Day 4: Patchogue to Shinnecock – And Through The Canal!!!

Look, we are not running a speed-event, rallying, or otherwise trying to break records … but I am writing this at Shinnecock – on the Peconic Bay side of the bridges.  Yes, we made the transit – and that is part of the story.  This didn’t seem like a rushed day – it just moved along with a good start.

We left Patchogue in good time (7:30) and in the cool cloudy morning, before things began to cook, we “made tracks,” – or “made waves.”   At a steady pace we continued to the very end of Great South Bay and entered the narrows at Brookhaven and Shirley. where the channel leads to Moriches Inlet.

The tidal variances out here are not great:  2 to 3 feet.   But the current velocities are very apparent.  Case in point:  as we were leaving Great South Bay – the current was with us (tide coming in – we were going with it)  … but as we approached Moriches – the current was against us (same tide coming in – but through a different inlet … consequently it was now against us).  So we had crossed a “continental divide” of sorts – there must have been one place where the currents were not doing anything:  just slack.

In the vicinity of Moriches the terrain got wilder.  Remember when Sandy cut three new inlets in this area?  One is in the state wildlife area (still not repaired – they are studying whether to fix it or not).  The other two were on each side of the Moriches inlet.  The State of NY moved quickly to repair these breeches, lest they widen and become unstoppable.  As we motored along, glancing apprehensively at the ocean “just over there,” the boats that passed us were on their way out to the fantastic fishing grounds – 50, 60, 70 miles off-shore – the Hudson Canyon.  They may stay out there for 24 or 36 hours, 6 or 8 friends to a party, sharing costs, and the fun.

Continuing to the most narrow part of the channel – as it narrows to be a canal – at Westhampton and Quogue – where you get close-up views of the waterfront homes’ yards – and playtools  of the residents: jetskis and muscle boats.  Not many sail boats over here.

By 1:00 we were getting close to the Shinnecock Inlet, another case of the “plus or minus” factor of one knot of current.  Nearing Shinnecock there are a great number of summer homes out on the barrier beach, and again, more beautiful homes facing the bay.  Next winter I’d like to take the car out to these islands, and see the structures first-hand.

Once up in Shinnecock, we explored the idea of measuring the mast against the railroad bridge (the middle, and the most problematic of the three low bridges out here).  The current was against us, which was good, as it provided a slowing and steadying force …. As Roger eased up to the bridge.  I stayed back, on radio, to offer any prediction as to whether it looked good or not.   No good – by about two feet.  Roger backed off, turned, and we conferred about our options. The next low tide would be around Midnight  - and even then, with the low tidal ranges out here – it still might now work, so we decided to go back to “Plan A” – which was to take the masts down.

At a nearby dock, Owl’s mast, on a hinge, came down without much trouble – it was designed to do this.   Lovinde, on the other hand, presented a challenge of disconnecting all lines and booms that encountered the  mast …. so that the mast could be raised and then put-down horizontally on deck.  There is a picture of all this in the Gallery – not a dramatic picture, mind you, since when Roger was on the crank of the crane, and I was steadying the mast, who was there to take the picture?  However, you can see a picture of the bridge, and the crane, taken this February when Roger reconnoitered the area.

Anyway, by dinner-time, the boats were all together again, the afternoon was well spent, and we settled down in the state-run  marina on the east side of the exit of the canal.  A walk through the parking lot brings dinner at the adjacent snack bar looking out over The Great Peconic Bay – a fine end to a fine day.

So, after just a few days now, we have “turned the corner” on the trip: the transit of the canal really means that we are on the return leg.  Again, if we were racing or trying to set a record, we would head for Plum Gut right now.  But that is not the case – we are sight-seeing and harbor-hopping, and enjoying the process.

Tomorrow?  An easy day, with a predicted destination of the Shelter Island Yacht Club’s moorings in Deering Harbor, just opposite Greenport.  Again, that’s the plan, not the schedule!

Best to all – Frank & Roger – Thursday 7/10/14