This trip has a little bit of everything: A star studded start on the Hudson River, with a great view of New York; New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty; an overnight offshore leg in the Atlantic, some rest and relaxation on Block Island; and a relaxing jaunt back through the Long Island Sound with a stop in beautiful Oyster Bay, and we cap it off with a run through the legendary Hells Gate.

During the trip we'll stand watches, navigate, anchor and discuss the boats systems and sail handling .   We should see all kinds of conditions and will learn about prevailing weather and tides and currents.  Back at the marina, looking out at the Big Apple, you'll have a great sense of satisfaction about what you've seen and done.  Be sure and save some time to see the city.  There is easy access to Manhattan and all airports from the marina.

Greenport, NY, Shelter Island to Mystic, CT and Back to Greenport

Newport, RI to Cuttyhunk to Camden, ME

Penobscot Bay - Camden, ME to Matinicus Island to Vinalhaven and back to Camden

Penobscot Bay - Brooklin, ME to Acadia National Park and back to Brooklin

Camden, ME to Nantucket, MA to Saybrook, CT

Clinton, CT to Falkner Island

Newport to St. Maarten via Bermuda

Cruising Passage

19

Sold Out

Relax on the calming water and Nurture the Artist & the Adventurer within! Kirk Larsen, one the East coast's finest Plein Air painter/instructors, will be guiding this innovative and inspiring workshop. Through demo, discussion, on sight guidance and follow up critique, Kirk will share his supportive, unique and uplifting method that accelerates the learning curve. From Novice to advanced artist, this intimate workshop [Limited to 4 students] is sure to take your art to the next level.

$250

Plein Air

4

$1,080

This will be a beautiful cruise up through Buzzards Bay, the Cape Cod Canal and across to Penobscot Bay where we'll first touch down in Brooklin, Maine, which is not only beautiful, but is well known for the rebirth of wooden boat building. Look, this is something you are just going to have to endure with me.  On Day 1, we'll anchor at Cuttyhunk and time our shot up through the Cape Cod Canal.  Once underway, we'll continue overnight until we reach the  Penobscot Bay.  Depending on daylight and conditions, we may stop at Matinicus, Swan Island or Isle au Haut before stopping in Brooklin.

After a day of rubbing elbows with boat builders, we'll casually work our way through the incredible islands of Penobscot Bay over to Camden. If we see a place along the way that begs us to drop anchor, we will! This is lobster country, so plan on a feast.

Camden will be my temporary base for the next few weeks and is an interesting town with a nice harbor and good access back to civilization.

$1,400

Cruising Passage

7

Ray Hassard has agreed to lead back to back workshops.  Guaranteed to be informative and fun - with lots of attention and guidance from Ray.  Matinicus Island is just hard enough to get to, that it creates a special opportunity for us to sneak down there and spend a day and a half in a place where time seems to have stood still. I believe there are only about 150 year round residents on the island, which is primarily a fishing village. I'll probably need to tear you away around midday on Day 3 and we'll make our way northward to Vinalhaven for the evening. We'll spend half the day on Day 4 on Vinalhaven before jogging back across Penobscot Bay to Camden.     
                                               ***I can almost smell the fish chowder.***

Plein Air

4

$1,180

Another great opportunity to work side by side with a pro.  Ray Hassard will lead this workshop.  Where else can you get a 4 to 1 ratio with your instructor?

This Plein Air expedition starts in Brooklin, ME next to the Woodenboat School.  We can spend the first day in and around the boat school, and then head over to Bass Harbor in the afternoon.  Early on Day 2 we'll see what Bass Harbor has to offer as far as painting opportunities.  That afternoon, we'll head around past Great Cranberry Island to Southeast Harbor. I particularly want to show you Somes Sound, a spectacular bay with steep sloping hillsides down to the water, all leading to a cozy protected anchorage.

We will linger in the nooks and crannies as long as we can before we need to head back to Brooklin and civilization.

Plein Air

5

$1,225

This is a big trip with a great taste of some open water sailing from Camden, east of Cape Cod to Nantucket.  Once in Nantucket, we will have two days to explore, rent bicycles, walk on the beach, or grab a gift for folks back home.  The next leg of the journey will provide lots on navigational opportunities.  The Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds require close attention to depth, drift and current, and as we enter the Long Island Sound, we'll get a taste of the ripping currents at The Race.  We may decide to sneak around the top of Fisher's Island and anchor depending on our timing.  If we have time, Noank, CT is always an interesting stop, and is a quintessential New England town.  Saybrook, our final destination is a well equipped and comfortable harbor just inside the mouth of the Connecticut River.

$1,500

Cruising Passage

7

Just as above, Ken Shuey will work closely with you in the medium of your choice.  We'll set out from Cedar Island Marina in Clinton, CT and make the quick jaunt out to Falkner Island.  We'll make sure to get some pleasure sailing under our belt before we find a comfortable anchorage near the island.  Ken and I agreed that one of our goals was to wear you out, so we get an early start and stay after it until early evening.  Don't worry - you can take a nap if you need to.

You'll be surprised at how many spots there are on the deck of Airielle for painting.  You'll also be surprised at the sensation of a moving boat while you are painting - but you'll get used to it, and most really enjoy it.

