Opinion: Gardiners Bay, Where Are The Sailboats?

My first glimpse of the beauty of Gardiners Bay was back in July 2003 when I launched my first sailboat from Three Mile Harbor Marina for a ride to Clearwater Beach for a short stay.

Actually, my first introduction to Three Mile Harbor was an event of beauty. With a gentle breeze and a bright blue cloudless sky intensifying the brilliant sunlight, my 23' O'Day sailboat glided out of the marina toward Gardiners Bay.

The terns, those amazing little birds, were hunting fish to the left and right. Big, strong, beautiful osprey were perched in their manmade nests. Egrets lined the seashore as white as white can be, as were the packs of swans and, of course, the comorants — those big, clumsy, adorable dark bird creatures who dwell on only every other pylon or dock post — were so visible.

It seemed all of these birds were joyfully basking in the sunlight, feeding themselves at will from the abundant fish actually visible in the shallow clear water.

As we passed the town dock and aimed at the harbor exit I could see Ram's Head of Shelter Island way out there in Gardiners Bay. It was as we slipped past the folks fishing off the jetty rock wall that I began to notice the armada of small and midsize sailboats is full sail all over Gardine's Bay. Many had bright spinnakers up and out, filled with sea breezes, gently moving, ever so gracefully.

I knew then my future sailing in Gardiners Bay would be amazing because the views in every direction were and are still so sensational. Orient Point, Plum Island, Gardiners Island, East Hampton shoreline, Sammys Beach, Hedges Wall, Cedar Point Park and Shelter Island give Gardiners Bay a 360 degree view that is as good as it gets.

After the real estate bubble burst (2007-2008-2009) so did the activity on Gardiners Bay. Way too often mine was the only sailboat in the whole bay. It was great solitude and beauty but at times lonely especially when it was in July and August. Around sunset a handful of sailboats would appear for a short peek, but sadly, the last five years it seems like every night there are less than 10 boats out in the bay at all times. I know this because due to a triad of divorce, failed family business, and a downsized East End paper, I was terminally unemployed and sailing was my daily inexpensive therapy that led to a new life and great wife.

However, my point is, where are the sailboats? The marinas are not as filled as in 2003-2004-2005 but they are still almost filled and when those fireworks go off in July in the harbor there is, LOL, no shortage of sailboats and powerboats in the harbor. But where are the sailboat owners all the other days?

The conclusion has to be a combination of factors, small and midsize boat owners are working harder and taking less days off to sail, plus many have aged and just can't physically get out there with a crew to help sail and lastly the millennials are not into sailing unless its an app on a device. So if you have a sailboat or powerboat remember Gardiners Bay is a wonderful place to be any day when the weather permits.