Wickford and the Quahog Festival

August 27, 2017

Start time and hours                                 1010                         3289.67
End time and hours                                  1645                         3293.43

     Elaine and I cruised down to Wickford for the afternoon.  It is less than a two hour cruise each way.  We had not been there in a few years.  Wickford is a small bay front village in North Kingstown RI.  There are a few shops and restaurants in town and lots of 17th and 18th century architecture.

     Very light winds and mostly flat seas on our trip.

   

On the way to Wickford.

   
     We tied up at the Wickford Marina  http://www.wickfordmarina.com/  They have a $20 for four hours if there is dock space, and a great dock hand for help getting in.   It is a 15 minute walk into town.

Wickford Marina

Our slip at Wickford Marina

Tied up safely

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Our cockpit view

On our walk into town we discovered that it was the New England Quahog festival and Sea Creature Parade.  

     We had lunch at Shayna's Place on the parade route.  http://www.shaynasplaceri.com/    The food was excellent and we had a window seat for the parade.

     After lunch we walked down to the town beach for the festival and its activities, food trucks, beer garden, and races.

Stand up paddle board races

     After this exhausting Quahog day we walked back through town to the marina and cruised back home in calm seas.

Inside Wickford harbor looking out

Wickford harbor from the town dock

The Beach Rose Cafe

Heading out of the harbor

Window shades

     Elaine made some window shades for the outside of our boat.  The shades are made from phifertexplus from SailRite.  http://www.sailrite.com/Phifertex-Plus-Mesh-Sand 

     We attached the shades to the boat with snaps from sailrite and the snap rite kit.   http://www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-SnapRite-System-Complete-Kit

     The shades keep most of the direct sunlight out.  You can still see out from the inside during the day so you don't need to take them off for cruising.

     Before the shades, in the direct sun light,  the surface temperature of the inside of the windows would reach over 110 degrees.  Now they are usually at least 20 degrees cooler.  The AC in the boat now cools the boat by at least 10 degrees more than it used to.  They are a big help.

     We will make a shade for the cockpit from the same material soon.

Newport RI Cliff Walk

August 16, 2017

     We went to the Cliff Walk in Newport on wednesday.  The weather was very nice and hurricane Gert was off shore causing some big waves.   Lots of surfers out on the water.  

http://www.cliffwalk.com/

We then went over to Jamestown for lunch and ice cream.  We went to the East Ferry Deli for cuban sandwiches.  Great deli and very good prices.  We sat outside and watched the boat traffic Jamestown harbor.     http://eastferrydeli.com/            Had ice cream across the street at Spinnaker's Cafe.  http://www.spinnakerscafe.com/            The cafe had a good menu.  We will try it next time we are in town.  The ice cream was good but they were out of a lot of flavors and service was very slow.  

Smith's cove Shelter Island NY by way of Mystic CT.

August 9, 2017     Greenwich bay to Mystic CT.

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End time and hours                                    1440               3273.17

August 10, 2017   Mystic Ct. to Shelter Island NY

Start time and hours                                   0912                3273.17

End time and hours                                    1330                3277.54

August 12,2017     Shelter Island NY to Greenwich bay

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End time and hours                                     1705               3289.67

     On August 9, 2017 we had a great weather window and decided to take a little cruise to Shelter Island NY.  We have some friends who invited us to visit them in Smith's cove next to the south ferry.

     We would be towing our new dinghy for the first time.  I was surprised at how it slowed us down, probably between .5-1 knott.   It is almost 70 nautical miles from our marina to Smith's cove so on the way over we decided to stop in Mystic Ct. overnight.

     The weather, seas, and wind were very calm for the ride to Mystic.  We got into our slip at Brewer Mystic   https://www.byy.com/marinas/brewer-yacht-yard-at-mystic-mystic-ct/  with help from the experienced dock hand with no problems.  After lounging around the pool for the afternoon and then dinner on the boat we went into town for some ice cream.  http://www.mysticdrawbridgeicecream.com/   It is about a 30 minute walk into town from the marina.

     The next morning we headed down the channel and out to Shelter Island.  Again, the weather, seas, and winds were calm.  That is until we hit the rips at the west end of Fisher island.  Lots of converging tides and currents made for a rolly ride for about 30 minutes.  The rips make for great fishing but tough cruising.  

     Once past the rips we were safely into Gardiner's bay and more calm water.  We continued on toward Shelter Island and Smith's cove.  

     Smith's cove is a great anchorage near the south ferry.  Sag Harbor is to the south. The land to the east is conservation area with walking trails and lots of birds.  There is a small private beach in the northwest corner and some private docks in a cove that we could land out dinghy on.  

     We spent two nights on anchor in Smith's cove.  It can be busy during the day as small boats come in to anchor and people go to the conservation land.  Other boats pull waterskiers and tubes throughout the day.  However, this all calmed down late afternoon and the evenings were quiet.  The water was warm and swimming off of the boat was great.

     We visited with our friends on the beach and at their home.  Shelter Island is very quiet and it seems that everyone knows everyone on the island.  

     The forecast for sunday was not great so we decided to make the trip back to Greenwich bay in one day on Saturday.  Between towing the dinghy and some unfavorable tides it took about 11 hours. The weather, seas, and winds were very good and it was a peaceful ride.

Leaving Greenwich bay on wednesday morning. 

Towing the new dinghy for the first time.  It does slow us down a little.

Calm waters in Narragansett bay near Quonset.

Narragansett bay approaching the Jamestown bridge.  The waters should always be this calm.

Dinner in Mystic Ct. at the Brewer's Yacht Yard.

Our view at the Brewer's in Mystic.

The next day, thursday,  we headed out into Fisher Island sound on our way to Shelter Island.  Still very calm waters, we haven't gotten to the rips yet.  Unfortunately it was a little too rolly to take pictures going through the rips and avoiding all the fishing boats.

Rip currents west of Fisher Island

Gardiner's bay going toward Shelter Island.

Lighthouse at Little Gull.  

A gold hulled boat.  I think it was a Pershing.

Smith's Cove Shelter Island NY

Anchored in Smith's cove Shelter Island.  This will be our first night on anchor.  It will also be the tryout for the new Rocna #44.

Smith's cove looking west toward the beach.

Smith's cove looking east.   Most of the time is was very calm.

Only two boats in the anchorage overnight.  This was the other one.

Saturday morning headed east out of Sag Harbour toward Gardiner's bay.