There is a trip planned 15 through 19 August to Block Island as follows:
Depart Navy Marina: Monday 15 August @ 0900
Arrive New Harbor, Block Island: Varies based on boat speed - noon through late afternoon
Places to stay:
- Block Island Boat Basin - phone 401.466.2631, Monitors VHF 9 Reservation Form Link (This will be where your "Cruise Captain" is staying)
- Champlains Marina - phone 401.466.7777, Monitors VHF 68
- Payne's Dock - phone 401.466.5572 (Call for reservations), Monitors VHF 68
- Town Moorings or Anchorage - phone 401.466.3204, Harbormaster monitors VHF 12 (no reservations - 1st come 1st served)
- Wake up
- Eat Breakfast
- Go to the beach
- Ride bikes or Mopeds
- Go shopping
- Go hiking
- Go Sightseeing
- Check out the various culinary and beverage establishments
- Play golf (no not really, thankfully there are NO golf courses on Block Island!)
- Go sailing or fishing, cruise around the island
- Socialize on the dock - designated cocktail hour starts ~1730 each day (people will bring appetizers and beverages to share for group fun)
- Dinner at some restaurants
- Dancing at Ballards or Captain Nicks
Depart New Harbor, Block Island: Friday 19 August 1000
Arrive Coaster's Harbor: Varies based on boat speed - noon through late afternoon
Some background: Bill & Cindy Kneller plan on cruising Rhapsody with their daughters Laura & Alyssa and are meeting Larry & Pam Titus (Bill's sister) who are arriving from Connecticut on Dream Boat. This will be our annual family get together with Cindy's extended family (sister Sandy Gifford and others) and Bill's brother & sister-in-law (Hal & Jane Kneller) from Florida. There are other CHNYC members planning on joining the Block Island fun, as we have done in past years.
Everyone is responsible for arranging their own dockage. Rhapsody and Dream Boat will have slips at Block Island Boat Basin - location of the Oar Restaurant that is famous for Mudslides. In past years others have stayed on moorings, anchored, and made reservations at the three marinas mentioned. It's up to your individual preference, but you should make slip reservations early, as they go quickly. Typically, there is no problem picking up a mooring ball on a Monday, as most people arrive on Friday and depart on Sunday. There is a launch service available run by Oldport if you anchor or stay on a mooring. The launch can be hailed on VHF 68. If you want to arrive earlier than the planned cruise itinerary and/or stay longer - no problem.
Block Island is approximately 21 miles from Coasters Harbor and very easy to navigate to. The GPS coordinates, chart and track used for previous voyages to Block Island is provided as a reply to this posting.
The itinerary on Block Island is very flexible, and we usually arrange different groups to split up and do whatever people like. This way, you get to do what you want to do! The only mandatory event is the social hour that typically starts ~1730 on the dock every day. From here we share stories, drinks and munchies, then make plans on what to do for dinner. Many eat out, some cook on their boats, and there are BBQ grills available on the shore to use.
Your unofficial cruise director for this event is Bill Kneller. We'll create a list of boats cruising and include cell phone numbers so there is a convenient way of contacting each other on the island. You should also file a float plan with the marina office. You can download the float plan at this link. Feel free to post here with any ideas, and let us know if you plan to cruise with us!
