August 3, 2026 Onward to the Land of Megayachts - Sag Harbor

Saturday August 1, 2026   Huntington, NY to Sag Harbor, NY   84 miles and 8.5 hours

Let loose the lines to our mooring ball at 7:45 and headed over to the yacht club dock for a pumpout then quickly on our way by 8:00.  It will be the longest cruising day in a while.  Original plan was to cross over to Milford, Connecticut, but we never could get a confirmed reservation.  So instead opted to head further out Long Island.   Heading further east around the North Fork and into Sag Harbor became the next logical destination.  A long day but favorable conditions.  Mostly sunny, 80 degrees, flat calm to start although winds picked up a bit in the afternoon making for a little chop.  Nothing of concern. Just no longer flat.   Open water allows Otto to do most of the driving. Most times we're able to see land on both the LI and Conn sides with some occasional haze masking them.  Cross paths with a few of the ferries that run between NY and Conn.  They keep a busy schedule with one or more always in motion and visible on AIS. 

Flat calm conditions on the sound as we begin the day passing a tug and tow

Ferry PT Barnum coming out of Port Jefferson and headed to Bridgeport Conn.
  We were on a collision course per AIS so had to yield the right of way.

Ferry John H coming out of Orient Point and headed to New London Conn.

Round Orient Point and head into Gardiners Bay. The tidal currents from the ocean, sound and bay meet here creating confused seas. The large yachts ahead tell us we're approaching Sag Harbor. The number and size of them increase as we get to the harbor proper.  

Rounding Orient Point Lighthouse built in 1899.

178' yacht Kisses was tied to the dock along with multiple smaller 100' to 150' yachts 

Prices for dockage are obscene here.  Mooring balls run the prices we're used to paying for expensive dockage. Anchoring is the only option for us and luckily we can get under the 21' bridge that allows us to get into Sag Harbor Cove.  A decently protected large cove with a suitable anchoring area and good depths.  We find our spot, drop anchor and get settled along with another half dozen boats. Long day so we're happy to just chill out with a drink and a dinner off the grill.   We fire up the generator for a few hours at dusk.  Top off the batteries, watch some TV, and turn the A/C on for a bit to cool things off before we head to bed.  Bit of drama as the generator goes into overheat mode and auto shuts off.   Quick check shows no water flow out the exhaust..  Too late, too dark, too hot and too tired to mess with it tonight.  Will investigate in the morning. 

Our "little boat" at anchor

Sunday.  Not my best night's sleep as I run through possibilities for the generator shutdown.  For our cruising style we rely on the generator while at anchor for recharging our house batteries. This then goes through an invertor for 120V power to run the freezer and refrigerator and a host of lesser items. Without the generator we would need to stay at marinas most nights to connect to shore power to keep the batteries fully charged. Getting this fixed quickly was a priority.  Lack of raw water was the obvious problem so decide to begin with the intake system.  In the back of my mind I'm worried it may be a more complex fix with the water pump but taking a systematic approach I start with the water intake system.  First step is to check for a clogged water strainer.  Close the seacock, take off the lid on the strainer, pull the screen.  Not much there but clean it anyway.  Decide to check we have flow through the seacock. Leave the lid off the strainer housing and begin slowly opening the seacock valve.  Just a dribble of water overflows.  Not good.   There's a clog somewhere in one of the upstream items - hose, seacock or thru hull fitting.  Shut off the seacock and remove attached hose.  It's clear.  Crack open the seacock and a wad of vegetation pushes up.  Pull it out but still just a trickle of water. Use a variety of tools trying to push the blockage out the thru hull fitting but it's not working. Start hooking and pulling the vegetation up and out instead.  Bit by bit the flow increases until I finally get a gusher flowing out the seacock.  Quickly shut the valve and feel confident this was the problem.   Reassemble and do a test run.  Temperatures remain low and water out the exhaust is strong.   Wish I could figure out where and why we got such a packed clog.  Went through the remaining six seacocks. Engines, A/C, stabilizer, and raw water washdown.  All were perfectly fine.  Strange.  Thankfully, major crisis diverted!! 

