June 25-26, 2024 New York City and Haverstraw Cove.

 June 25, 2024  Great Kills to New York City  2.8 hours and 23 miles

After that crazy storm front with 50 mph winds passed thru on Saturday (taking our gold looper burgee with it) we were able to move from our mooring ball to the Great Kills Yacht Club dock for Sunday and Monday with more heavy winds expected.  And they did show up.  Gusts both days upwards of 40+ mph. Still 90-degree heat so power for A/C was welcome as well as another visit to Frank and Sal's for a variety of pre-made Italian dinner treats.  Eggplant parmesan, meatballs, chicken parm, chicken vodka, olive assortment, antipasti salad and more crumb cake for breakfast.  All so yummy! 

Getting ready to depart the T-head at Great Kills

The Tear Drop 911 Memorial on the New Jersey side was a gift from Russia

But it was time to get moving again today.  Not a long trip.  Just a few hours.  Traffic not bad and AIS kept us abreast of boats coming and going.   Met up with two other loopers to do the obligatory Statue of Liberty photo shuffle and exchange. "You go between me and the statue and I'll take your pics, then I'll go in front of you so you can take our picture."  Repeat multiple times and then everyone exchanges pictures and hopefully one or two turned out good.  Crazy traffic there with all the tourist tour boats.  We were done with that by 1:00.

Lady Liberty

Photo shoot day at the Statue of Liberty

I had read that the anchorage beside Ellis Island offered a bit more protection than the one behind the statue, plus it afforded a much better unobstructed view of the NYC skyline. So we grabbed a spot, dropped the hook, and proceeded to bounce, rock, and roll nonstop until our departure the next morning.  The wind and current laid us parallel to the river so every tug, barge, ship, water taxi, tour boat and ferry sent a wave that hit us squarely on our beam.  Worst possible outcome generating the most severe rocking.  Three points of contact were necessitated at all times when moving about the boat. River traffic finally settled down a bit after rush hour and by 7:00pm we were entertained with the Tuesday night J/24 sailing regatta held by the Manhattan Yacht Club. 

J/24 sailboats cross the starting line at the committee boat

Spinnakers out as they head downwind

As the sun set, we finally got the show we had been awaiting.  Last of the day's sunshine reflecting off the skyscrapers and then as darkness enveloped the city the lights came on illuminating each building.

Sunset colors reflecting on the skyline

The skyline as darkness falls

Journey for June 25, 2024

June 26, 2024  New York City to Haverstraw Cove.   4.9 hours and 40 miles

Sunrise behind the city after a bumpy evening at anchor

Anchor up at 8:30. Not ideal timing yet for riding the incoming current up the Hudson River but the rocking and rolling was getting worse and "enough was enough".   We meandered slowly up the Hudson dodging all the high-speed ferries zipping back and forth across the river and finally caught slack current. Then went slower than usual all day to stay in it. Worked out fine.  Under the George Washington Bridge and the new Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge (aka old Tappan Zee Bridge) and into the shear rock walls of The Palisades.  Always amazing that within just a few miles of leaving the city the scenery can turn so natural. 

Under the new Tappan Zee / Mario Cuomo Bridge 

The little red lighthouse at the base of George Washington Bridge

Palisades of the Hudson River just north of the city

 Decided to try an anchorage I spotted on the navigation charts called Haverstraw Cove.   Most anchoring spots are just along the river edge so this looked interesting as it's a true cove.  Charts show a bit of a shallow at the entrance but good depths inside and nice wind protection from all directions.  Got in without issue and have the whole place to ourselves.  Perfectly peaceful and wake free. Almost like we're on terra firma again! Last of the 90+ degree days and so very ready for some of those cooler northern days.   Very light dinner last night due to the conditions so we'll enjoy the remaining italian feast from Frank and Sal's tonight.

Haverstraw Cove - a peaceful wake-free anchorage

Journey for June 26, 2024