Stamford to Shelter Island

So, after the yard work I decided to take a week off to cruise out to see friends at Shelter Island and Southold, on the Little Peconic Bay.  

It's nice to have a goal.

It's also tough to drop the lines and leave.

We get used to shore attractions, like Internet, shopping, seeing friends, a car, stable and constant electricity, and so forth.  All of those things are like docklines holding one to the dock. As each connection drops a feeling of relief and apprehension increase.  Wow, I'm going!  Can I do this?

Well, yes, yes I can.

It's been a strange few weeks out on Long Island Sound - the wind has been out of the east for a fair bit of time, and since I'm going east I'll be heading directly into it.  The sad part is that going east into an east wind is that on an outgoing tide with current against the wind, there's short, steep and uncomfortable chop.

My first day was to Port Jefferson, where I anchored near Conscience Bay - off to the west of the PJ entrance.  It's a wide area that used to be mostly empty, but is now mostly moorings with the north side the only anchorage.  The depths where you can anchor are 8 - 30 feet deep, so you have to pick your place carefully.  Which. being a professional, I did.  Because I had crossed Long Island Sound as well as headed east, the ride was pretty ok.  I couldn't sail, but a 4 hour motor was fine.

The anchorage was empty.  It was glorious!  And man, it was great to get out of the wind and salt spray.

It's funny - the same conditions in overcast weather and sunny weather create completely different feelings - impending doom versus grand adventure.  It takes a bit to realize it's all the same and enjoy whatever the conditions are.

So.  Next day - Shelter Island.  When I got up I could see the wind hadn't lessened or even changed direction.   The Sound had all night to get itself into a tizzy.  And it did. 

As I left Port Jeff around 7 in the morning turning east it was rough.  Video above.  It doesn't look like much and this isn't the worst - just a sample. Just realize the bow is pitching in 6 foot swings - sometimes much more, taking waves over the anchor.   

Now, I'm not complaining.  It was still fun.  Well, until the engine decided that it was going to have a fuel issue.  Then things got more interesting.  I had to crack off to a northerly course and set the jib and mizzen to get Pelican to take care of herself while I changed the Racor fuel filter on the engine.  It looked ok, but I suspect that the sloshing around had something to do with it. 

Then, the when I went to start the engine, the high temperature alarm sounded. It hadn't had enough time to cool off, but although the alarm goes on at 195, it won't reset until 175.  It runs at 180, so I had to wait until it cooled off a bit before starting.  In the meantime, it was a pretty rousing sail, tacking back and forth between New Haven and some point east of Port Jefferson. It was apparent that some organization was needed below - but for the time being everything that could end up on the floor did.

Soon, and by that I mean four hours later, I rounded Orient Point, and the wind was then behind me.  Woohoo!  Now we're talking!  Broad reach to Shelter Island!  

Eventually, I arrived at West Bay - thankfully my friend, Caitlin, was on her boat and called me to tell me I was on the wrong side of the bouy- the sun was setting in my eyes so I couldn't really tell the color or shape and it didn't make sense.  

After avoiding a faux pas, I anchored in the assigned area.  A long and adventurous day!  Caitlin and her mom invited me to her boat for dinner - a very welcome warm meal...