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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
