Starting with sunrise on a glassy calm East River, we enjoyed the awe of Manhattan, a placid Atlantic Ocean along the Jersey Shore, some crazies in Manasquan, a summer-like day on Barnegat Bay, and a unique ride up the Forked River.
Friday, October 15, 2021 City Island, New York City, Manasquan and Forked River, NJ Day 4
We started out with coffee pre-dawn, and watched the morning glow develop on the eastern horizon on a warm, clear, glassy calm morning. Just beautiful. The plan for the day was the classic run down the East River, which is always a thrill, then ending up somewhere in New Jersey, depending on our progress and conditions.
The last two times we have done this October trip down Long Island Sound, we were battered by freezing temps and constant northwest gales. This year it is an entirely different game.
October 13 – 14, 2021 Stonington, CT, Milford, CT and City Island, NY Days #2 & #3
What an outstanding trip down Long Island Sound we have had. Two picture perfect days, with runs of 55 miles and 42 miles. Flat water, sunshine (mostly), dry and clear. Mornings have been perfectly crisp, afternoons relatively warm, and evenings simply pleasant. Such a change from our previous trips, which were characterized by ice on the decks, three-day gales that pinned us down on both sides of the Sound, and making mad dashes from one port to another — any port that was safe — during the brief lulls in the nasty weather. We were braced for it again this year, but we need not have worried.
Picking good conditions for a first day of a long trip is a great thing to do if you can pull it off. We made it happen this time.
October 13, 2021 Portsmouth, RI to Stonington, CT Day #1
Our departure dates are always a moving target. We set a goal date, but stuff always happens to cause us to shift earlier or later. This time, a howling storm off the coast caused us to pause for a day or three to let things quiet down before we cast off.
As the “Bomb Cyclone” pulled away from Mamaroneck, we got under way again, but we had just a couple of days to make progress before the next gale would shut us down again.
October 18 – 19, 2019, New York City, Atlantic Highlands and Cape May Days 5 – 6
Mamaroneck, the East River, Manhattan and Sandy Hook
The northwest gale had lightened up by Friday morning. It was still blowing 15 to 20 knots, but we were in the sheltered waters of Long Island Sound and our route through the day would take us down the East River, so a brisk northerly was not a problem. It was clear and sunny: a classic fall day.
Esmeralde is on the move. So are the fall gales, just like last year.
October 12 – 15, 2019, Days 0 – 3
Portsmouth, RI – Stonington, CT – Mamaroneck, NY
Thus begins our Winter Cruise 2019 – 2020. It will generally be a re-run of last year’s trip down the ICW to Florida, across Lake Okeechobee, along the Gulf Coast then down the the Keys. We will stop at some of our favorite spots from last time, and also add as many new destinations as we can. There is plenty to see and do. And, of course, it is a great way to get away from the New England winter cold, ice and snow. Continue reading Here We Go Again!→
All things fun (and tasty) in the life of the Beards
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