New York Harbor
At sunrise on September 18th we woke to a crisp north breeze, perfect conditions to slip our mooring in Jamestown, Rhode Island and sail down the coast. Hot coffee and fleece warded off the chill. By afternoon we passed Race Rock and entered Long Island Sound, anchoring just west of the Connecticut River estuary. The next day a strong easterly breeze carried us to the Sand Hole, an anchorage on the New York side of the sound, near Oyster Bay. We entered this small cove via a narrow channel with 3 feet of water at mid-tide, dragging our centerboard over the gravel bottom. Once inside we enjoyed the tranquility of marshes, wildlife, and a beautiful beach – a stark contrast with the skyline of Stamford visible just across the sound. That evening we celebrated Megan’s 11th birthday.
The next morning we motored under the Throg’s Neck and Whitestone Bridges, past Riker’s Island and LaGuardia airport, and – catching the outbound tide – shot down the East River with a small flotilla of cruising boats, tugs and barges. A USCG patrol boat escorted us past the United Nations, all smiles but machine guns at the ready. After passing the Brooklyn Bridge, STRIDER took us on a tour of New York Harbor, including Liberty and Ellis Islands, before pulling into a slip at Liberty Park Marina, just west of the World Trade Center. With a fantastic view of downtown and a ferry that departs from the marina, we’re ready to hit the Big Apple!
S/V Strider 