Month: October 2019

And then it was time to start the run back.  Unfortunately all the good northeasterly winds passed while we were on Block, and it was back to the seasonal westerly and southwesterly winds.  We sat tight Monday while southwesterly winds gusted past 30 over the island, and then pretty much every boat left Tuesday.  We were actually able to sail the first couple of hours – hard on it and pretty well heeled over – Trip’s favorite sail. Bill & Bunny from s/v Onset (OCC members that we had met in Maine) had left before we did, and Bunny was kind enough to radio over that moorings were available in West Harbor, Fishers Island which was where we were headed.  We managed to snag the last one as the sun set, and given the time of the year no one came out to claim fees.

The next morning was an early one – waking up at five and snoozing every 15 minutes after confirming that the sun hadn’t yet rose (the problem with this time of year).  We were finally able to leave just after 6, and again were able to sail, albeit hard on it.  After a while we had to switch to motor sailing, but again, got in to port (Port Jefferson) to drop anchor just as the sun was setting).

On Thursday we headed to Port Washington.  Radar and forecasts showed weather coming in, and I started having flashbacks to 9 years ago, when our friend Deb was onboard and we went through wicked wicked thunderstorms on our way to Port Washington.  This time we were able to make it into port and drop anchor just as the winds picked up.  The storm wasn’t bad – we didn’t see more than 30 knots, but it’s always a bit stressful when we shift more than 180 degrees on the anchor (especially when it’s just set).

We were anchored along with four other OCC  boats, so Trip rowed over the next morning to say hi.  Onset had come in just before us and snagged a mooring, and invited us for drinks and dinner. We had seen Bill and Bunny all summer in crowds at different meetups, so it was rather nice to sit and enjoy just their company for a change. And we learned yet another new card game to add to the repertoire….

As many times as we go down the East River, I will never fail to appreciate how fun it is to see New York City by water. The United Nations General Assembly had just finished their fall session, but there were still lots of FDNY and Coast Guard boats around, including two that escorted us down the river with mounted guns out in the open (a new event for us).

We managed a to sail once we were out from under the Verrazzano Bridge and were back on our mooring in Great Kills at the end of the day. Lawrence and Viviane sailed over, rafted up, and treated us to a lovely dinner onboard Tanqueray that night. We had worked on our boats together all winter, set sail for Maine together (ok, so we were a month behind Lawrence), rendezvoused multiple times over the summer, and finishing up with this dinner clinched a perfect summer for us.

Not that we’re done sailing for the season, but here’s to another fabulous season on the water.

We love Block Island, but we never knew just how special it was in the autumn. Instead of a crowded anchorage with dragging boats and crazy noisy bars & restaurants, we could pick up a mooring just off the Boat Basin and have the island pretty much to ourselves. Days were warm and sunny, but nights were perfect for sleeping. And to top things off, Trip’s sister Paige, nephew Turner, and Turner’s girlfriend Nicole all came to visit.

Wow, did we pack things in…..our guests had brought their bikes and we pretty much covered the island. To the North Lighthouse and the labyrinth, all the way south to Mohegan Bluffs and the new offshore wind turbines. We hit Bethany’s for breakfast at the airport, watching the prop planes come and go, and found ourselves playing giant chess at Club Soda (two local places that most tourists miss).

The wind got crazy while they were on island, which created some crazy surf that we got to enjoy at the beaches. Unfortunately we didn’t make it out for a sail (it was either too much wind or too little or crazy seas). But some of the most fun was hanging out on board. We turned out some crazy good food out of leftovers each day (including fried eggs over sweet potato hash complete with a chopped leftover bacon cheeseburger).

And the card games. When we’re all together the cards get broken out – hours upon hours of euchre, presidents & assholes, and even a bit of gin rummy.