The expediton includes a breakfast of bagels, yogurt and fruit, a sack lunch with an interesting sandwich, and big bowl of something warm and meaty for the ride home at the end of the day.

Clinton, CT to The Thimble Islands

Plein Air

7am to 7pm

1

$250

Plein Air

1

Ken is excited to move his workshop offshore (I've heard its for tax reasons), and if you've ever painted with Ken, you know what a delight it is to work with him.  These workshops are exceptional due to the 6:1 student/teacher ratio.  You can expect a morning and an afternoon session - two masterpieces in one day!

The Thimbles are one of my favorite places in the Sound.  They are a group of rocky pink granite islands, reminiscent of the coast of Maine.  We can anchor near the private islands and can go ashore on Outer Island a nature preserve run by the Stuart B. McKinney Association.  The Island are about a 2 hour sail from Clinton.  Let's get an early start from Clinton and we'll get to the islands with plenty of time to paint.  These workshops include breakfast of bagels, yogurt and fruit, an easy to eat sandwich lunch, and while you are feverishly painting, I'll whip up a fish chowder to tide you over until we get back to Clinton.

As you may be able to tell, I really like this trip. It is such a great way to learn and test many aspects of your sailing skills.  This trip works well in the Spring and the Fall as the seasonal breezes tend to be more favorable.  We should have plenty of very good sailing. 

We start the adventure at the Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club just across the Hudson River from the Empire State Building.  Be sure to arrive the night before the trip so you can enjoy the view.  It is just breathtaking. I rarely say that about man-made things.  The first few hours of the trip are impressive as we head south on the Hudson River, with a great view of New York; New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty.  We will pass close to speeding ferries, tugs and large ships on our way out under the Verrazano Bridge and into the Atlantic.  Our first night  includes an overnight offshore leg in the Atlantic, about 10 to 20 miles south of Long Island.  It generally takes a day and a half to get to Block Island. At this time of year, most of the boats have cleared out and we should have plenty of breathing room to mess around and explore the island.

On Day 4, we will take our time and have a nice breakfast and discuss the strategy for using the currents that run through the Block Island Sound and The Race to our advantage.  If timed correctly, we can add a couple of knots to our boat speed.  If not timed so well, we'll get stuffed.  We will sail through the night again, because you need the practice, and you can really cover a lot of ground in a slow boat this way.  While we could probably blaze on into New York, I'd like to take you to Port Washington to give you a flavor for one of the many interesting Long Island harbors.  From Port Washington, it is a cinch to time our passage through Hells Gate with a favorable current, which can reach 4 or 5 knots at peak velocity.  Finally, we will run down the East River at about 10 knots past the United Nations and under the Brooklyn Bridge and around the southern tip of Manhattan.

During the trip we'll stand watches, navigate, anchor and discuss the boats systems and sail handling .   We should see all kinds of conditions and will learn about prevailing weather and tides and currents.  Back at the marina, looking out at the Big Apple, you'll have a great sense of satisfaction about what you've seen and done.  Be sure and save some time to see the city.  There is easy access to Manhattan and all airports from the marina.

Circumnavigate Long Island - New York City to Block Island and Port Washington and back to New York City via Hells Gate

Cruising Passage

5

$1,350

Greenport, NY and Shelter Island - Fall Foliage I

Plein Air

3

$600

The mist will be rising off the water in the crisp morning, and there will still be plenty of sailboats on the harbor moorings in Greenport.  I will crank up the cabin heater to break the chill.  We will basically work our way around Shelter Island and then end up back in Greenport, which should be alive with activity during this wonderful time of year.  Shelter Island has a number of really nice places, such as West Neck, Coecles and Dering harbors to anchor and simply soak in the view. Or, if you like, let me take you to shore to practice your artistic passion.   

Trip Schedule
and Descriptions

2010/2011 Adventures October through May

Trip Type

Dates

Days

Trip Description

Cost

Map Links

Ray Hassard Workshop!

How do I reserve a spot?  Click here...

This trip starts from the cozy harbor of Greenport, NY, a popular vacation and artist community on the North Fork of Long Island. Lots of sailors too! On Day 1, we will sneak around the back of Shelter Island and either stop in West Neck or in Coecles Harbor. We'll explore the estuaries in the dinghy and find places to hop off and paint. On Day 2, well have an early breakfast and head North through Plum Gut. On the way into Mystic, we will brush past lovely Noank and up the river toward Mystic. The highlight of this trip is that we will spend the night inside the Mystic Seaport Museum, and will have free access to the grounds during and after museum hours. After the crowds go home, leaving the place to us, it is just like stepping back in time to the days of working oyster boats - and so peaceful! Of course a trip to Mystic isn't complete without a slice of Mystic pizza. On Day 4, we can have a leisurely breakfast and you'll get to sketch on the foredeck as we make our way down the river back to the Sound. We wll hoist the sails and romp back to Greenport. This should be a beautiful trip.

Skip the Airport, and the drive!

Kirk's Links:

Kirk Larsen Workshop!

Ray Hassard Workshop!

7am to 7pm

Ken Shuey Workshop!

Ken Shuey Workshop!

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