New York City by Boat

We were off our Port Washington mooring by 0700 and headed to NYC.  The plan was to hit Hell Gate (the confluence of the East River and the Harlem River at Slack tide (at 0832) or the being of the Ebb tide (that is, the flow of the rivers and Long Island Sound down into New York Harbor).  Bucking the tide would have us crawling through, and, there is sometimes a whirlpool in the center.  We managed our plan quite well, arriving at Hell Gate at 0905 picking up the Ebb and doing 7.0 to 8.5 knots all the way down the East River through New York.

The UN.

The Chrysler Building.

And for the second time on our various travels up or down the East River, we had airborne company...

Landing fairly close.

Someone should check those Registration Numbers.

And, of course...

The Money Shot.

We were past the Verrazano Narrows Bridge by 1100 and at the anchorage at Atlantic Highlands by 1300.  No moorings available so we anchored in order to get Launch Service for Denis' return home.  It was a sad parting.

Is he smiling?!

The plan was to drop off Denis and then move back to the Sandy Hook Coast Guard Station to anchor.  This would save us almost 30 minutes on the morning of our planned Saturday departure to Atlantic City.  We anchored with a 20 knot breeze and whitecaps.  We put out 100 feet of chain in 13 feet of water at low tide and I don't think that the chain ever hit the bottom.  We were pulled back on a straight chain in those condition.

Expecting a terrible night, we re-checked and updated our Saturday weather forecast.  NOAA said to expect 20 knots on the nose with five foot seas from the South.  PredictWind confirmed and further worsened the forecast.  Yikes! But, Sunday morning would have the wind clocking from the Northwest and three foot seas coming from the East.  Certainly a better day in store.

Making the hard but correct decision, we decided to take Saturday as a layday and move South on Sunday.  As a result, we headed back to the much more comfortable Atlantic Highlands anchorage.  

In all this to and fro'ing between anchorages, I realized that our anchor wash down hose (which keeps mud in the bilge to a minimum) was not to be seen or found.  I first used a 100 foot hose in a feeble attempt to wash down the chain, but the pump could not keep that much hose pressurized except for a few short blasts.  Once back at Atlantic Highlands we MacGyver'ed a fix using a not really too perfect small hose.  

Connecting the small diameter hose to larger fittings took hours.  And all the tools on board.

Once we were securely anchored (for the third time that day), the Coast Guard issued a Small Craft Advisory for our section of coast.  It was to remain in place from 6PM Friday to 6PM Saturday.  Re-confirming our decision to stay put.

Overnight... hot and humid.    

The Sun sets...

As the Moon rises.

Today (Saturday), hotter and more humid.  Expecting late afternoon and overnight rain.  But, that should be a harbinger of a wind shift that we can take advantage of on Sunday. 

Very active Layday activities.

So, until next time, ...

We'll always have Louie's.  And almost be "properly attired".