Any tips on sailing around NYC?

[Rick Lee]

I'm leaving from Barnegat Bay to Hudson River this coming week for a week - first trip out of a "little pond" to the ocean! My plan is to anchor the first night in Sandyhook, and spend 3-4 days at Liberty State Marina. I'm planning on sailing around lower Manhattan, and sail up to George Washington bridge and maybe further up depending on the wind condition.This is my 2nd full season of sailing, and this trip was my sailing goal for the year. I can use all the tips I can for the trip.Can anyone recommend a good anchorage in Sandyhook bay?Any tips on sailing around lower Mahattan? How is the wind condition near GW bridge, and further North? Does Palisade affect the wind at all?Any overnight anchorage north of the GW bridge that you can suggest.Thanks in advance.Rick2001 hunter 320 - "Endurance32"

 

[John K Kudera]

Anchor

There is an anchorage called Horse Shoe cove, inside Sandy Hook, Protected from S and E winds, There is also Leonardo State Park Marina in that area. North of the GW bridge you can sometimes sail, and there is a State park on the New Jersey side at the base of the Pallisades, Nice trip, did it a few times. Hope you enjoy.

 

[RonD]

Consult the LNMs

Be sure to look through the USCG Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs) for the NYC area. Quite a few restrictions are now in place. Beats staring into the face of a kid with a 0.50 caliber machine gun while the police/coasties board you.

 

[jcherubini]

The tide has a New York attitude.

We took a new Morgan 28 up the East River in 1970. Even then it was nasty. Atomic Four engine was fine till the tide turned. We were down to about 1-3 kts when we put in at E 23rd St. Rollies from the tugboats came into the marina all night at about 5-6 ft and very surfable.A friend bought a 1930s cutter at City Island in about 1977 and was taking it down the East River when the engine failed. Sailing, of course, is out of the question. With no options, he cast out an anchor. But in its perfectly New York attitude, the bottom sheared off both flukes of the anchor and never slowed him down. He made it to the Lower Bay under bare poles and a dead engine, full scope of empty-ended rode trailing behind (like a warp), at about 8 knots.I know another guy who just brought a 1940s Albury ketch on City Island down last month successfully (miraculously). But personally I would avoid NYC like the Bubonic Plague. Remember the Hudson River is DEEPER than the bay it drains into. Even accounting for sludge build-up over Jimmy Hoffa's body down there it will be 150 ft deep at the GW Bridge.... that means 750 ft of scope in an emergency and that might not even be enough to stop or save you.I get the feeling you will go anyway. May God have mercy on your soul!JC 2

 

[John K Kudera]

Rick, GO to NYC

Yes, GO, you do need to watch the tides, a trip up the East River must be done on flood tide with a sailboat, as a trip down the East River needs to be done on the Ebb tide. Hundreds of boats do this on a regular basis.The harbor is a very busy harbor, with ships and boats of all types, just keep watch, The Hudson can be sailed, too. We even raced there in the harbor on a Saturday afternoon, (part of a Hunter Rendezvous)with the start finish line a few hundred feet off the Statue of Liberty! It will be a great trip!