The Thimble Islands and Branford, CT. 12-13 Sept2014

Anchor up and moving to make the 0840 bridge opening of the Mystic highway bridge, only to be stopped at the AMTRAK Bridge to wait for a train to pass. We finally got moving again around 0930. 

Once we cleared the channel we threw up the sails and proceed on a nice beam reach sail down the coast to the west. Even though this was Friday, there were a lot of sailboats milling around the mouth of the Thames River in New London getting ready for a race. We could hear the warning and starting guns go off, luckily we went through the race course in between different fleets heading out, so didn’t interfere with anyone’s racing. 

When we lived in Groton 20 years ago, travelling up and down I-95, we would see signs to the Thimble Islands and told ourselves we should go there for a visit.  Finally 20 years later we finally made it. Thanks to our Cruising Guide we learned that one does not anchor in and amongst the Thimble Islands. 

The wind started to die about a half hour before we reached the islands. Jo plotted a course around and through the islands to a mooring field near the town of Stony Creek. Hook down, we jumped in the dink to run ashore and catch the last boat tour of the islands. The tour boat Capt. brought us within 3' of some islands along with all his insider info about each island.

Stony Creek is one of the areas where pink granite was quarried for many of our nation’s monuments and prominent buildings. The Thimble “islands” are all granite and running aground in this area is DEFINITELY not like nudging the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.  

In colonial times the islands were considered too small and rocky to be of much use. In the 20s people were attracted by the beauty and mystique of island-living and families began “summering’ in amazing homes perched on rocks. 

Cove where Capt. Kidd would hide out.

Local dink dock for owners' "commuting" to their islands.

Love these "finger piers." Not weight bearing but they don't want their dinks to touch.

When we got back to Stoney Creek, we asked around as to what there was to see or places to eat. Everybody told us to go to town, Branford. So we got back onto the boat and motored around the corner to Branford. We anchored outside the marina area in a mooring field with no other boats around. Exposed to the southwest, this mooring field is known to be very uncomfortable when the prevailing S and SW winds are in place, but for tonight we are to have north winds, a very smooth night. 

We walked into town, approximately 1.5 miles, had dinner at an Italian restaurant recommended by two fishermen we met at the dock while they were cleaning their fish. On the walk back to the dink, we stopped and sat on a rock wall in front of a house with unlocked WIFI. Score! We were able to check and clear email, and also check the weather forecast for the next day. The winds were forecasted to be 15-20 kts out of the east, perfect for our sail southwest to Port Jefferson Harbor and the little creek off of it leading to the town of Setauket.