Introduction

The last good sailing cruise I had taken was 10 days travelling to Block Island and the various Massachusetts islands (Elizabeths, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket) about three years ago. It was time for another cruise.

This year, after fitting the boat with new main and head sails, new standing rigging, new main and jib halyards, and a complete rewire of the inside, a new cruising destination was sought. The trip was to be perhaps 10 days, but preferably to fit within a week period. A combination river, ocean cruise resulted in this years Hudson River and Long Island sailing cruise.

The boat was a 1974 20 foot O'Day sloop with a 6 hp Evinrude outboard for power. The boat itself has a decent sized cabin capable of sleeping four (very good friends) although in practice, I fill the forward berth area with additional equipment, so only the two quarter berths are available for sleeping berths.

A small table, interior lights, VHF radio, GPS and old Loran and depth sounder (actually a cheap fishfinder) are located in the cabin. A small sink and portapotty also add to livability. However the cabin roof is low, and it is much like living in a tent.

The boat has a keel with about 400 pounds of weight which houses the centerboard. This is a nice feature as it eliminates an interior centerboard trunk, robbing space from interior living space. With centerboard up, and engine raised, Nonotuck can float in a mere 2 feet of water.

Outside, there are navigation, steaming and anchor lights along with compass and Navico tiller autopilot for underway. The boat is capable of about 5 knots under sail and similar speed under power. The motor has a 4 amp alternator to keep the single 12V battery charged. A solar panel helps maintain power as well. A spare battery is available but is not hooked up to the boat electrical system.

I would trailer the boat to Albany and sail and motor approximately 140 miles down the Hudson to New York City. I would then round Manhattan and pass into Long Island Sound and sail the Connecticut or Long Island shore line to Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, where I would be picked up in Wickford, about halfway up the bay on the western side.

Although I did not expect to sail much in the Hudson proper, I was hoping the trip was possible in 7-10 days and prepared for that amound. I was also not certain about fuel consumption of the motor. I have rarely used it in the 4 years I've had it. To be certain I was not constantly searching for fuel, I bought an additional 6 gallon tank in addition to the 3 and 6 gallon tanks I already possessed. That should be satisfactory, but I would have to learn along the way.

The following pages are a description of this cruise.