How many sunsets have you seen by the sea? or even while on a boat in the middle of the Long Island Sound? While many of us are routinely blinded by sunsets over the roadways on our commutes home from work, in spite of everything it is hard to admit there is anything like a brilliant sunset at sea.

Recently, my husband and I were drifting on a boat in the middle of the Long Island Sound directly off Caumsett State Park where there was nothing to impede the magnificent scene to the west as the sun leisurely sunk into the sea. Earlier in the day there were colossal cumulus clouds. They were like the kind of clouds that as a kid I daydreamed about bouncing on. As the sun appeared to set, the clouds slowly thinned out into long low-lying silhouettes like the matter that jets leave behind. As the sun got closer to these clouds it looked like it was going to jump on them just like I wanted to do as a child.

When the sun met the clouds, these amazing orange and pink hues awesomely lit up the sky and reflected upon the water. It was so amazing that I felt like I could almost hear and feel the sun's warmth meeting the tranquil poise of the sea. At first the water looked like it was painted with a sheer glaze that reflected ginger-like hues floating in the sky.

While the minutes went by, shades of lilac and lavender started to drown out the carroty colors. At one point, the sea started to look so cold that I thought of the foreboding fall weather slowly approaching. As the sun started sinking beneath the clouds, warm orange hues reappeared in the clouds. Suddenly, the sea became so brightly lit up it was like a fire spread across the sea. Everywhere I looked there was a warm glow shining at me. That moment was burnt into my memory forever.

After the last few inches of the sun fell off the horizon, we headed back home toward Oyster Bay. For a few moments I was starting to feel restless until we headed around the bend by the sand hole off Lloyd's Neck and were warmly greeted by the moon.

Back at the Sagamore Yacht Club, we sat on the newly expanded top deck and basked under the comfort of the moon and stars that had replaced the clouds in the skies. My night by the sea was made complete by the peaceful finale of a silvery glaze across the motionless waterways.

If you have not seen many seaside sunsets this summer, do not fret - there are a few more weeks until the sun sets so early that it becomes difficult to get from work to the boat or beach in time. There is no need to travel far to enjoy the beauty of nature. Whether you gaze at the sea from Stehli Beach or the waterfront at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, I hope you take a few moments to enjoy the warmth of a glorious seaside sunset before the colder weather arrives.

For more information about boating, environmental matters, and other water-related activities throughout the Oyster Bay area you can email the author at Jaime.VanDyke@gmail.com or reach her at (516) 946-9464.