Day 4: Little Neck Bay, LI to Sheffield Island, CT.
August 30, 2000



A Morning Spent Looking for Fuel

Another fine night at anchor in Little Neck Bay. The evening was spent watching quite a few sailboats coming back from a race night. Must have been a yaught club somewhere nearby. Rather breezy to be racing, but perhaps not for the hard core!

After a slow start, I decide to look across the Sound, only a mile or so wide at this location, for some fuel. I had no idea it would be so difficult and time consuming a task! Here I am in one of the yaughting centers of the world, and I can't find a place to buy fuel!

I first struck out directly across the Sound to City Island. There were plenty of sailboats moored all about the area, but no fuel dock to be seen. I headed around to the western portion of the Island and found only an old marina that looks like it is being renovated. It certainly needed renovation! Even the boats at the slips looked in sore need of maintenance. I decide to move eastward in continued search.

Next I looked in Milton harbor, and then finally in Mamaroneck where I found the elusive fuel dock. My last 6 gallon tank was filled to 5 gallons, so I didn't have much more fuel for the search. The twin 6 gallon and single 3 gallon tanks were working out very nicely. Of course there is always sail, even with hazy overcast and brisk, contrary winds.

Long Island Sound: Connecticut or Long Island Passage?

I then needed to decide on which path to follow in my eastward trek? Should I follow the Long Island shoreline or the Connecticut one? Looking on the chart revealed a long stretch of Long Island without much shelter, so I opted to follow the Connecticut shore thinking that not only shelter would be readily available, but so would fuel when needed. If it proved to be poor decision, I could always sail across the widening Sound and try my luck on the other side.

Needed to stay well away from some of the Connecticut shoreline during the day's passage. The "Cows" are a group of islands and rocks sticking out into the Sound that need a wide berth. The skies were at times foggy and always hazy. The sun was not really making an appearance for this day.

Anchorage was found awaiting me at Sheffield Island, not too far east of Stamford, CT. A large Beneteau sailboat was already anchored along the western edge of the island or perhaps penninsula. I work my way well in toward shore, inside of the larger boat. Once the depth reads 10 feet, I sharply reverse direction and let go the anchor. Need to watch closely for some time, usually while making the evening meal, to be certain I am not dragging anchor. I rarely ever am, but I am paranoid still, even after adding a good 10-12 feet of chain to the anchor rode. Better to be safe than sorry.

A very pleasant evening was spent at this anchorage. Nice and calm during the night, well protected by the shore of Sheffield Island.

Day 3 List of Contents Day 5 Home