Old Field Pt to Point No Pt Paddle (Long Island Sound Crossing)
On August 3rd, Jeremy Grosvenor and Drew Harvey punched a strike mission across the Long Island Sound for the first prone paddle crossing of the 2025 Point to Point season.
Start Point: Old Field Pt. (Long Island, NY)
End Point: Point No Pt. (Connecticut)
Mode of Travel: Prone Paddle
Distance: 10.4 NM ~ 12 miles
Date of Completion: 08/03/2025
Levels of Support: 2 Paddlers, unsupported (no trail boat). VHF Marine Radio carried in case of emergency. Navigational tools - line of sight, compass and dead reckoning.
Trip Report: Scoped out the start location 1 week prior to the paddle and found an access easement to the water just south-east of Old Field Lighthouse. Got dropped off the morning of the paddle at easement.
Started paddle at approx. 6:30 AM heading due North (356 degrees to be exact) at the end of the flood tide. Note: The crux of this paddle is avoiding the Port Jefferson to Bridgeport Ferry (you want to cross the ferry lane quickly, decisively and only once). The first Northbound ferry passed us to our east. We then altered our heading Northeast towards Middle Ground Lighthouse (located at Stratford Shoal) to make the ferry lane crossing. With the Southbound ferry fast approaching we got going at a good clip into a slight 5 knot headwind chop. Once we saw the Port side windows of the Southbound Ferry we knew we were out of harms way and the ferry passed us to our west.
With Middle Ground Lighthouse in our sights, we were sure to stay well west of Stratford Shoal knowing this reference point was our approximate half way marker AND that the ebb tide was coming for the back 2/3rds of the paddle (which would start to set us east). Once we came in line with Middle Ground Lighthouse to our due east, we reset our heading towards the smoke stacks of Bridgeport. Staying on this heading, the ebb tide set us right in line with Point No Pt. Then, once the details of the Connecticut shoreline came more in to view, we were able to shoot straight towards Point No Pt. for the last 3 miles to finish.
Our approximate landing time at Point No Pt. was 10:00 AM. Total paddle time was 3.5 hours.
Truck & driver picked us up at end point for a transport back to Long Island via the Bridgeport Ferry.
Additional Details: The Port Jeff - Bridgeport ferry travels fast and probably will not divert course around you. Large barges, tugs and other commercial vessels frequent Long Island Sound so taking a radio and knowing how to use it is essential. Having a guide boat is also recommended (if you can arrange it) for any large water crossing.
Side Notes: We spotted one small dorsal fin along the way.
Drew Harvey paddled a 14’ Bark Greyhound Custom Board
Jeremy Grosvenor paddled a 14’ Mo’Betta Stock Board
