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August 11, 1988 - A Three-Day Cruise Provides Retreat from the HeatFocus on Nature A Three -Day Cruise Provides Retreat from the Heat By Paul Stoutenburgh Hot and Humid —it seems the weather forecast is like that old broken record we all remember. It repeats and repeats itself. Luck was with Barbara and me when we snuck off for three days in our sailboat to travel east along our South Shore and Shelter Island. We started off slowly under that unbearable heat, setting sail about midday. After we pulled up anchor, Bar- bara got together a nice cool tray of cheese and crackers, grapes and a bottle of wine for lunch. We sat up on deck under the shade of the mainsail to eat as we have an automatic pilot that functions in the hot sun allowing us this luxury. We really thought we had it made as we cruised along at three knots under a gentle breeze sipping our wine and munching our crackers. To add a bit of flare to our noon repast Barbara had brought out two long - stemmed wine glasses friends had given us for just such an occasion. If anyone had seen us they would have thought it was some TV ad for our local wine. Suddenly it all came to a crashing halt when a wave from a passing boat flipped the tray. Cheese, crackers, grapes and even our tall- stemmed glasses, empty now, went plummeting to the deck, leaving us with a matching pair of short- stemmed glasses. Were the Gods of the sea telling us that this was no way to present oneself when out on the briny deep? No matter, we both laughed at our short spree into the elite. By 2 o'clock the wind picked up, and by three we were charging eastward at a nice seven knots. The sails pulled for all they were worth and the Sea Wind cut the water with her clean white bow seeming to enjoy the dashing trip and the flying spray. Passing Shore Birds Seen Occasionally small groups of shore birds passed a foot off the water beating their way into the wind in a westerly direction. We'd seen these tireless bits of fluff earlier when we were out and we'll see them again before the season ends. There is a con- tinuous stream of these tiny shore birds out of the north. Also passing were the high fly- ing swallows. Here single birds kept mov- ing westward. There was hardly a time you didn't see a swallow over the water. It reminded me to keep an eye out for their mass accumulations as the season moves on. They'll line the telephone wires to a point you'd think they'd break them and perch on TV antennas, just like lights on a Christmas tree. We were disappointed to see the jellyfish as we passed by. The big white sea nettles and the occasional red one that we call "lion's mane" made us give up any idea of swimming while underway. We rounded Jessups and passed through the south passage between the shuttling fer- SAVE 44% "SLEEP BY DESIGN" PILLOW COLLECTION $16 ea. Orig. $29 A. "SIDE SUPPORT SLEEPER"... indented side fits comfortably around your shoulder while the center supports your head. Machine washable. Polyester fiberfill. Cotton cover. B. "NECK SUPPORT PILLOW"... soft pillow for your head with firm neck bolster. Provides maximum support. its Machine washable. Polyester fiberfill. Cotton cover. C. "PILLOW PERFECT"... specially engineered for proper back or side positions. Washable polyurethane foam. ' Come in, write or Cotton /polyester cover. All fit standard SHOP BY size pillowcases. PHONE ll 1 -800- 845 -4700 1' ries. Then, with the tide with us, we rounded Mashomack's southwest point and then passed Cedar Point Light east of Sag Har- bor. How wonderful the wind blew for us and in no time Three Mile Harbor, with its red - and -white entrance buoy, soon loomed up before us. Just outside the breakwater common terns had gathered to feast on the bait that was evidently plentiful there. Down they dove disappearing completely underwater only to pop up and fly off, sometimes with a silvery morsel but more often without a reward. On our way out of the harbor in the morning we stopped to see what some com- mercial bait people were gathering there. In one haul they filled their huge drum with spearing or silversides and sand eels. This would be used for snapper bait. As we entered the channel we turned on the old reliable engine and with