The troublesome thru hull, seacock and hose

On to the next project.  Drop the dingy off the flybridge and prepare for a trip to the town dock.  Been too long since we've done this, but it goes relatively well.  Davit system works as it should. Lifting, swinging and dropping the dingy.  Once in the water the outboard motor starts right up.   Quick trip to the town dingy dock right at the wharf at the end of main street.  

Checking that all systems are functioning properly. 
 Nice to have those paddles but hope to never need them.

Windmill at the foot of the wharf is a replica built
 in 1966 and serves as an Information Center

We walk up Main Street headed to the Whalers Museum.  As a kid when visiting my paternal grandparents in Bridgehampton, I know we made trips to Sag Harbor and I remember passing the large white mansion housing the museum.   Sadly, there was nothing else down Main Street that brought back any memories.  This is part of "The Hamptons" on a weekend and looked the part.  Exquisitely dressed tourists exuding money.  Porsche's, BMW's, Mercede's, Audi's, Land Rovers, Bentleys at every turn.

Main Street

The Whaling Museum is housed in what started as a Greek Revival style private residence built in 1845 for whaling ships owner Benjamin Huntting.  Sold to philanthropist Margaret Slocum Sage in 1907.  Later used as a Masonic Temple before finally becoming home to the Whaling and Historical Museum. It had a nice display focused on Sag Harbor's heydays as a prosperous whaling center but also included items from its later days as an industrial base with silversmith and watch case manufacturing factories. It's current economic status is simply centered on tourism.   At it's zenith in 1847 there were 67 whaling ships based here that traveled the world searching for the diminishing number of whales. By 1849 most had headed off for the gold rush in California never to return.  

Whaling and Historical Museum

Right Whale jaw bones at entrance

Ornate circular stairway leading up to the Masonic Temple area on the second floor

Display case of whale vertebrae, harpoons, etc

Wealth of the area during the whaling days as evident by this
upright "giraffe" piano.  One of only 4 known in existence.

Little bit of a walkabout going thru the Old Burial Grounds. Tombstones dating from the Revolution through the mid 1800's.  Old Whalers Church circa 1844 next door fashioned in a unique Egyptian Revival style.  Originally had a 185' high steeple  that was the first sign of land for returning seamen. Came crashing down in the great hurricane of 1938. 

Tombstones in the Old Burying Grounds 

"Old Whalers Church" 

Plenty of historic houses.  Everything from small cottages to big mansions. Marched up and down Main Street a few more times.  Restaurants, gift shops, antique stores, art galleries, decorator showrooms, realtors, etc. Lowest priced posting in the realtor's window was $2.3MM.  Way up from there.  

Wealthy whaling ship owners built extravagant homes

Original Customs House - first on Long Island

Summer home of President Chester A. Arthur

Time to check out Kidd Squid Brewery.  Limited selection and mostly lagers, fruited lagers, pilsners, ales and basic IPA's.  Worked through a flight but no need for more.  Back to the boat by late afternoon.  Winds and rain coming in so needed to get the dingy back up secured and covered.  Then heated up that premade "meat lasagna" we got in Huntington at Caruso's market.  Big surprise was it was actually eggplant lasagna.  Still very tasty.  

Kidd Squid Brewery

Monday.   Most of the other boats in the anchorage departed Sunday afternoon.  We settle in for a rainy and windy Monday.  Forecast is for strong winds gusting to 30+mph with some bands of heavy rain.  Wind picked up about 3AM as expected. Out of bed to check the anchor was still holding us in position. Took the opportunity to sleep in later than usual. Heaviest morning rains wound up going north of us, but we still managed to get some torrential downpours along with those strong gusts throughout the day. Good day for some TV,  read a book, and work on the blog.  Clouds finally broke up enough for a decent sunset.  Nice way to end the day.

