Cruising in Connecticut

Connecticut's whole southern border is water, the sheltered reach of Long Island Sound, running from the busy harbors of Stamford and Norwalk in the west to the old maritime towns of Mystic and Stonington in the east. Cruisers work quiet coves and drop into coastal villages, with well-equipped marinas along the way offering transient slips, repairs, and provisions. The Sound's protected waters make easy work of family outings, sail days, and powerboat runs, with Long Island's shore an easy hop across.

Then there's the Connecticut River, a different trip entirely: navigable for many miles above its mouth at Old Saybrook, winding past Essex and Chester and a run of green hills and small-town waterfronts. River marinas tend to be quieter than the Sound's busier ports, often with excellent amenities and a tucked-away feel. Between salt water and fresh, the state covers day-trippers and long-haul cruisers alike.