Real Nautical!

After a steaming hot day in New York City, we were reflecting on the past week as we returned to Thistle moored in beautiful Oyster Bay.

Well, that is how we started the blog on our way back to the boat on Wednesday from NYC. Shortly after we returned, a thunderstorm rolled in with pouring rain and wind gusting to 60+ kts. Heavy lightening bolts pounded the anchorage for over a half hour and visibility was cut to zero. Eric had to go on deck to cut our sun awning down. He left it up since I’ve been melting from the heat. What was Sharon doing? Reading a book for the most part. To steal a quote from Captain Sig Hansen “it got very nautical”.

Now the rest of the story…

We continued our trip down the Hudson River and stayed at the Hudson River Maritime Museum/ Boat Building School/Junior Sailing Center. This covered all the bases for Eric and he enjoyed comparing notes with the instructors from the school.

It was fascinating motoring to New York City during rush hour with ferries, tour boats, helicopters, etc. The standing waves were so big, we shipped green water over the deck. Our initial plan was to anchor behind the Statue of Liberty. The sea state was so rough we went to Liberty Marina and had our first taste of New York pricing. For $5 per foot a night, the amenities are first class. Another Bristol Channel Cutter owner Alec walked down the dock after a friend told him there was a boat like his in the harbor. Since July 4th, he has been living on his boat while working in the city. I wish him luck this winter without heat. It was cool to meet a kindred spirit.

On Tuesday we headed to Oyster Bay. The trip to Oyster Bay included motoring the length of the East River (from the southern tip of Manhattan near World Trade Center to Long Island Sound). We started the trip at 5 am to catch a fair tide and were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise and a fast ride. The East river is not a river at all. It is a tidal estuary that separates Long Island from the mainland. The current flows very fast in both directions depending on whether the tide is coming in or going out. At the Long Island end there is a narrow spot called Hell’s Gate where the water flows faster than our boat will go. So that’s why we started the trip at 5 am to catch the tide when it was flowing the direction we needed to go. We were going 10 kts without a sail up.

We’ve had our challenges this week but continue to learn how to be cruisers. In New York City, we went to the 9/11 Memorial, NYSE, Grand Central Station, Times Square, and stopped by to see a sell side trader, Ed. It’s fun being a tourist.

Book Ratings. 5 out 5 top rating.

Unlikely 13 by James Patterson 3

Eric reread The Dove by Robin Lee Graham. 5 The book he discovered when he was thirteen that was the seed for this trip.

I’m almost done with a baby blanket so the reading list has suffered.