Capturing that perfect sunset picture after a rainy windy day.

Nice way to end our stay in Sag Harbor Cove

Journey for August 1, 2026

July 31, 2026 Hanging Around Huntington

 July 30, 2026   Eatons Neck Anchorage to Huntington mooring ball  5 miles and 1 hour

Probably the shortest cruise we've made in years!! Moved out of that lovely cove and over to Huntington Yacht Club and their mooring.  Sort of a windy drizzly morning and decided we'd go ahead and get moved over.  Originally just planned a one day stop, but figured Friday looked like a really nice day to get off the boat and go explore the town so signed up for two nights.   Woke up at dawn to the boat rocking from someone coming into our oasis. Small workboat with a fisherman raking the bottom. Again - clams, oysters, mussels - not sure.  Felt bad for him when a bit of heavier rain came through.  He just donned his slicker and continued raking.  

Culling his harvest before the weather blows in

First order of business for us was getting the anchor up.  Thought we would have been anchored in some nice clean sand, but the chain was covered in black thick mud. Took as long to clean it all off as it did to cruise to the mooring field.  Pass the Huntington Lighthouse on approach to the harbor.  Built in 1912 in the Beaux-Arts style.  Cast concrete made to look castle-ish. It replaced the original 1857 Lloyds Harbor Lighthouse.   Plenty of nice houses along the waterfront.  

Huntington Lighthouse

Mooring field again packed with boats. A bit concerned with how close our neighbor will be if we swing in opposite directions.  Turned into a nice late afternoon but we stayed boat bound.  Had to do some research and order new windshield wiper parts. Previous owner had replaced the parts 5 years ago.  Amazed at the rate salt water corrosion ate those metal parts. It's always something!!

Another packed mooring field

Maybe it's just an optical illusion, but they sure feel close.

Then again... maybe these mooring balls are a bit too close

Spent Friday exploring a bit. Launch picked us up and dropped us off at town dock. Monument rock with plaques just past the harbor.  Commemorates Nathan Hale who was a patriot spy during the revolutionary war.  Caught by the British right here. Sentenced and executed almost immediately.  Village of Halesite where the docks are located are named after him.  Famous for the quote " I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country."  Walked on over to Duck Island Bakery for pastry, bread, and coffee. Amazing selection.  Line still out the door at 11:30 on a Friday.  Then over to the Heckscher Museum.  Small art museum size-wise.  Just 5 rooms.  But they have over 4500 pieces in their collection so it's constantly rotating. Currently had a special display from local artists commemorating the 250th anniversary of Declaration of Independence.  Nice park for a walkabout. Tennis courts but no pickleball here. Watch the swans, geese and ducks in the pond. Chapin bandstand named after deceased resident Harry Chapin - 70's songwriter of Cats in the Cradle fame.  Free concert featuring country music starts at 8PM. Too late in the evening for us. Other local celebrities include Biily Joel, Jason Alexander, etc. 

Heckscher Museum entrance.

Plenty of waterfowl at the park.  Mind where you step!

Over to Six Harbors Brewery for a flight.  Not too impressed with beers but had a fun time watching the local dogs cool off and play during Friday Yappy Hour.  Got talking to a local couple. Mentioned we were traveling by boat, from Savannah but I was actually born here at Huntington Hospital.  Wife was being funny to Martha. "Oh, are you bringing him back to trade him in?"  Had to admit it was a good quick witted response. Heading back to the boat and stopped at Juniors Pizza for a couple slices.  Pretty decent NY style.  Then into Caroso's Italian Market.  Picked up a slab of meat lasagna, some homemade Marina and Italian cookies for a later meal.  Then walk back to the yacht club and get the launch to take us back to the boat.   Lot of walking and we were beat.  

Friday Yappy Hour at Six Harbors Brewery

That white dog in the pool was going non-stop. 
Ran like crazy then flopped down in the water

One of the tubs had ice in it - much appreciated by those white Samoyeds

On the road back to the yacht club we caught this view
 of As You Wish on the mooring ball.

