Trip datetime: Sept 10, 2022 6:15AM edt on the water
Launch point: Port Jefferson Harbor, NY (by the ship dock)
Midpoint: Stratford Shoals Lighthouse at the Middle Ground (middle of Long Island sound)
Destination: Bridgeport ferry terminal, CT
Actual Miles Trip - 19.26 miles
Paddle Time: Less than 5 hours estimation
Weather: 6mph west wind with gust up to 10mph, ~4ft wave / 12secs wave distance time, sunny day 72°, north currents
Bridgeport Ferry Fee - $73
Experience: Amazing! Crossing the Long Island Sound was a bold goal declared back in May 2022 with first experience being in the Long Island Sound
Safety gears:
Boreal Design Alvik sea kayak 17ft
Wilderness System Tempest 16.5ft
Werner Cyprus paddle and a Werner Kalliste as a spare, Bending Branch paddle
NRS Drylander skirt
Marine Radio Standard Horizon HX300, compass, spare PFD
Pocari Sweat (Japanese Gatorade), KIND snack bars, fresh sliced dragon fruits
GoPro 10 camera, edited with DaVinci Resolve
This trip is special because its a culmination of practices and training stemming from a bold goal at the start of the summer 2022. Prior to the trip, 500 miles on the water in my kayak over 90 days to test through many different weather conditions with some much tougher then the weather in this NY/CT Long Island Sound crossing.
Wind was mild and the waves while forecasted to be 4ft, it was at 12seconds interval so it was quite spread out that you could not feel it. The early windier on the NY side made it a little bit of choppy ride but very manageable.
This was such a beautiful day that we saw many fishing boats out in full forces and sailboats as well.
Special call out to thank the ferry company and all of its personnel to agree to bring us home safely on their ferry. Please make sure you make special arrangement with the ferry and including the Bridgeport Authority prior to your trip. We were surprised there was no safe landing area for kayaks near the ferry in the vast shoreline.