plan plan plan, then take your time all will be ok
Congrats on your new sailboat. Where in NYC are you going? I will presume you have acquired current charts of the area, have the proper safety gear, a VHF radio, and will wear your life jacket. I've sailed pretty much the same trip alone on my 30', so assuming you have some boating experience, and have taken at least some on-line courses, you should be ok. I'd suggest, based on your boat's size/engine size (I'm guessing a 9.9 hp at max), to plan on 2 days for the trip. Whereas you might be able to make it in one day, better to plan 2 very easy days than one very long day. Also, that will allow you to do some sailing, hey, why not, that's why you didn't buy a powerboat. First day, to Sandy Hook's Horseshoe Cove anchorage (assuming winds out of NE, E, SE, SW or light winds out of W) or a mooring at Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club if strong winds out of NW, W. 2nd day run north, staying just east of both light houses in Raritan Bay, and head in under the Verazanno bride on the West side, then if your heading to the east side of NYC, cut east across the harbor towards Governor's island and then continue up the east side of the harbor, out of the main shipping channels. Remember to pay attention to tides/currents (currents are strong in the Navasink and also heading into the NY Harbor) -- buy Eldridge and review it for tides/currents. Also, be sure to check the Local Notice to Mariners, available on-line via the below link. It will Probably Still advise the requirement to contact 'Coast Guard Activities New York' on Channel 16 to advise of your transitting NY harbor. Select "LNM's" from the top menu bar. Here another link to also consider: Coastal Pilot - http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htm Also, if you have a DSC enabled VHF radio, go the BOAT/US website and acquire the MMSID id and enter it into the radio before your trip, just in case. Here are some of my routes/waypoints which may help: Hrsh Cove Anchor 40°26.757 N 073°59.954 W July 1st, 2004 'New York' Low Tide @ 2:04 AM & 2:05 PM ; High Tide @ 7:52 am & 8:11 PM 'The Race' -- Flood Starts @ 5:09 AM & 5:10 PM, Ebb starts @ 11:13 AM & 11:26 AM Route Sndy Hk to NYhrb Waypoint Lat Long ETA Range Hrsh Cove Entry 40°26.619 N 073°59.977 W 7/3/04 6:00 E Turn Hrsh Cove 40°26.450 N 074°01.518 W 7/3/04 6:11 1.184 17 F G 2.5 Gong 40°28.584 N 074°01.518 W 7/3/04 6:32 2.133 West Bank 40°32.239 N 074°01.910 W 7/3/04 7:08 3.665 Verrazano Bridge 40°36.212 N 074°03.020 W 7/3/04 7:48 4.059 Total route length: 11.042 Nautical Miles Note: SOG set at 6 knots which anticipates a 5 knot hull speed with up to a 1 knot favorable current. Route NY Hrbr to E Rvr Waypoint Lat Long ETA Range Verrazano Bridge 40°36.212 N 074°03.020 W 7/3/04 7:45 05 F G 2.5 Bell 40°38.758 N 074°02.300 W 7/3/04 8:09 2.603 09 Q G Gong 40°39.820 N 074°01.228 W 7/3/04 8:21 1.337 Red Hook Point 40°40.753 N 074°01.284 W 7/3/04 8:29 0.933 Governors i 5 G 40°41.283 N 074°00.573 W 7/3/04 8:35 0.756 Brooklyn Bridge 40°42.249 N 073°59.779 W 7/3/04 8:45 1.138 Total route length: 6.766 Nautical Miles Note: SOG set at 6.5 knots which anticipates a 5 knot hull speed with up to a 1.5 knot favorable current. Lastly, FYI, I used to put my 16' powerboat in at Oceanport's free ramp almost weekly and occasionally run up to Sandy Hook (albeit 15+ years ago). Now-a-days, I sail my Catalina 30 to Sandy Hook's Horseshoe cove (or Atantic Highlands Yacht Club) on the way to Long Island Sound roughly once a year. Hope this helps...