Journey for July 30, 2026

July 29, 2026 Back to Eatons Neck Anchorage

July 29, 2026  Oyster Bay to Eatons Neck   11 miles and 1.5 hours 

Rainy and windy Tuesday at anchor but thankfully we didn't get hit with the worst of it.  Major rain and flooding stayed just north of us in NYC, NJ, and Conn.  Forecast called for more rain Wednesday, but it seems to have passed or is holding off.  Martha checked Marine Traffic which is an app that lets us track all boats with AIS.  She noted the sailboat that had been in the Eatons Neck anchorage moved out.  We were getting a bit restless so decided to head over. Short cruise on a nice day - partly sunny, lightish winds and relatively calm seas.   Got into Eatons Neck on the high tide.  Only boat here. Dropped anchor to position ourselves for forecasted north and northwest winds while leaving the channel clear for the coasties.  Super calm water although we'll be a bit exposed to any winds coming off the sound.  Just a little sandbar offering protection from that direction.   Overall, a super peaceful anchorage away from the crowds.  Reminds us of the secluded Chesapeake Bay anchorages we appreciate so much.  Weather held off all day despite some angry looking clouds and rain that were visible across the sound. Even fired up the grill and cooked up a nice steak for dinner.  Martha got out the drone and took some amazing pictures.   Very relaxing afternoon. Only disappointment were the posted no landing on the beach signs. 

Eatons Neck Lighthouse and Coast Guard Station

Martha controlling the drone from the cockpit. 
John keeping it in sight from the flybridge

Clouds would come and go.  Very unpredictable weather right now.

Flat calm in our cove made for great reflection pictures

Caught this bit of sun setting before it disappeared behind the clouds

Journey for July 29, 2026

July 27, 2026 Short Cruise to Oyster Bay

 July 27, 2026  Northport to Oyster Bay  17 miles and 2.5 hours

Fun weekend in Northport but time to move on.   Drop the mooring ball lines at 10:00 and head to the town dock.  Need to top off our water tank as we plan to be anchoring several days.   Decide to make the mile walk to the Stop-and-Shop grocery store to pick up a few more fresh veggies.  A bit strenuous walk as it's mostly uphill.  The walk back going downhill was much nicer.  Got off the town dock by noon and headed for Eatons Neck Point.   Wanted to check it out to see if we might stay there a few days as it's got good 360-degree wind protection.  

Osprey family taking in the view from the Eaton Neck entrance channel

Nice little harbor that's a Coast Guard station so all the surrounding property is theirs and no landing on the beaches is allowed.  Narrow channel in with limited anchoring room for a boat our size.  Biggest restraint is needing to stay out of the marked channel as it's used by the CG search and rescue boats.  We take into account the water depth, 7' tidal surge, scope required, and varying wind directions and strength. Yields an expected swing radius that would be a little too tight for comfort except for the one location already occupied by a sailboat. Just one of many such calculations we make every day.  So we opted to backtrack just a bit and head for Oyster Bay.  Numerous anchoring areas that offer protection from the various wind directions should we need to re-anchor.  While this whole area was called the Gold Coast during the heyday before the great depression, there remains plenty of wealthy people willing to build extravagant waterfront estates to keep the area exclusive.  Blue blood territory. Town has a reputation for not being the most transient friendly.  Example is a 20-minute limit at their town dingy dock. Strictly enforced. Seems odd as I would expect restaurants in town to welcome the business.  

Junior sailing lessons in Oyster Bay.  Guess if Biff and Buffy aren't
taking tennis lessons, they go out sailing.

A front is passing through on Tuesday with heavy rain and wind gusts to 25mph from the south before becoming northerly on Wednesday and Thursday with more rain.   We had gotten spoiled with so many blue sky, sunny and 80 degree days.   Guess it was inevitable a change would come at some point.

Journey for July 27, 2026