I am planning to sail my C25 from New London, CT to Croton on Hudson in April. I shall sail down the Ct coastline to NY City,through Hell's gate, up the Harlem river, and to the Hudson, by the Henry Hudson bridge. Has anyone done this before? and, if so, what advice can you give me, also: there is a train track running along the river, does anyone know how to go about getting the trestle moved to allow for passage?
Traveling up the Harlem river
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Michel, Try the coast pilot first and see if that gives you
some of what you need. http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htm Also check the on line chart viewer. http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/AtlanticCoastViewerTable.htm
some of what you need. http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htm Also check the on line chart viewer. http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/AtlanticCoastViewerTable.htm
There was a recent thread about the Harlem
River indicating that bridges across the river would prevent that trip. I'll let you do the heavy lifting and use the archive search feature on "Harlem River" which will no doubt lead you to that thread. A good chart should also so indicate...
River indicating that bridges across the river would prevent that trip. I'll let you do the heavy lifting and use the archive search feature on "Harlem River" which will no doubt lead you to that thread. A good chart should also so indicate...
Alternative Route
Michel, you might consider continuing down the East River and sailing around the southern tip of Manhattan to the Hudson River. The view of Manhattan is spectacular from the vantage point of a sailboat, and I think worth the extra miles and time.
Michel, you might consider continuing down the East River and sailing around the southern tip of Manhattan to the Hudson River. The view of Manhattan is spectacular from the vantage point of a sailboat, and I think worth the extra miles and time.
Go around
I would have to agree to going around. Down the east river around the lower end of the island, then back up the Hudson. Being a gulf cost guy, I really enjoyed the sights and sounds of the city from the water. Being from up that way you probably already know this, but be careful going through hells gate. While not nearly as bad as some say, I would highly recommend to go through on a slack tide. Also if you plan on doing any anchoring, there is a really comfortable anchorage in behind the Statue of Liberty.
I would have to agree to going around. Down the east river around the lower end of the island, then back up the Hudson. Being a gulf cost guy, I really enjoyed the sights and sounds of the city from the water. Being from up that way you probably already know this, but be careful going through hells gate. While not nearly as bad as some say, I would highly recommend to go through on a slack tide. Also if you plan on doing any anchoring, there is a really comfortable anchorage in behind the Statue of Liberty.
Agreed, unless your mast is down.
Motorboats use the Harlem River all the time because there are several low bridges (around 25' I think - check the chart and coastal pilot as suggested) that you would have to negotiate with via VHF and DHS etc. At the confluence of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers the railroad bridge has a clearance of around 6' so even motor boats need the operator to open it and it is a major railway artery. You could end up waiting a long time. The Harlem River is also the least scenic way to do this as it passes through some of the grittier parts of the Bronx. I haven't been through there for about 20 years which is the only time I ever took the Circle Line tour. I have done the trip around Manhattan and The Battery 3 times and can tell you that it is a blast. You just need to time your passage with the tides. It is a trip going under all those bridges on the East River that most people only go on top of. Just be circumspect as you pass the UN as DHS is there and just might be trying to listen to your conversation so no terrorist jokes! One trip we went from Hempstead Harbor all the way to Yonkers in one day which was pretty exhausting. Other trips I have overnighted at Liberty Landing Marina to break up the trip. The cheapest way to overnight here is to pull in sometime after 6 PM (1800), find a vacant slip, and leave before 6 AM (0600). The next cheapest overnight is on a mooring off pier 40 (Houston St) which is a City Parks facility (costs $35/night) that requires fairly extensive paperwork and you will want your dinghy. Otherwise you pay for LLM. If you could position yourself at City Island and get an early start you could make it the 30 nm from the Battery to Croton Point in one day. Just make sure that your motor is in good working order as the Hudson flows both ways (as does the East River). I always consult with the "Eldridge tide & pilot" book to make sure I get the complimentary flow in the East River (can be 5 knots) whereas the Hudson current is rarely above 2 knots either way. If the current is running near full speed this makes the trip down the East River go by very fast. You will usually hit a contrary current once you get to the Hudson though. email me if you have more questions: calebjess # aol.com Sounds like a fun trip.
