The Hamptons, New York

In the past couple of years popular culture has given The Hamptons a bad rap. What could be worse than being the setting for the TV shows The Real Housewives of New York City and the Kardashian's Kourtney and Khloe Take The Hamptons? This summer take your boat and find out what the real Hamptons are all about.

The Hamptons lie along the South Fork of the eastern end of Long Island, New York between Montauk Point and the Moriches, and are comprised of two dozen villages and hamlets. The most well-known destinations of this seaside resort are Montauk, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Southampton, Shinnecock Hills, Quogue and Westhampton. Of course, there is a Northampton as well, and it all can be a bit confusing to the first time visitor since Westhampton and Northampton are legally part of the Town of Southampton. A good cruising guide and spare batteries for your handheld GPS are a must.

Long before Andy Warhol, Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, Christie Brinkley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kurt Vonnegut and Truman Capote bought homes in The Hamptons, it was the Shinnecock and Montaukett Indian tribes that lived there. When the Long Island Rail Road made its way 90 miles east of New York City to Bridgehampton in 1870, well-to-do Manhattanites gave up the summer heat of the city for the cool breezes on the Atlantic Ocean beaches.

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‍GETTING THERE BY BOAT

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‍All the harbors, anchorages and marina for The Hamptons are most easily accessed by cruising between the North Fork and the South Fork that make up the Fishtail at the eastern tip of Long Island. Whether entering the Fishtail from Long Island Sound or Block Island Sound, spend some time planning you cruise by reviewing the charts of Lake Montauk, Gardiners Bay, Three Mile Harbor, Sag Harbor Bay, Little andGreat Peconic Bays, Shinnecock Bay and the Shinnecock Canal.

It is possible to enter the Fishtail through Shinnecock Inlet from the Atlantic Ocean, however, the U.S. Coast Pilot advises "the inlet should not be attempted without local knowledge because of the frequent changes in channel depth" and "tidal currents through the inlet can be dangerous; caution is advised."

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WHERE TO DOCK

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• Gardiner's Marina Located in the protected and scenic Three Mile Harbor accommodates vessels up to 105 feet in length. The onsite clubhouse has restrooms, showers, ice and a relaxing lounge.
• Halsey's Marina This 41 slip marina can accommodate vessels up to 105 feet and offers marina guest water, electric, cable TV at each slip, located in East Hampton.
• Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina This marina, located at the north end of Lake Montauk is a perennial favorite for cruisers, mega yacht owners and sport fishermen.
• Sag Harbor Yacht Club Founded in 1899 this yacht club has the perfect location on Sag Harbor Bay within the safety of two long breakwaters. The marina is a five minute walk from Main Street and all Sag Harbor has to offer.

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WHERE TO DINE

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• 1770 House Restaurant in East Hampton (143 Main St., 1770house.com). Just steps away from the heart of East Hampton Village, the restaurant is located at an inn that dates back to 1663. The chef offers refined contemporary American cooking.
• Il Capuccino Ristorante in Sag Harbor (30 Madison St., ilcaps.com). Old school Italian fare with chianti bottles in straw baskets hanging from the ceiling. A cozy atmosphere with food that never disappoints. Don't forget to try the gar- lic knots!
• Inlet Seafood Restaurant in Montauk (541 East Lake Dr., inletseafood.com). A popular local seafood restaurant with an Asian touch to the menu. Situated right on the inlet to Lake Montauk, a perfect spot to watch the comings and goings of yachts and the Block Island Ferry.
• Silver's Restaurant (15 Main St., silversrestaurant.com). Serving only lunch, this European Bistro offers sandwiches, soups and salad in downtown Southampton.

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WHERE TO GRAB A DRINK

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• Hampton Coffee Company in Westhampton, Southampton and on wheels (hamptoncoffeecompany.com). After a long night out in the Hamptons, recharge with the best roasts in town.
• Murph's Backstreet Tavern in Sag Harbor (64 Division St., murfstavern.com). Giving off the dive bar feel, this local hotspot offers a low key night of fun with their dart boards, ring toss, jukebox and affordable drink prices.
• Rowdy Hall in East Hampton (10 Main St., rowdyhall.com). With an array of beers on tap “ you can't go wrong with a little happy hour after a long day at the beach.

• The Sloppy Tuna in Montauk (148 S. Emerson Ave., thesloppytuna.com). Offering some of the best cocktails in town including the Sloppy Poppy, the Chum Bucket, and the Montauk Monster.

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WHAT TO DO SUMMER EVENTS

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Other than visiting the Montauk Point lighthouse, it's all about relaxing on the beautiful Atlantic beaches. Don't forget to pack your beach umbrella, flip flops and a good summer read and head to Cooper's Beach in Southampton, Ponquogue Beach in Hampton Bays (Shinnecock) or Main Beach in East Hampton.

While your summer plans are starting to take shape make sure to add a few of these events to your bucket list.

• The Surf Lodge Concert Series runs every weekend throughout the summer. Sip on your favorite cocktail while listening to the soothing beats of top indie music artists that flock to Montauk.
• Hamptons Film Festival compiles a collection of documentaries, shorts, narrative for any inner filmmaker. Stop by Guild Hall during the weekends in the summer to catch a flick and, of course, to meet Alec Baldwin (hosting the summer series). Check out hamptonsfilmfest.org for more details.

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Capt. Jeff Werner has been in the yachting industry for over 25 years. In addition to working as a captain on private and charter yachts, both sail and power, he is a certified instructor for the USCG, US Sailing, RYA and the MCA. He is also the Diesel Doctor, helping to keep your yacht's fuel in optimal condition for peak performance. For more information, call 239-246-6810, or visit MyDieselDoctor.com. All Marinalife members receive a 10% discount on purchases of equipment, products and supplies from Diesel Doctor.