Blue Crabs on the piling we were tied to.
We rendezvoused with Sea Pearl just east of the Verrandanzo Bridge, to follow them through NYC. Joe provided the narrative over the VHF, directing our attention to specific sites and not only naming them but giving us the history and significance of the landmarks. Wow! Our own personal guided tour from the water with a very knowledgeable "tour Guide"
"Guess I better get out of the way!"
I will let the pictures do most of the talking. Joe and Julie even had us stop in front of the Statue of Liberty, while they took pictures of Doc's Holiday bobbing in front. They are going to e-mail us the pics and we will post when we get them. Beth got great shots of the empire state building ,statue of liberty, Manhattan skyline, Riker's prison, a prison barge (because the main prison is so overcrowded), Rockefeller University, the Brooklyn Bridge and Hells Gate.
"Sea Pearl"
Doc's Holiday by Statue of Liberty
Tudor City
Joe had our passage through Hells Gate timed with the incoming tide to give us the needed push to get through. This narrow channel was not only swift but the incoming tide against the outgoing current produce standing 3 to 4 foot waves that Doc's Holiday crashed through. No big deal until we got to the rough part. Our normal 8 to 9 knots speed increased with the incoming tide and we pushed through at 15 knots. Again, no big deal (except I was thrilled at how much fuel I was saving.) Then, I think it was near the Throgs Neck Bridge, we watched as Sea Pearl got thrown to one side.
"Oh! Oh! Hang on Beth!" I shouted as we were thrown side ways and back and the boat leaned into the current one way than the other. Fighting with the wheel I managed to keep the boat off of both sides of the channel but clearly this was a very strong current! It is comparable to the power of "Old Sow", the whirlpool between Deer Island, New Brunswick and Eastport Maine. (which has been known to suck down ships!). No question that if one fell into the water they would be unable to swim against the current and would most probably drown. A few things crashed in the galley down below, but nothing broke. Thank heaven we were already prepared for rough water because of the washing machine like water stirred up by the heavy boat traffic in New York Harbour.
Once through Hells Gate the ride became like lake boating. Perfectly smooth as glass water as we passed by the landing approach to La Guardia airport...it looked like the landing planes were going to come right through our Bimini top.
We stopped beside Sea Pearl to thank them for the guided tour then parted company as they steamed off toward their home port Hugenot. Slowly we cruised the last few miles into Manhasset sound to tie up at the Brewer Capri Marina in Port Washington.
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