sails still up made our way from buoy to buoy eventually rounding the last red buoy where we headed west to the sheltered shore. In no time the sails were down and we were securely an- chored. Nice Quiet Harbor Our first day couldn't have been nicer even though it started slowly. Of course, the weather was overcast and hot but, with the wind we had in the afternoon, what more could a sailor ask. By nightfall the wind dropped off and while we ate dinner we wat- some "aefl th . to, pour had ori, m 00 I bi 6 wsth mimic tvo WI \� ;..00. a 9A ched a lone gull sitting on the stern of our dinghy waiting for a handout. I'm sure it had been through this scenario before. As soon as it saw people eating, it moved in for a free dinner and, of course, we had to oblige by tossing tidbits. After dinner we reminisced on how we had once come to this harbor years ago with our kids. It seemed our oldest always had to have a fishing rod in his hands and on that evening, as we all sat in the cockpit in the dark, he called out "I got one!" Sure enough, from the six feet of water he soon brought aboard a huge squirming eel. Now if you've never caught an eel, it is quite an experience. You can't grab on to them they are so slippery. In the dark the thrashing about, sliding over our feet and winding around our legs made quite a commotion. Needless to say there was unexpected ac- tivity in the cockpit that night! Next day it was hazy and the wind was barely stirring so we decided not to attempt a long trip. Orient seemed the likely place so we headed over to hang out in back of the State Park. Under a light breeze we again set our automatic pilot and relaxed while eating lunch under the shade of the sail, this time without our long- stemmed glasses. We actually sat with our feet dangling in the cool water keeping a watchful eye out for any stray jellyfish. We barely moved until 2 when luck was with us and the breeze came M` " 1 h1dol b tale his totfoIIMy wu Ism III d dis0 awe _ arwed Nor AWI haM vmwde nghi degtes of sUaae,t has ih Coil 19004454700 or write Stem's. P.O. Box 543. Paramus. N.J. 07652. Far moil and phone orders please add 60.00 delivery charye within Stern's normal delivery area for one or more items sent to the same address. certain items carry an additional delivery fee as indicated. Additional delivery charges will be added beyond Stem's normal delivery area. No C.O.D. orders. Add sales tax applicable to pour area. Pillows & Bed Accessories, Dept. 563. Intermediate price reductions may have been taken prior to sale. Prices in effect through Sun., Aug. 28. CHARGE IT WITH YOUR STERN'S, AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA OR MASTERCARD A full text of manufacturers womanly may be obtained by writing to Stern 's. Dept. W. &O. Box S43. Paramus, N.J. 07652 HAMPTON BAYS, MONTAUK HWY. & ROUTE 24 / EAST HAMPTON, PANTIGO ROAD ■ B7 All the members of the swallow family are now until late fall migrating through our area. Often they stop and rest on telephone and electric wires, TV masts, boat railings or any other object available. —Paul Stoutenburgh Photo up out of the southwest driving us across quiet night and peaceful sleep after our day Gardiner's Bay to our invisible destination. -•�� H ��„-. ray We arose to another overcast day —part 3y� -� i'G. Bay. We passed by a large osprey platform were hundreds of swallows resting and that had two or three nice -sized young in it. preening themselves. It seems they too The female soared overhead giving her found it to be a good harbor of refuge. They shrill call letting us know she was watching. clung to the lines and the railing and any Q�/y�` other object they could perch on. Most were flats along the park side and a great white barn swallows but there were a few tree and egret stalked in the marsh nearby. bank swallows scattered amongst them. Time to Make a Move After breakfast we decided to make It was a lonely and wonderful afternoon another short trip in the hazy overcast and but by 5 the wind really started blowing and set sail for Sag Harbor, an always rewar- 7 ding stop. The town was busy with shoppers rather rough sea. Not caring to spend the I SAVE 30% -40% ... PLUMP SAVE 27% ... DUPONT SAVE 20 % -25% ... 