Northeast - Bridgeport, CT to Buzzards Bay , MA

Going to take the new boat from Bridgeport, CT to Buzzards Bay thursday. Any dangers in Long Island sound or tips for me. Once I hit Block Island Sound I know the area but I am totally unfamiliar with LI sound/Montauk region. DO I cut the inside of Fishers Island or stay on the outside?

Outside of Fiahers is better. No traps and it's an easy run.

Only real concern is the occasional tree floating just at the surface. Especially with all the rain in the last week, the rivers should be running pretty good.

Enjoy a great ride.

Depending on your boat, you may find it much nicer to go into Fishers Island Sound. Wind forecast is SE, and you will be bucking the current all morning. Hitting Plum Gut, the Race or Watch Hill Passage at noon is going to be rough. I would plan to hit any of these spots closer to slack tide (approx. 0830 or 1430).

ditto on logs and other flotsam.

The run from Bridgeport through the Sound is a breeze as long as the wind is not coming from the East or Northeast. Just stay a few miles offshore and you have got 50 plus foot depths throughout. Once you get to Plum Island/New London you have a few choices, depending on the wind direction and speed. The most straightforward is just going through the Race, but if you've got a nasty wind against tide that's not very pleasant nor safe sometimes. If that's the case, you can go through the Gut which can have its problems but the tidal rips are usually ripping only in certain areas at certain times and you can normally find a decent way through. Then head east between the south side of Plum and stay north of the Ruins. You've got a nice clean run out east from there. Alternatively, you can go through Fishers Island Sound, with its many rocks and Maine-like lobster pot obstructions followed by the tricky Watch Hill Reef and the confusing passages on the east end of Fishers. Block Island Sound can be very nasty and foggy, especially with easterly or northeasterly winds.

Max Flood at the Race tomorrow is 11:45 am; 2.5 kts. ESE winds 5-8 kts.
Slack is around 2:45pm. If your schedule's going to have you off New London before noon, I'd go inside Fisher's to Watch Hill, down Rhode Island to Pt. Judith, and then to Buzzard's.

Thanks. Running a 40 Ocean Express. Will be hitting the race around 1230p. Still unsure whether to go inside Fischers or not.

From Stratford Point it is basically a straight line course all the way into Buzzards Bay. This takes you south of Fishers. I would not alter from that rhumb line course unless conditions demand it. You will be fine in a 40 even if the race gets sloppy.

Made it safe. Thanks for all your help. Drove through fog for 3.5 hrs. I have no idea what LI Sound or the Race looks like. All I saw was fog...

Yep. We were out there for a few hours today near the CT river at Old Saybrook. Cold, wet, foggy. Not the best day for a ride but at least you didn't have to worry about too much traffic.