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Plum Gut/Orient Point Lighthouse

Orient point, ny

What a place this is!

Her light is sixty-four feet above sea level, shows a flashing white light every five seconds and is visible for seventeen miles-and she has a great horn!

Commonly called Plum Gut Light because she actually sits in the heart of the Gut - between mysterious Plum Island and Orient Point. Currents and rips through the gut are fierce and rough ... 6-7 knot currents are not unusual.

Often, while sailboat racing through the gut with light winds and a foul current, we would drop anchor to prevent going backwards. Once, we got hooked up on an underwater cable and had to cut ourselves loose .. .losing the anchor!

More importantly, we didn't want to be swept ashore on Plum Island!

There were stories about sailors going ashore, never to be seen again. It is a mysterious place that is said to be run by an unidentified government agency. Rumor has it that they are involved in biochemical operations!

I find it usually makes good dinner conversation to tell stories about Plum Island; with a little imagination, one could spin a real yarn about this place!

If you get the chance, don't miss seeing this light!