Stony Creek – The Thimble Islands

Find your inner pirate, and maybe some buried treasure while you’re at it.

The Thimble Islands, strewn off the coast of Branford like jewels themselves, range in size from small rocks to sprawling acreage. The exact number of islands depends on who you ask and how high the tide is. But there are at least a hundred, many of which sport Robinson Crusoe type cottages, powered by generators, solar energy and a love for the simple life.

Other islands, including the summer getaway where President Taft spent many nights, are a tad more sophisticated, and equally and as ritzy.

In the 1600s, a legendary pirate by the name of Captain Kidd sought refuge in the Thimbles, where it is rumored he buried his lootings.

But the one thing we know for sure, is that this little shoreline paradise is a treasure in and of itself.

Bring your anchor, your envy for those lucky enough to call these islands home, and your bird-watching binoculars.

Navigation and Anchorages

Use ChartKit Region 3, pages 6, 30, and 31; Maptech Waterproof Charts 1 and 17; and Maptech electronic and NOAA paper charts 12373 (1:20,000), 12372 (1:40,000), and 12354 (1:80,000). Use tide tables for Bridgeport. High tide at Money Island is 12 minutes earlier; low tide is 23 minutes earlier. Multiply height of tide at Bridgeport by 0.8 for height of tide at Money Island. Mean tidal range is 5.6 feet.

Before entering the Thimble Islands, please note that some buoy positions may have changed slightly from their charted position. As a group of islands, the Thimbles have no real port or harbor. The village of Stony Creek, about 0.5nm north of Governor Island, serves as the supply point and landing for the Thimbles. You can tie up your dinghy or other small boat for four-hour stays at the town dock (203-488-8394). At low tide, there's less than 4 feet of water off the dock, so don't arrive in anything other than a shallow-draft boat. Most provisions and supplies are available within a short walk of the town dock.

Outer Island, the southernmost of the Thimble Islands, is about 7nm from the New Haven Harbor breakwaters, and 2.4nm from Sachem's Head.

From Fl R 4s BELL R "10A" at Townshend Ledge, a course of about 080m for 3.3nm will take you north of Branford Reef Light (Fl 6s 30ft 7M) to a spot just south of Fl R 4s R "28" at Negro Heads, west of the Thimble Islands. From the east, as from Fl R 4s BELL R "10GI" southeast of Faulkner Island, a course of about 305m for 4.6nm will take you to a spot south of Fl R 4s BELL R "26" at Browns Reef, just south of the Thimble Islands.

The first thing to remember about cruising in the Thimbles is that they (and all their underwater obstructions) are made of granite, not sand. Because most cruising boats weigh several tons, it's possible to build up a lot of momentum when traveling at only a few knots. You get only one chance here-if you hit anything in the Thimbles, you're sure to hit hard.

From Sachem Head, pass south of Goose Rocks Shoals, which is marked at its southern end by Fl R 4s BELL R "22." Also beware of Leetes Rocks, about 0.5nm north of R "22." They are unmarked.

From the east, enter the channel west of R N "4" off Wayland Island, and pass west of R N "6" at Mermaid Rock. Then favor Davis Island toward R N "8." From there you have access to Stony Creek. Pass south of R N "10" and steer north of G C "11" before turning for Stony Creek. There is a 3-foot spot southwest of Cut-in-Two Island.

Local boaters recommend that you anchor between G C "11" off East Crib and G C "1" off High Island. Be warned that this area is located in the middle of a Cable Area. Anchor here at your own risk. In fact, there are underwater cables and pipelines everywhere among the islands.

The rocky bottom makes for lousy holding ground around much of the Thimbles. A strong northeast wind and an outgoing tide will give you problems, so after you've set anchor, observe your position periodically to make sure the boat isn't dragging.

CAUTION: From the west, the approaches are complicated by offshore reefs and the number of local buoys. In this area the buoys seem to function more as obstruction markers than channel markers, so study the chart carefully and keep a sharp lookout.

