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Hammonasset Overview
Access is restricted to Meigs Point during the summer season, Memorial Day to Labor Day. That's the only place in the area wher you can sail during the summer. In prevailing winds you have very little beach to come back to if you get pushed downwind. Off season, Hammo sailors congregate at East Beach, near the center of the park, where the sailing can be great on Southwest and Northwest days. There is no parking fee off season except weekends in late spring
and early fall (April to October, I think).
The Point can see a strong current and tidal rip. A jetty that juts out from the Point is a popular fishing spot, so be on the lookout for fishing lines. Some submerged skeg-eaters are at the end of the jetty, so you'll want to give them a wide berth as well.
Parking for out-of-state plates is $9? weekdays/$22? weekends; for CT plates, parking is $9/13. A season pass good at all CT state parks is $67??. After 4pm its $6? in state and 7? out of state. I used to never get charged in the off season, but now I do
You can sail from any part of the beach in the off-season, (I like rigging and launching at the middle pavilion, it is a good shelter in rainy, gusty winds.) The State Park DEP Police can be helpful, but they come around right before the park closes and move you along....
They say that the park closes at sunset, but there is a posted time on a sign as you enter the park.
Kite access too, there are a number of kiters here too!
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| Season: |
Avoid summer, unless hurricanes are predicted |
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| Water: |
Murky, at best, (the expression voodoo chop was coined here?) |
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| Ability Level: |
can be great, but lots of shore-pound in S-SW |
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| Wetsuit: |
Yes, most of the time, Fall can have warm water, Spring not so much |
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| Familiness: |
Great family spot, lots of Picnic Areas, and Camping |
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| Parking: |
Plenty of parking in the off season. |
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| Launch: |
Off season, anywhere, Meigs Point if its in-season |
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Maps & Directions
Take exit 62 off Route I-95 and follow signs for Hammonasset State Park. Enter park and follow signs for Meigs Point or anywhere else in the off season.
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Sensor Notes
The sensor is located about three-quarters of a mile to the west of the park. Southerly, onshore readings are (sometimes)true. Sideshore readings, while gustier that actual conditions in the park, are quite close. Finally, offshore readings are (poor)fair. Because a large marsh is behind the sensor, the offshore fetch is fairly decent. However, when winds are out of the northwest we recommend you base your sailing decision on the reported gust rather than the average. (I'm not sure that I would agree with all this. but when the water is a lot colder than the air, the wind never makes it down to the surface of the water.)
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