The Local Weekend

Wind was rather steady out on Western Long Island Sound: out of the east at about ten knots for both days of the weekend. On Saturday I had planned to sail with Jake and Jared, the 15 year old twin sons of  Lene's cousin, Judy, first time sailors. I looked forward to teaching them the ropes, an apt figure of speech of nautical origin. Then we added Daniel, from Argentina via France, who drove his motorcycle to the Club from the upper east side, and Lene's friend Sheila, and Lene decided to come along as well. But the lads were sick so their enjoyment of sailing had to be deferred, and it was only us four oldsters.

Daniel, Sheila and Lene

We beat out, gently, with big sails to off Mamaroneck, in apparent winds of about 14 knots, passing through Hart Island Sound, and then had one long port tack on a very broad reach south of Execution Rocks and through the passage off the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Great Neck before the jibe and heading for the mooring.
Daniel had another appointment and the remaining three of us headed in to Neptune Restaurant, in the neighborhood where we live and where we were joined by Lene's brother, Kenny. The Club's restaurant was sold out for a performance of arias by a local opera singer so we could not eat there. You would think that Neptune had a nautical theme and there are one or two seafood items on the extensive menu, but no, this is a Polish restaurant with not great ambiance but a pleasant backyard outdoor seating area, good cheap food and Zyweck beer (on the east side of First Avenue, south of Twelfth Street in Manhattan). We had to drive back out to the Club after dinner because of a comedy of errors. First Lene left her cell phone aboard so I had a round trip launch ride to retrieve it. Then she left two canvas bags, one of which contained my wallet, on a chair on the front porch of the Clubhouse, which was still there when we got them. A bit of nervous friction until then, however.

Sunday I sailed with Jerry and Louise aboard their 43 foot Jenneau, "Windsong", out of the Huguenot YC. These are the same folks who sailed for a week with us in the Virgin Islands on our way north, early in 2012. (Sorry folks, I forgot to get pictures of the people or the boat.) Windsong has the popular "Raised Deck Salon" feature. Specifically, amidships in the salon, the cabin sole is raised, such that when sitting at the dining table there, you can see out of the big windows that give a full view to both sides and forward, 270 degrees. The boat also has in-mast roller furling for the main sail, which gives up a bit of performance, i.e., speed for ease of furling and unfurling. We headed out the way I usually go, east of Huckleberry Island, and then turned a bit to the right and deeply into Manhasset Bay, before returning to off eastern New Rochelle and thence through the passage between the Nonations (rocks) and Hart Island before entering the Huguenot's waters via the well marked channel into and past the New York Athletic Club's waters. I had never been through there before, but now, armed with local knowledge, I will go again, soon, not under sail, when I bring ILENE to her winter storage place in early November.
I helped Jerry strip, fold and bag his two sails for winter storage. They are leaving for their Florida place soon, and Jerry vowed to sail down there next winter. Finally, a delicious burger at the Huguenot before driving home to Lene.
A good weekend, and the coming week should be rain free, but light wind is predicted.