One Small Step...

After a short stay in Manhasset Bay, we made brief stops in Oyster Bay and Port Jefferson before settling in at the Fish Tail.

Two years ago, while in Oyster Bay, I stopped at a barber shop and inquired how much for a haircut. Turned out the barber was a Russian and he did not answer my question, but in his best KGB accent told me to sit down. I sat down. He cut my hair. He told me to buy a bottle of shampoo with garlic in it. I bought the shampoo. I don't know how much the haircut or the shampoo cost because it was a package deal. I'm certain it was a good deal He told me so. He did a good job on my hair, but I was just happy to still be alive as I walked out the door.

Here it was, 2 years later, and I was desperate for a haircut. My friend has apparently done well, because his shop has been nicely remodeled, his brother is now working with him, the KGB attitude has toned down significantly, there's no garlic shampoo stacked on the walls and there seems to be plenty of customers. After another excellent job on my hair he even bid me farewell and hoped to see me again soon. Whaaaat a country. Anybody need some 2 year old garlic shampoo?

We had a nice sail to Port Jefferson where we anchored north of the large mooring field. Although the guides make it sound like a good spot to anchor, we think the harbor bottom is full of trash. Our first time through we witnessed a large sailboat bring up a tire that was wrapped around his anchor. Our second time through the same thing happened to us. On this occasion we brought up a 6 foot long piece of 2 1/2 inch diameter stainless steel cable. Almost broke our boat hook in the process of getting it off the anchor. Next time we will anchor in the Setauket area a bit to the west.

The forecast looked good for a nice 50 + mile sail to Orient Harbor. The winds were supposed to turn SW at 10 to 15 in the afternoon which would be OK until we exited Plum Gut at the 40 mile mark. Then we would have to turn SW for the last 10 miles. Plum Gut is only a mile or so long but can have currents over 5 knots--although they are normally in the 3 to 4 knot range.

We shot through Plum Gut with no problema-- but after hanging a right we had muchas problemas. The wind was indeed from the SW, but it was blowing 25 to 35 and with a strong contrary current, the waves were very square. We have seen more than our fair share of square waves, but these were the squarest waves we've seen and they were less than a boat length apart. The combination of wind, closely spaced square waves and strong current knocked our speed down close to zero--and we were getting beat up. We tried several different strategies and sail combinations, and ended up tacking back and forth with a reefed staysail and motor. For a while, we were doing well to achieve 2 knots of speed before the next wall of water met the bow and effectively brought us to a halt. To make matters worse, we were dodging lobster pots which were very difficult to see and avoid in those conditions. As we pounded our way closer to land our speed gradually picked up to 3 knots and then eventually 5. Our ordeal mercifully came to an end as we rounded the lighthouse and anchored in the lee of it's spit. The wind continued to blow in the mid 20s through the night but we were safe and secure.

This has been a terrible year for flies. Do they sense a dying country? I think not. Their eyes are too big to have room for brains. Or maybe their brains are in their eyes. Anyway, we thought about buying a horse tail that we could operate with batteries, but couldn't find one. So we thought we would try a weapon from yesteryear.


They were not very productive. We killed 100 times more with the swatter. We actually planted some flies on the tape with the hope they would attract their friends. We watched some of them work their way off of the fly tape and fly away. Did they do that in the old days or is this tape kinder and gentler--more humane?

After a stop in Sag Harbor we moved a few miles to a bay near the town of Southold. It was time for the big test. We couldn't find a place to leave the dinghy, so I dropped Lisa off with her map in hand.

Our handicapped parking space.


One small step for... One giant step for... OK, a bit dramatic. But a HAMMY is a HAMMY. I'm proud to say Lisa aced her test. She is officially a geek! Not that there's anything wrong with that...Now I feel worthless. I need some chocolate.


Hiding under a cloud in Sag Harbor.

We moved on to Three Mile Harbor and made several treks into East Hampton from there. Walking down the side walk, I overheard 1 old codger say to an other "we can't even go into most of these stores". Right there with you buddy. Lots of stretched faces in this neck of the woods.