theroadtocruising

It has been a while since posting to the blog. The big reason was the laptop died as we were heading to the Bahamas and didn’t get it fixed until we were back in Connecticut, and trying to use the iPad was impossible. My apologies to anyone who missed our posts. Scout has been in Bridgeport, Ct since June 1st. We had a laundry list of items to get accomplished on the boat while there and our progress will be a separate post. But I thought it would be more fun to write about the start of our second year of cruising.

We left Black Rock Harbor mid morning on Saturday, August 15th because we couldn’t leave port on a Friday (yes, we follow most maritime suspicions). We had a great sail to Duck Island Roads, along the Clinton, CT shoreline. We only used the engine for about 90 minutes that day, and were able to raise all of our working sails, an absolutely perfect start to the journey. Another beautiful anchorage but not a place to go ashore but a nice place for sundowners on the deck.

Sunrise at Duck Island Roads

Sunday morning we left with the hope of getting a mooring in Stonington Harbor, but there was no room in the inn. Our back up plan was to go to Fisher’s Island on the New York side of the sound and it was just a few miles out of the way. We ended up staying at anchor there because even though we anchored here 3 years ago, it was always a stop point before going through the Race at Watch Hill on the way to Block Island. This time around we went exploring. A beautiful island with a lot of old New England charm (and money!). We brought the dogs ashore and walked the area around West Harbor, and at the end of an hour walk we were all hot and ready to go back to the boat.

Sunset from the outer harbor at Fishers Island

Sunrise at Fishers Island

Classic wooden cruiser coming into Fishers Island

Duck topiary along our walk

Flowers along the walk

Downtown Fishers Island

Scout at anchor using our new mizzen sail to keep us into the wind

Fisher Island house on our walk

We planned ahead this time and made reservations for Stonington for Monday night, and it was only a quick 14 mile sail from Fishers Island. We finally lifted anchor around noon and set off across Long Island Sound back to Connecticut. Stonington Harbor was recommended to us from some friends at Fayerweather Yacht Club, mainly because of the lobster rolls at The DogWatch Cafe. As we pulled into the mooring field, it was like eye candy for the classic yacht people. We are on a mooring surrounded by Hinckley’s! It seems like the staff decided all of the split riggs needed to be together and we are right in the middle of them.

Stonington Harbor

Stonington Sunset

The Old Stonington Lighthouse

The village of Stonington

Neighboring boats in the mooring field, Stonington, CT

Yesterday we again did a little exploring around the town. It reminded me of a mixture of Nantucket and downtown Marion, MA. It seems like every building has a history back to the 1700’s including a memorial to the War of 1812 where the cannons at the entrance to the harbor kept the British from landing here. After a long afternoon, I was lucky enough to find ice cream at the Dog Scoop and we headed back to the boat. There is room here for us to stay another night, and it will give us a better time for the current to get through the Race on Wednesday morning. So we will end up with dinner tonight at the Dog Watch Cafe. And of course, I am enjoying the glamorous task now of doing the laundry (where most of the blog entries seem to be written).

Phinneus relaxing in the most uncomfortable way after a long walk

Pickles getting a little sun while sailing

Happy Sailing one and all, tomorrow Block Island!