Motorboats use the Harlem River all the time because there are several low bridges (around 25' I think - check the chart and coastal pilot as suggested) that you would have to negotiate with via VHF and DHS etc. At the confluence of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers the railroad bridge has a clearance of around 6' so even motor boats need the operator to open it and it is a major railway artery. You could end up waiting a long time. The Harlem River is also the least scenic way to do this as it passes through some of the grittier parts of the Bronx. I haven't been through there for about 20 years which is the only time I ever took the Circle Line tour. I have done the trip around Manhattan and The Battery 3 times and can tell you that it is a blast. You just need to time your passage with the tides. It is a trip going under all those bridges on the East River that most people only go on top of. Just be circumspect as you pass the UN as DHS is there and just might be trying to listen to your conversation so no terrorist jokes! One trip we went from Hempstead Harbor all the way to Yonkers in one day which was pretty exhausting. Other trips I have overnighted at Liberty Landing Marina to break up the trip. The cheapest way to overnight here is to pull in sometime after 6 PM (1800), find a vacant slip, and leave before 6 AM (0600). The next cheapest overnight is on a mooring off pier 40 (Houston St) which is a City Parks facility (costs $35/night) that requires fairly extensive paperwork and you will want your dinghy. Otherwise you pay for LLM. If you could position yourself at City Island and get an early start you could make it the 30 nm from the Battery to Croton Point in one day. Just make sure that your motor is in good working order as the Hudson flows both ways (as does the East River). I always consult with the "Eldridge tide & pilot" book to make sure I get the complimentary flow in the East River (can be 5 knots) whereas the Hudson current is rarely above 2 knots either way. If the current is running near full speed this makes the trip down the East River go by very fast. You will usually hit a contrary current once you get to the Hudson though. email me if you have more questions: calebjess # aol.com Sounds like a fun trip.
Harlem River
I am familiar with the Harlem River from growing up nearby, not from sailing it, but there are numerous bridges that would have to be opened for you to make the trip, and my sense is that they almost never are opened. With bridges so close together, you could easily get stuck between bridges waiting interminably, and since there will be no place to tie up and a strong current, it would be an exceedingly uncomfortable trip. I am not even sure there really are tenders on all the bridges, and in addition, several of the bridges have been under construction, so you would need to check with a very updated Notice to Mariners to make sure they are keeping to their schedule. I agree with the others that the route around the Battery is the way to go. But if you should decide to take the harlem River, check this site: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bridges/index.shtml
I am familiar with the Harlem River from growing up nearby, not from sailing it, but there are numerous bridges that would have to be opened for you to make the trip, and my sense is that they almost never are opened. With bridges so close together, you could easily get stuck between bridges waiting interminably, and since there will be no place to tie up and a strong current, it would be an exceedingly uncomfortable trip. I am not even sure there really are tenders on all the bridges, and in addition, several of the bridges have been under construction, so you would need to check with a very updated Notice to Mariners to make sure they are keeping to their schedule. I agree with the others that the route around the Battery is the way to go. But if you should decide to take the harlem River, check this site: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bridges/index.shtml
Ride the currents
Michel, Besides the chance to enjoy the NY skyline, there's another advantage to going down the East River and up the Hudson (or vice versa). Assuming you time the tides and currents correctly -- which you ought to do anyway -- you can get a nice slingshot effect that basically whips you around the Battery with a following current the whole way. Been there, done that. Any extra miles you have to travel will probably be offset by the extra SOG boost from the current, and the fact that you won't have to sit around in the Harlem River waiting for bridges to open (not a pleasant thought). Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
Michel, Besides the chance to enjoy the NY skyline, there's another advantage to going down the East River and up the Hudson (or vice versa). Assuming you time the tides and currents correctly -- which you ought to do anyway -- you can get a nice slingshot effect that basically whips you around the Battery with a following current the whole way. Been there, done that. Any extra miles you have to travel will probably be offset by the extra SOG boost from the current, and the fact that you won't have to sit around in the Harlem River waiting for bridges to open (not a pleasant thought). Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
Go around the Battery!
I do this trip twice a year on my sailboat-once going and once returning. You CANNOT go up the Harlem river in a sailboat. There are one or two fixed bridges less than 30 feet. I have done it in a power boat a few times. You need plenty of power to get through the bridge supports which narrow the water down creating a venturi effect and you need a lot of power to keep control-something a sailboat doesn't have.Go around the battery,around the bottom of Manhatten. If you time the tides correctly, you can do Stamford to Haverstraw (Croton) in 9 to 10 hours. My best recommendation would be to make Liberty Landing your first stop. Stay the night and enjoy the view of NYC and the Statue of Liberty from your boat. It's a view that people pay millions of dollars to own an apartment to see. Catch the rising tide the next day and let it boost you up the Hudson 6 hours to Croton. Bring your camera-it's a spectacular trip!
I do this trip twice a year on my sailboat-once going and once returning. You CANNOT go up the Harlem river in a sailboat. There are one or two fixed bridges less than 30 feet. I have done it in a power boat a few times. You need plenty of power to get through the bridge supports which narrow the water down creating a venturi effect and you need a lot of power to keep control-something a sailboat doesn't have.Go around the battery,around the bottom of Manhatten. If you time the tides correctly, you can do Stamford to Haverstraw (Croton) in 9 to 10 hours. My best recommendation would be to make Liberty Landing your first stop. Stay the night and enjoy the view of NYC and the Statue of Liberty from your boat. It's a view that people pay millions of dollars to own an apartment to see. Catch the rising tide the next day and let it boost you up the Hudson 6 hours to Croton. Bring your camera-it's a spectacular trip!
Thank you
Thank you all for your excellent advice, we shall go south, around Manhattan and enjoy the sights!
Thank you all for your excellent advice, we shall go south, around Manhattan and enjoy the sights!
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