Block Island to Noank, then on to Old Lyme, Connecticut - Post 7

Going north earlier this season it was easier to get a favorable weather window to sail from Cape May to Block Island as the prevailing winds are from the south. Monitoring the weather while we were on Block Island, it was apparent that it would be very difficult to get a two-day weather window with northerly winds to allow us a straight sail to Cape May. 

We would have to break up the sail and stage in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. To get to Sandy Hook from Block Island we had two choices, “outside” (in the Atlantic) or “inside” through Long Island Sound. The outside route, while more direct, requires a specific weather window and offers limited options if the weather deteriorates. We decided to take the Long Island Sound route and see some of this beautiful part of the New England coast. 

So out came Eldridge and we started studying the tides and currents. We picked Noank, Connecticut as our first destination. We looked at the charts and timed our entry into the Sound through Lords Passage. Lords Passage is north of The Race and offers a straighter shot to Noank. Additionally, the currents are not as strong as at The Race where they frequently reach over four knots (7.5 km/hr).

Cottage, Noank, Connecticut

We timed it right, got through Lords Passage uneventfully and got a mooring at Noank Shipyard. We had deflated our dinghy for the short passage from Block Island and we were pleased to find out that the marina offered a launch service. We got Rosalind squared away and took the launch to shore. Noank is a quaint low-key seaside community a few miles from the busy Mystic Seaport. We enjoyed walking around town, saw the 100+ year old general store and had lunch Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough, a classic New England lobster pound restaurant started in 1947.

Buoys and Gulls Outhouse
Abbott's Lobster in the Rough, Noank, Connecticut

Back on Rosalind, we studied Eldridge and worked out our departure time for the next morning. Our next destination was Old Lyme, Connecticut.

The sailing distance from Noank to Old Lyme was just under 22 nautical miles (42 km). The next morning, we timed the tides to have favorable current in Long Island Sound and up the Connecticut River and had a pleasant trip to Old Lyme. Entering the river, we passed between two breakwaters and waited for the railroad bridge to open; the bridge is normally open to allow commercial and recreational boating to go through but it wasn't for us this time. After crossing the railroad bridge, we passed under Interstate 95 and got a mooring at the Old Lyme Marina, three miles (5.5 km) upriver from Long Island Sound and nestled between the Connecticut shore and Calves Island.

Lynde Point Light on Breakwater

Connecticut River Entrance

Interstate 95 and Railroad Bridges in Background

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Calves Island (on left) and Connecticut Shore (on right)

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Old Lyme Marina has been family owned since 1973 and Glenn, the second generation owner, truly made us feel welcome. The marina offered a launch service so we did not have to inflate our dinghy to get to shore. The marina was conveniently located less than ten minutes by foot from a large supermarket. We provisioned, had nice long hot showers on shore and did laundry. There were no laundry facilities at the marina so we took the local bus and had a pleasant ride through scenic Connecticut byways to nearby East Lyme. We did laundry, had a gluten free pizza for lunch and took the bus back to Old Lyme. We said goodbye to Glenn and thanked him for his hospitality, and then took the launch back to Rosalind. The next morning, early, we planned on catching the tide and getting a favorable current going down Long Island Sound towards New Haven.