Sag Harbor

Marinas near Sag Harbor

Introduction:

Located on the eastern end of Long Island, Sag Harbor is 22 miles west of Point Montauk and 22 miles southwest of Fishers Island. Sag Harbor serves as the primary yachting center for eastern Long Island with over ten marinas that specialize in all sorts of services. Ashore, there are plenty of opportunities for provisioning and restocking the galley. Those with a taste for local seafood will enjoy the several good seafood restaurants.

History:

The earliest inhabitants of this area were the Algonquin Indians. They called this place Weg-wag-onuch which was derived from the Algonquin word ":Weg-quae-and-auke" meaning "the land or place at the end of the hill". Sag Harbor, at that time, was made up of hills, streams, meadows and swamps. Although records indicate that there was no permanent settlement until the late 1730, Southampton Town records first mention Sag Harbor by name in 1709. From 1760 - 1850, the Village was a thriving whaling port. As a seaport, Sag Harbor had come into her own, and was second only to New York City in importance. It was the first Port of Entry in the State of New York being established one day before the city of New York by an act of Congress passed July 31, 1789 at the second session of the First Congress of the United Sates. When President Washington approved the creation of Sag Harbor as a Port of Entry, the Village had more tons of square-rigged vessels engaged in commerce than New York City.

With the discovery of gold in California, petroleum in Pennsylvania and a general scarcity of the whale, the whaling industry began to decline around 1850. Although whaling continued for about another twenty years, it was never as prosperous as it was between 1820 and 1850. The villagers, having to devise other means of making a living, turned to industry. Some of the earlier ones were a brass foundry; hat factories; watch making; sugar, cotton and flour mills, bottling; pottery and water works.

Today, Sag Harbor’s primary economy is based on tourism and recreational boating.

[i]Portions Courtesy Village of Sag Harbor[/i]

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 12358.

Sag Harbor is reached via an approach from Gardiners Bay. From Gardiners Bay, pick up green can “1” and red nun “2” northwest of Threemile Harbor and northeast of Cedar Point, and then set a course for flashing green “3CI” at Cedar Point, making sure to honor green can “3” along the way.

After clearing Cedar Point, pick up red nun “6,” and then move south to flashing green “7” at Barcelona Point. From here, you will follow in red nun “8,” green can “9,” flashing red “10A,” flashing green buoy “11,” and then green can “SH,” which is the approach marker to Sag Harbor.

Having moved past green can “SH,” chart a course for flashing green “SH” and red nun “2” at the west end of the town’s breakwater. From here you can work your way into the harbor and further into the town waterfront. Keep an eye out for departing boats in the mooring field as you move farther in.

Sag Harbor is the largest yachting center in the Fishtail (far eastern) area of Long Island, and as such, you will find no less than ten marinas scattered along its waterfront. Of these ten marinas, five of them accept transient guests, and another three offer repair services. If you can clear the 20-foot fixed vertical clearance bridge on the west side of the harbor, you can access two more marinas, one which has transient slips and one with haul-outs and repairs. Moorings in the harbor are avilable on a first-come first-served basis.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Things To Do/Local Events:

Besides boating, fishing and water activities, there are some interesting and entertaining places to visit in Sag Harbor. For starters, you may want to visit the Whaling Museum on Main Street, which offers interactive exhibits on the heydays of whaling in Sag Harbor. Also ashore are several fine restaurants, many of which specialize in local seafood fare. For a detailed calendar of events, see the “Helpful Links” section below.

Transportation:

The eastern end of Long Island and Sag Harbor itself are fairly remote. Car rentals are available in Sag Harbor, but there is no public transportation. Many cruisers find a bicycle is a great tool for getting around the area. Much of the downtown area of Sag Harbor is accessible by foot/within walking distance.

Helpful Links:

Village of Sag Harbor

Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce

Sag Harbor Calendar of Events