September 19, 2012
Fourteen years ago, Wil and I had been living on our first boat in Stamford, CT. It was October 17, 1998, and the day of our 6th wedding anniversary, when we departed Stamford and cruised down the East River past New York City, marveling at the city with her tall, majestic buildings and high bridges. Little did we know on that day, we would be sailing the same route past the New York City nearly 14 years later with our children.
Stepping Stones Light, Long Island Sound
sailing from Port Washington to NYC
This time, our departure point was from Port Washington on Long Island, and again, this was another stretch that needed planning with respect to tides and currents. We would be going through Hell Gate, an narrow straight where the East River and the Harlem River join together creating almost 5 knots of current during peak flow and ebb.
As we were sailing towards NYC, we noticed another catamaran stopped up ahead of us. It was Anything Goes whom we’d met in Port Washington, and they were waiting for the tide to change after they’d pick up a family member from a nearby marina. They hoisted their sails and followed us through Hell Gate and past the city. After having done this trip alone 14 years ago, it was great fun seeing the city sights this time through our kids’ eyes, as well as with new friends.
Full Monty sailing towards NYC
navigating the channel with barges
Citi Field ~ home of the NY Mets
prison on Rikers Island
a floating prison
a floating swimming pool?
old structures
no cutting corners around this marker
Franklin D Roosevelt East River Drive
enjoying sights along the East River
wouldn't want to hit that rock!
United Nations
good ole Pepsi
Chrysler Building
Anything Goes sailing with us
Empire State Building
Domino Sugar & graffiti
the number of pop rivets is amazing!
Brooklyn Bridge
14 years ago here stood the World Trade Center buildings
Pier 17
lots of picture taking!
geography lesson for the day
helicopters buzzing all around NYC
heli landing pad
One World Trade Center also called the Freedom Tower
heading for the Liberty anchorage
Statue of Liberty
Once we reached the southern end of Manhattan, the East River dumped us into the Hudson River where we had even more amazing views of the city, New York Harbor, and the Statue of Liberty.
Our new anchorage for the next few days was at Liberty State Park, right behind the Statue of Liberty. From our boat we could see the backside of Lady Liberty, as well as the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and passing ferries, cruise ships, barges and freighters.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from our anchorage
Jersey lights from our anchorage
Lady Liberty from our cockpit
After we dropped anchor and got settled, all the kids went over to a little beach nearby, while the adults visited aboard Anything Goes. We had a good chuckle over boat names when a guy from another catamaran came over to chat. Three catamarans in one tiny anchorage . . . Full Monty, Anything Goes, and The Big Easy.
[Photos of Full Monty are courtesy Anything Goes]
ust amazing pictures! Amazing I say! I knew seeing your pics and being transported to the places I had never seen like Maine and New England would be awesome. But seeing the pictures of NYC was emotional. I used to travel there lots long ago and have seen the landmarks and used the bridges and hwys along your route. I have never seen those places from your camera view and it was amazing to see. I have taken helicopters over the east river and landed on the helopad on the fdr. I have flown around the statue of Liberty. I have seen the skyline at night by air and land. But never have I seen such pictures from your perspective. I bet it was amazing for the Justine and Colin to see. Anchored in sight of the Statue of Liberty had to be so cool. Once again, Thanks for an amazing experience!
After having explored NYC by foot and subway in the past, by boat is an awesome way to see it! The sights, sounds, and smells of the city are all there as you whiz past on the flow of the tide. We had to keep pinching ourselves when we were anchored by the Statue of Liberty. Couldn’t believe it was actually real! Jenny