Journey: Northport

Sunday, 15 June

Life is a journey not a destination. Ralph Waldo Emerson

And so it is that Steadfast today journeyed, as it were, the grand total of about seven (7) miles eastward from Oyster Bay to Northport Harbor.

These essentially are side-by-side, separated only by the narrow Lloyd Neck. Having cast off shortly after 0900, she began tacking with a reef in the main and just a bit of the foresail into a 12-to-15-knot nor’westerly that chopped Oyster Bay into a two-to-three foot sea.  She did great, sailing comfortably on her lines.  (Jerry Lattell’s Deltaville crew did a nice job building that new Genny so Steadfast now can sail in conditions like this when she couldn’t in the past.)

Still, with the wind, seas and a foul current, it was after 1300 by the time Steadfast cleared the Neck and headed down into Huntington Bay. By then, those tacks already had totaled more than 12 nautical miles. But it was fun! Another day under sail, mostly, with Little Red used as she was designed, i.e., for auxiliary power getting in and out of harbor.

The four striped stacks are an unmistakable landmark for sailors seeking harbor at Northport and put on a flashing light show at night.

The anchorage tonight is off Duck Bluff, on Northport Harbor’s north shore. Busy, busy, busy on a Father’s Day Sunday afternoon but as quiet now, the sun setting behind the trees, as a Cove on Onancock Creek.

After a delightful sail, the sun provided a stunning close to the day at Duck Bluff.

NOAA’s forecast would have Red fully engaged tomorrow when Steadfast motors the seven miles across the Sound to Stamford for a couple of days.

So, not much to report tonight. Just another good day on the water which is, as Emerson reminds, part of the journey.

Steadfast out.