June 11, 1987 - A Weekend On the Water!J
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Weekend
On the Water
By PAUL STOUTENBURGH
It had been a busy week and we
had waited for the weather forecaster
to tell us the good news of a beautiful
weekend. Well, the good news at
least was perfect for Saturday and
questionable for Sunday. So we
packed up the odds and ends we'd for -
Focus on
Nature
gotten to put aboard our boat when
we launched her, and were soon on
our way.
A more beautiful day would be
hard to find and for one who sails our
north wind was an extra bonus. Not
only does it let us sail up and down
the bays under a brisk breeze, but it
is usually dry air for it comes across
the land, unlike our moist, summer
southwest wind that comes off the
ocean.
The occurrence of the brown tide
that has haunted our bays from
Orient to Montauk for the past two
years seems to be on the decline. I've
been following the counts and the
good news is they are well below last
year at this time. Let's keep our fin-
gers crossed and hope we'll be missed
by its curse this year. For those of us
who spend a good bit of time on the
water, the brown tinge of our waters
is not what we remember. We on the
East End have been blessed with
clear unpolluted waters up 'til now
and hopefully it will stay that way.
By the time we arrived at the Sea -
Wind and got things squared away
it was after lunch as we dropped the
line from the mooring and headed
out. It was good to be under way
again and memories danced in our
minds of previous trips and how we'd
come back exhilarated from our ad-
ventures. The genny blew out and
our sails filled as we rushed down the
bay.
Boats at Jessups
We passed Jessups Neck (Morton
Wildlife Sanctuary) amid a small ar-
mada of hopeful fishermen. Through
sign language known only to boaters,
an angler answered by holding up a
nice size porgy. The boats were drift-
ing and bottom fishing. Just a week
ago a nice run of blues were caught
off the point, but we saw no sign of
those today.
Our destination was rather vague.
Our son Roger and his family were
somewhere with their boat, the
Chelsea Marie, and we had a faint
hope of finding them at one of the
many delightful spots along our way.
Perhaps they would lay up east of
Jessups. That's always a nice spot
and we've often dropped a hook there
for the night, but no, that was being
used today by two water skiers pro-
viding their thrills for the day.
Our next stop would be West Har-
bor in Shelter Island. This would
mean taking the sails down and
heading through a rather tricky en-
trance and channel. There were
people all along Shell Beach. Most
were sun worshippers, for the water
was still too cool for swimming. I was
particularly pleased to see the least
The Suffolk Times /June 11, 1987 /Page 9A
YOUNG IN NEST - -It won't be long before young harmful pesticides in their food chain, ospreys on
ospreys like these will be seen looking out over their the East End are now making a slow but steady
big bulky nest. Because of the banning of certain comeback.
tern colony "off limits" and signs and
fences protecting their nesting area.
As we headed in, these small terns
were busy fishing all around us.
Down they'd dive, after hanging in
the air evidently above their prey.
Sometimes they'd strike the water,
other times they'd veer off, their vic-
tim evidently having moved out of
reach. When they did drop in, they'd
almost spring out of the water and
then, while in flight, shake them-
selves and be off -- still looking. In-
side the harbor a small fleet of sail-
boats and a few larger motorboats
anchored, but no sign of the boat we
were looking for.
Rendezvous at Smith Cove
Our next stop would be Smith Cove
just past the South Ferry. Knowing
my son's love of being alone and not
tied up at a dock, we got out the glas-
ses as we approached and scanned
the northwest shore of the cove -- two
sailboats and a sleek powerboat were
at anchor. We missed them here, too,
we thought, but -- no -- wait, slowly
showing now from behind the big
powerboat swung the Chelsea
Marie. It had been hidden behind
the big cruiser, but as the wind blew,
we were able to catch sight of it.
We pulled in the sail and headed
up where we soon dropped anchor
and in no time were chatting, espe-
cially with the baby Chelsea, one
of our favorite grandchildren. From
here on we just enjoyed ourselves.
Roger and I took his small motorboat
and toured the water's edge of
Mashomack Preserve up to Major's
Cove.
As we sat waiting while dinner
cooked, ospreys wheeled and
screamed their high - pitched call over
the nearby creek. I could see one nest
in a big tree just inside to the north.
It is good to see these birds making
such a strong comeback after their
devastating battle with the pes-
ticide DDT.
We talked into the night, for by
now we had tied up alongside each
other. Finally the last candle flic-
kered and left us bathed in moon-
light. It was getting cool and all were
ready for bed. We cast off the lines to
the Chelsea Marie and it drifted in
silence in the moonlight. Soon I
heard the rattle of the chain over the
side and knew they were secure for
the night. I remember getting into
my bunk, but that's all.
The next morning a low- level, but
brilliant sun shone through the open
hatchway. I'd have to get up and
taste the new day. Large droplets of
dew had collected on everything and
I had to wipe one section of the back -
cushions to sit on. Sentinel gulls sat
on their favorite rocks along the
shore, while unseen crows called
from a wall of green. The osprey was
off fishing. The water was mirror -
like and our two boats lay limp on
slackened anchor lines.
Man's world had not yet
awakened. The only sign of activity
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on the water was the distant shuttl-
ing back and forth of the South
Ferry. It was my time of the day.
Only a school of bunkers rippled the
glassy surface towards shore and oc-
casionally. you'd hear their snapping
as they broke the surface of the water
on their endless patrol. I could im-
agine their silver sides all in unison,
milling about with their mouths
wide open, as these filter feeders col-
lected the "soup" of the rich waters
that surround our shores. Our
weekend, as predicted, had been a
perfect one.
Come Visit
The Newly Renovated
ORIENT
BY THE SEA
MARINA AND RESTAURANT
MAIN ROAD, ORIENT POINT • (516) 323 -2424
Now Open 7 Days
For Lunch and Dinner
Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 am to 10 p.m.
OUR FISH ARE FRESH OFF OUR OWN DOCK
COMPLETE DINNER SPECIALS DAILY
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