Eastern CT sailing spot

dforstmann · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 23

I found a spot in CT that works in a springtime southwesterly when the ocean & sound are too cold to allow the wind to mix down to the surface at the coast. The site is Stoddard Hill State Park and its on the Thames River (more of an estuary actually) in Ledyard CT. The river here is oriented NE/SW so theres a decent fetch. Theres ample parking and grass to rig on thats protected from the wind. You do have to carry your rig across some RR tracks & down a small embankment to get to the water but its not too bad. I sailed here on the morning of 4/8 in 20 kts after driving to Ninigret in RI and Barn Island in Stonington, CT and finding 5-7 kts on the coast. Has anyone else sailed here? Whenever I go Im the only guy on the water.

healeyg · Joined: 12 Apr 1995 Posts: 1

ive never sailed there (btw yahoo says its gales ferry if i have the park correct) but will definitely try it. without being local, what is the best predicter / indicator of whether the site will blow?

dforstmann · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 23

Whenever the call is for a thermal from the SW and WHL is calling for better wind in the upper Narragansett bay (ie springtime) than on the coast I have had good luck here. I guess maybe it is in Gales Ferry. Im not sure where the town line is.

foltz · Joined: 18 Aug 1988 Posts: 8

I swung by there 5/7, based on the IW forecast. It was definitely better than the coast, at about 12mph. Had to go all the way to Fogland to do better. I like the look of this spot, and will definitely be back.

Tony_Baker · Joined: 28 May 2000 Posts: 1

Im moving to CT this summer and was looing for good sailing spots. I noted your message and guess Ill try to find the spot you mentioned.
Thanks for the info

vesterlh · Joined: 17 Jul 1994 Posts: 132

Great spot!!! Sailed there several weeks ago. Fully powered up on my 6.6. Winds were near 20 knots. On the shoreline, there was basically zip. The river is quite wide here and you can get in your straps and have fun. This spot would probably be good when winds are blowing from the north as well.

Unfortunately, I have been to busy at work recently, but may end up checking it out tomorrow afternoon.

Lars Vestergaard
(vesterlh@rocketmail.com)

EvelynByrne · Joined: 07 Jun 2000 Posts: 3

Hi dforstman. Looks like a short ride just there at the park but if you go upwind to where the river is wider looks like a bigger ride. Do you do that? Are there hazards? Rocks, old pier pilings? etc. Is it good there other times of the year or just in the spring? Id like to try it.

rosen · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 1

Though I have never sailed there, I have spent a lot of time on the Thames River every late may to early June these past six years.

Groton is the home of one of the largest Sub bases in the world, so you want to watch out for large vessels - also huge barges make their way up and down the river.

River does get quite wide and can also have up to 3 or 4 knots of current depending on the tides. Winds can be pretty consistent, though they almost always die down by 5:30 or 6 pm.

I dont know where the park is, but staying north of the sub base is recommended, unless you want to play dogems with the Coast Guard academy, the sub base, and the ferries out of New London.

pgarcia · Joined: 24 Jul 1999 Posts: 1

duly noted and thanks
I live in Stmfd and am desperate to find SW locations other than Heckscher
Kevin O

vesterlh · Joined: 17 Jul 1994 Posts: 132

There are a couple of spots where you launch from upwind from the park. At the intersection of RT.12 and Rt. 214, there is a place to park. It is a short walk down a hill to the water. BTW, had an excellent day there on a 5.0 on 6/25/00

Lars Vestergaard