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Far moil and phone orders please add 60.00 delivery charye within Stern's normal delivery area for one or more items sent to the same address. certain items carry an additional delivery fee as indicated. Additional delivery charges will be added beyond Stem's normal delivery area. No C.O.D. orders. Add sales tax applicable to pour area. Pillows & Bed Accessories, Dept. 563. Intermediate price reductions may have been taken prior to sale. Prices in effect through Sun., Aug. 28. CHARGE IT WITH YOUR STERN'S, AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA OR MASTERCARD A full text of manufacturers womanly may be obtained by writing to Stern 's. Dept. W. &O. Box S43. Paramus, N.J. 07652 HAMPTON BAYS, MONTAUK HWY. & ROUTE 24 / EAST HAMPTON, PANTIGO ROAD ■ B7 All the members of the swallow family are now until late fall migrating through our area. Often they stop and rest on telephone and electric wires, TV masts, boat railings or any other object available. —Paul Stoutenburgh Photo up out of the southwest driving us across quiet night and peaceful sleep after our day Gardiner's Bay to our invisible destination. on the water. Once anchored, we took the dinghy and We arose to another overcast day —part explored that lovely area called Hallock's sun, part haze but still warm. On the boats Bay. We passed by a large osprey platform were hundreds of swallows resting and that had two or three nice -sized young in it. preening themselves. It seems they too The female soared overhead giving her found it to be a good harbor of refuge. They shrill call letting us know she was watching. clung to the lines and the railing and any A few turnstones (shore birds) worked the other object they could perch on. Most were flats along the park side and a great white barn swallows but there were a few tree and egret stalked in the marsh nearby. bank swallows scattered amongst them. Time to Make a Move After breakfast we decided to make It was a lonely and wonderful afternoon another short trip in the hazy overcast and but by 5 the wind really started blowing and set sail for Sag Harbor, an always rewar- shifted more to the west putting us in a ding stop. The town was busy with shoppers rather rough sea. Not caring to spend the and we walked the streets feeling as if we night under such conditions and listening to had come a long way to a strange town. It's the radio reporting severe thunderstorms to kind of nice just to poke around and shop the west, we decided to head for a more here and there. sheltered harbor. There's no nicer place to get out foul weather than e Harbor We saw old Friends who invited us to meet on Shelter s r Island and so we set t sal sail late in them in their boat off Morton Sanctuary. y' the afternoon for that protected anchorage. Hasty plans were drawn up and we soon We had a great dinner aboard and spent a were back aboard the SeaWind setting sail f d CALCO Blacktop Sealing & Lining COMPLETE BLACKTOP MAINTENANCE SERVICE • Quality Seal Coating Commercial & Residential Tennis Courts Licensed & Insured 363 -6938 or our new ren ezvous. We both arrived about the same time and tied up alongside. We chatted and laughed about old times 'til someone realized it was almost 6 o'clock. Since it was still overcast, evening would come soon so we had to say goodbye as we still had to head up bay into the wind. It was a wet sail close - hauled and as we dropped anchor the lights around the bay started to come on, but even they were now shrouded in a fog. We had gotten in just in time. A short dinghy ride and our trip was over but to our surprise friends on shore invited us to a scrumptious dinner. What better way to end our three days on the water. PERIODONTAL HEALTH SERVICES • PREVENTIVE CARE AND SECOND OPINIONS GENTLE PERIODONTAL CARE MITCHELL T. CANTOR DMD • 97 N. MAIN STREET, SOUTHAMPTON Don't Be Fooled By Our Address We Are Your Eastern Long Island Headquarters nmv:v .� PORSCHE 911 JEEP AUDI VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET EAST COAST HEADQUARTERS se Nu�E ® /AND 10I SAV11 AT O / /AN N qLt S O 110 S AKES s is I O 3 MAYO MOTOWd SOUTHAMPTON County Road 39 —'/2 mile west of Montauk Highway 283 -1600 287 -3000 Sales & Leasing Experts Saturday Service & Parts THE SOUTHAMPTON PRESS / AUGUST 11, 1988