We left Branford Yacht Club on Sunday, October 4, and traveled to Manhasset Bay, New York, which is just before the start of the East River. We picked up one of the town's free moorings; five others were already occupied by other cruisers.
We didn't travel on Monday because the wind would have made for rough travel out of New York Harbor and down to Manasquan Inlet, which is a 26-mile open-ocean stretch down the New Jersey coast.
On Tuesday, the wind calmed down so we traveled through the 14-mile long East River.
We see the planes flying in and out of LaGuardia Airport up-close-and-personal.
Navigation through the East River can be tricky due to strong currents and heavy traffic.
As we approach the Upper Bay of New York, there was very little boat traffic, which is usually not the case.
This area, however, offers some of the most awesome sights; the Statue of Liberty, sky scrappers of the City and South Street Seaport.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the last bridge we go under before heading out to the Atlantic Ocean for our 26-mile open-ocean stretch down the New Jersey coast. Many ships and barges anchor just inside of this bridge.We exited the Atlantic Ocean via Manasquan Inlet, which is the first safe inlet into the New Jersey ICW. We traveled the NJICW through the Point Pleasant Canal, then up the Metedeconk River, which has a very protected anchorage. A front was coming through on Wednesday bringing gale force winds.
When we reached the anchorage, a couple that we met two years ago were just pulling into their dock and asked if we wanted to tie up. We were glad to see them again and glad to be able to stay at a dock with the predicted winds. We joined Glenn and Sally for happy hour after securing the boat and "battening down the hatches". On Wednesday, John helped Glenn with an outboard engine that didn't start and went to West Marine. Diane did some chores including laundry.
On Thursday, we were able to head South in the NJICW with a WNW wind of around 15 knots and higher gusts. Seas were calm during this 60-mile stretch to Atlantic City, but due to very shallow water and a very narrow channel that twists and turns, it takes a lot of concentration to get through it. The worst part of this trip was getting fuel; waves were hitting the dock causing Duetto to rock against it.
We were glad to see Atlantic City in the distance and glad we traveled another 60-miles South because high winds are predicted for the next two days, forcing us to stay in Atlantic City.
Needless to say, we were tired when we reached Atlantic City. We are currently anchored at Rum Pt. anchorage, which has a great view of the casinos/hotels.
On Friday, the wind was blowing so hard from the SW that we never got off the boat. It calmed down in the late afternoon, then picked up at night making it sound like a freight train. Even though the anchorage was calm, the noise from the wind gusts made it difficult to sleep. It finally calmed down around 5:00 a.m.
On Saturday, we took a dinghy ride to the beach and met a couple from Maine who are traveling to Panama on their Sail CAT.
We hope the winds calms down as predicted on Sunday so we can get to Cape May, then Chesapeake City on Monday.
