Our Plan - and "Why Do This?"

The PLAN is to travel "around" Long Island, a distance of about 250 miles, in roughly 10 days.

We will travel "counter clockwise," leaving from Rowayton/Darien, CT - traveling through New York Harbor, along the south coast of Long Island, near Shelter Island, through Plum Gut, back into Long Island Sound, and thence back to our home port.

We will not be doing any ocean travel - with two exceptions:
 - about 15 miles from the Veranzano Bridge - to the East Rockaway Inlet (Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay can provide interim harbors of refuge if the trip is to be broken up)
 - an optional trip "around" Montauk Point - which will only be undertaken under "ideal circumstances" low waves and fair weather.  Otherwise we will take the Shinnecock Canal to transit Great Peconic Bay, en route to Shelter Island and Greenport.  More on the Shinnecock Canal, below.

With the two exceptions noted above, the journey will be in relatively protected waters, with ports of refuge (local harbors) readily available for shelter.

The journey of 250 miles in 10 days implies that 25 miles may be covered in a day.  In fact, with a good early start, at a speed of, say, 5 knots, the 25 mile target could be reached just after noon.  With such a good start, the daily mileage could be much higher than 25.  HOWEVER, it is recognized that there will surely be rain-days and inclement weather, that will delay the effort - thus making the days of 25+ miles a useful 'investment.'

There are several low bridges along the south shore of Long Island - they are all draw-bridges (bascule bridges) and will open on request.  However, at the Shinnecock Canal the low bridges are "fixed" - which presents a problem for sailboats, even those as small as ours.  To transit the canal we must un-step our masts, and then step them on the other side.   There are "do-it-yourself cranes" on each side of the problematic bridges - and indeed, the process can be completed in less than an hour.

As for the question:  "Why Do This?" - the answer is - because ..... its a great way to spend a summer's week or two - sailing where you haven't been before, on a comfortable little craft, in good company.  In July of 2012 Owl and Lovinde sailed in tandem from Darien/Rowayton to Mystic, CT to attend the Catboat Association Rendezvous at the Mystic Seaport.   This 70-mile, 3-day journey to Mystic was essentially a "proof of concept" that Catboat cruising was possible, a good thing, and eminently enjoyable.  Based on the positive experience of a 140 mile round-trip to Mystic, this 250 mile journey is only about twice as far, and that seems to be about right.