosalt]

Sail out of small protected marina in Manhasset Bay in winter and off a mooring at Steppingstone just south of the lighthouse in summer.
I crew on the the old (1883) gaff rigged oyster dredger Christeen at the Waterfront center on Oyster Bay.

[hugosalt]

Knotical,
Yes I remember, happy that worked out .
Tom sails with us all winter. I will PM you.

[Kd9truck]

Originally Posted by hugosalt

Sail out of small protected marina in Manhasset Bay in winter and off a mooring at Steppingstone just south of the lighthouse in summer.
I crew on the the old (1883) gaff rigged oyster dredger Christeen at the Waterfront center on Oyster Bay.

Ahh Christeen, I am on mooring CB-3, south east section of OBMCs southern field, a launch driver by the name of Kyle crewed on Christeen I think as well.

Your summer digs are pretty sweet, I worked on ft Totten for a few years, my office faced the navel academy. It was hard to focus when the wind is up .

I’ll keep an eye out for you this summer
Cheers

[Plumbean]

Originally Posted by hugosalt

Sail out of small protected marina in Manhasset Bay in winter and off a mooring at Steppingstone just south of the lighthouse in summer.
I crew on the the old (1883) gaff rigged oyster dredger Christeen at the Waterfront center on Oyster Bay.

If you were out there on Saturday I think I saw you on the way in. Was coming home from doing some work on my boat. Light blue hull?

[hugosalt]

Have a good idea where you are as we haul Christeen in spring at OBMC for bottom work,
but don't know Kyle (at least by name).
Steppingstone marina is just a couple hundred feet east of the Merchant Marine Academy
(Coast Guard launch their boats from our ramp).
Mooring field is in front of a 15 acre private village park, only takes me 10 minutes from my front door to sailing on the sound. But is exposed from west and north, so come mid October we relocate to our winter slip in Manhasset bay.
Come and sail.