From the west, as from Branford Harbor, your best course is to stay south of Fl R 4s R "28" at Negro Heads and G C "1" at Gangway Rock. Be careful not to confuse the two channels ahead of you. To the northeast, both G C "3" at Hookers Rock and Fl R 4s R "4A" mark the approach to Pine Orchard and the Tilcon-Tomasso docks. The main approach to the Thimbles is farther east, south of Inner Reef.

Less than a mile west of Stony Creek is the tiny village and harbor of Pine Orchard. Heading for Pine Orchard, pass east of G C "1" at Gangway Rock before heading for Fl R 4s R "4A." From here, stay near to and west of Fl R 4s R "8," and look for local aids to navigation taking you along the channel and into the harbor. A breakwater extends 300 yards southwest from Brown Point to protect the Pine Orchard yacht basin. On the west shore of the harbor is the Pine Orchard Yacht Club.

Anchoring is not permitted in the yacht basin. Just east of Pine Orchard is the Tilcon-Tomasso wharf, where gravel from North Branford is loaded on barges and shipped around the northeast. The straight channel marked on the chart is for the barges, and you'll see three yellow flashing beacons to lead the tugs into the wharf.

CAUTION: When entering the Pine Orchard basin, avoid the chain of rocks south of Saint Helena Island. Stay close to the privately maintained marker at the end of the breakwater and give the tiny island a wide berth.

Those who pass Pine Orchard in favor of the Thimbles and Stony Creek will continue east between R N "4" at Inner Reef and G C "3" at Wheaton Reef. Don't cut between Northwest, Browns, East, and Wheaton reefs, as many boats get hung up there. After passing safely south and east of Inner Reef, turn northeast between Outer Island and G C "5," then head for G C "1" off High Island. Outer Island will be closest to you. Look for a cement sea wall on its west side. Scoot up the main channel between the two lines of islands, exiting around Davis Island or turning north-northeast at G C "11" to head into Stony Creek.

CAUTION: Be careful of the shoals south of East Crib, west of Davis Island, and north of Money Island.

The same course is also best for those under sail who want to take a tour through the islands. Coming from the southeast, pass east of East Reef and G C "1," and shoot between Inner Reef and Outer Island.

Because of the highly variable tide and wind conditions caused by the islands, we suggest that novices not try to sail through the Thimbles. The channel requires precise handling because of the number of fixed and floating obstructions.

There are many private moorings north of Cut-in-Two Island, but this area is unmarked and should be entered cautiously, with one eye on the depth sounder and the other on the moored boats. This is a good anchorage in early spring and late fall when fewer boats are moored.

If you are headed directly for Stony Creek and want to skip the islands, you should head northeast, being certain to pass west of Inner Reef and Dick Rocks before turning between Governor and Potato islands. Leave at least a 250-yard cushion to starboard when passing R N "6," and don't cut between Potato and Governor until you have left Dick Rocks well behind. There is a dangerous submerged rock centered between Governors Island and Dick Rocks, which claims about a dozen boats a year.

Don't try passing between Potato and Cedar or Rogers islands-there are too many rocks and shoals for safety. After passing between Potato and Governor islands, follow the marked and dredged channel up to the turning basin.

The town maintains a no-wake speed limit within 100 yards of shore. You'll see water skiers and PWCs around the Thimbles, even in the anchorage between High and Pot islands, so keep an eye out and mind your speed.

Shoreside and Emergency Services

Airport: Tweed/New Haven (203-466-8833)

Coast Guard:

-New Haven (203-468-4464) or VHF 16

Ferry: Volsunga IV (203-488-9978) or VHF 68

-Sea Mist II (203-488-8905)

-Connecticut Sea Ventures (203-397-3921)

Police, Fire, Ambulance: 911

Taxi: Yellow Cab (203-777-5555)

Tow Service:

-Sea Tow 24-Hour Dispatch (800-4SEATOW)

-Central Connecticut (203-488-3442)

-Tow Boat U.S. 24-Hour Dispatch (800-391-4869)

-Branford (203-874-6109)