Shelter Island, New York · Fishers Island Sound & the East End · 41°05.6′N 72°20.7′W · VHF Ch 09
Dering Harbor, on the north side of Shelter Island, is the polished heart of the island — a tidy harbor of grand old summer houses looking across at Greenport, and a good base for exploring the Peconics.
Anchor in the outer harbor in 12–18 ft of good mud, or take a mooring (Ch 09). It's well protected from the prevailing southwesterly and the south, but open north and northeast toward Greenport's outer harbor, so a northeaster reaches in. Greenport town — restaurants, provisions, the carousel — is a short hop across, and the Shelter Island ferries run constantly.
A civilized, deep, generally well-sheltered harbor and the natural jumping-off point for Coecles Harbor, Sag Harbor and the rest of the Peconic estuary.
Hazards & cautions. Open to the north and northeast across Greenport's outer harbor — a hard northeaster puts a chop in. Deep water close to shore means anchoring in 15–20 ft; carry enough rode. Reversing current runs in the surrounding passages.
No cruiser reports yet. If you've anchored here, be the first — your note helps the next boat in.
Augusto ratings and editorial are our own synthesis of public-domain sources and cruiser reports. Always verify against current charts and local knowledge before you rely on them.