Friday, August 22, 2014

East End Boating Series: Shelter Island


Shelter Island Cruising 

Beautifully preserved and wonderfully welcoming, Shelter Island offers ample dockage and moorings for boaters. The island is only accessible by boat or by ferry, and much of the 8,000-acre island is protected.

Lovely private homes dot the island and a number of historic sites offer a glimpse into the island’s nearly 400-year documented history.

Shelter Island offers an escape from life’s rapid pace, but still offers recreational opportunities like kayaking, biking, shopping or exploring local surrounds. The island also features about a dozen eateries.
Shelter Island's laidback beaches and water-only access makes it
a popular destination for boaters. 

In particular we are fans of the restaurants Salt and the Pridwin Hotel. Salt is fantastic for traditional dishes with a contemporary twist. Its laidback atmosphere, fresh menu choices, crafty cocktails and live music are great reasons to go.

The Pridwin is a fabulous choice for fresh seafood catches (courtesy of the hotel proprietor’s ambitious fishing endeavors!). The Pridwin also offers an array of traditional dining choices, and has a “young diners” menu that will please youthful palates. Wednesday nights are celebrated with cookouts on the lawn, and live music abounds. Hurry – only through Labor Day!

Boaters heading to Shelter Island may enjoy a basic primer on the island's harbors: 

Coecles - Eastern section
Buoys on inside and outside harbor are privately maintained; locations can shift and navigation can be tricky, especially for boats with deep drafts. We would advise caution around the mooring near Reel Point, where a sand bar can wreak havoc. 

The southern shoreline is undeveloped and protected as part of Mashomack Nature Preserve. The northern shoreline is developed, and features beautiful homes.

Mashomack – Southeast section
Almost the entire coast of Machomack is dedicated as a preserve. Here, boaters can enjoy the sights of ospreys and various other types of wildlife. While there is no access to commercial amenities, two harbors offer boaters access to beautiful beaches. 

Majors Cove, located on the southeast point of Shelter Island, is a quiet harbor and offers a good holding ground for favorable anchorage. Majors Cove overlooks Sag Harbor, but is well protected from passing boats.

Major Cove is just east of Smith's Cove, another harbor that provides good anchorage opportunities. Smith's Cove is more exposed to boating traffic but it is protected from prevailing southwesterly breezes. Anchoring here on summer afternoons can be a challenge because of the heavy traffic to and from Sag Harbor. The Cove does offer plenty of depth and provides a lovely view of Mashomack Preserve. Anchoring along the western Shoreline offers quite good protection. 

Along the eastern shore of Smith's is Split Rock, a wonderful place to swim and walk the beach.


Dering Harbor – Northwest section
The most popular harbor on Shelter Island, Dering Harbor is located directly across from Greenport.  It offers boaters convenient and easy access and is populated by several restaurants, stores, stately private homes, mansions, and of course, marinas. Overnight visitors can request accommodations at a local hotel or B and B – well in advance of a stay, since they are often booked.
Dering Harbor is the most popular harbor for commercial activity,
including shopping, dining and sightseeing on the island. 


West Neck Harbor – Southwest section
On the southwest corner of Shelter Island is West Neck Harbor. While the harbor is well protected, it has several shallow areas that boaters should watch for. On the harbor’s south side, there are good opportunities for swimming and relaxing at Shell Beach. Wades Beach is across from Shell Beach and also offers a relaxing beach day. Not to be forgotten, many boaters also enjoy exploring by dinghy around West Neck Harbor. 

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