Current-ly "Not" Underway

After a pleasant night anchored in Schodack Creek, just off the Hudson River, we set off under-power in the tidal current flowing towards the first of the upcoming 12 locks commencing at Troy.
Sadly, we experienced problems with Sea Star's transmission just 3 miles along the way.
We felt very incapacitated with our mast strapped across the deck - no sails, now no forward drive.  We carefully worked our way 2 miles back to a marina at the town of Coeymans where we tied up to the dock during a hail storm while Barry assessed the situation.
After great consideration the decision was made to haul Sea Star out and take the transmission home for over-hauling.

Early the next morning, while the tide was high, Sea Star was lifted out and we took a land based seat to view the morning mist rising off the river.  We'd been afloat for only 23 days.

De-masted

In anticipation of our up-coming travels under the Champlain canal's low bridges (maximum over-head clearance 17') we stopped at Hop-O-Nose marina in Catskill creek and took down Sea Star's mast.
We spent a pleasant 4 days in Catskill creek while getting our mast down as we enjoyed the amenities of being at a dock.  We delighted in watching the F1 race, very comfortably, at the "Creekside" restaurant and bar.
Even though it was 11 months ago when hurricane Irene terrorized the U.S. eastern seaboard she was still very fresh in the minds of the folks in Catskill creek.  We heard stories of the destruction caused when Irene dropped 15 inches of rain in the Catskill Mountains within 12 hours.
We did notice that all decks and docks were constructed of new wood, not to mention the entire "Creekside" restaurant and bar.
We heard how they did get some of the boats out of the water and onto cradles only to have them re-float and end up in unbelievable places (on top of cars on the interstate) as the water receeded.

The chap in the slip beside us spent 2 days anchored out in the Hudson River as his boat was too large to be hauled out.  He told us of the debris washing by and the 6 foot wave at the mouth of the creek.  He got back safely only to find a boat sitting on his car.

Hudson River Lighthouses

In the Hudson River we passed by four unique lighthouses: Esopus Meadows, Rondout, Saugerties and Hudson/Athens.
The Esopus lighthouse, "Maid of the Meadows", is a unique wood frame structure built in 1871.  It housed family keepers until 1939.  An automated light was installed in 1975.  The lighthouse is currently under-going restoration thanks to the "Save the Esopus Lighthouse Commission".
The Saugerties Lighthouse is operating throughout the week as a B & B.
The Hudson/Athens Lighthouse is located on Athens middle ground flats.

Hudson Highlands/U.S. Military Academy at West Point

The Hudson River cuts through the backbone of the Appalachian Mountain chain for 11 miles.  This area is known as the "Hudson Highlands" and is often compared to Germany's Rhineland.  As the river flows between the mountains it narrows and makes sharp turns.  It reaches it's greatest depth in this area - 216 feet at "World's End".
The Georgia to Maine Appalachian trail crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain suspension bridge.
Also located in the Highlands is West Point.  First fortified in 1779 it is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the U.S. and is the home of the nation's oldest service academy.

Goin' with the Flow
Anchor to Anchor - Nyack to Esopus Creek
72 miles - 12 hours

We had a wonderful and interesting ride north on the tidal flood, south wind and waves.

We passed estate mansions the likes of Roosevelt, Vanderbilt and the Culinary Institute of America (formerly a Jesuit monastery).  We also passed the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison (hence the expression, "being sent up the river").
The Catskill Mountains are visible off to our west.
The whole way along, on both river edges, the railway runs (passenger trains on the east and freight trains on the west).

North from New York City

On July 16, 2012 we let go of the mooring ball at New York's city dock (79th street boat basin) and set sail on the Hudson River.
As we make our way along we're surprised at how quietly the tugs and barges can sneak up on us.
Our first day on the river was a short one.
Anchor to anchor - 22 miles - 6 hours

We anchored just north of the Tappan Zee bridge at Nyack - home to the largest mooring field on the Hudson.

The Hudson River

The river is 325 miles long, stretching from it's source on the slopes of Mt. Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains to the Verrazano Narrows, which separates New York City's upper and lower bays.
Ocean tides extend upriver as far as the falls and the Federal Lock at Troy (158 miles).
Maximum tidal currents of 2 to 2 1/2 knots are typical.

A high tide "passing" New York City normally takes 9 to 10 hours to reach Troy.  Typically tidal ranges are 4 - 6 feet.

Atlantic City to New York City
Anchor to anchor - 98 miles - 22 hours

We lifted anchor in Atlantic City at 4 p.m. to catch the high tide to exit the anchorage as well as take advantage of the wind switch to the S/E. 
It took both of our attention to monitor the movements of the many boats off the New Jersey shore this Friday night. 
The constant string of lights along the coast as well as the glow of New York City made it easy to see on this moonless night. 
Our arrival at the mark at Sandy Hook just before dawn was timed perfectly however, it took an additional 6 hours of motoring through heavy boat traffic along the channel and up the Hudson River to reach our anchorage at the 79th Boat basin.
What an interesting "boat ride" it is to pass by the statue of Liberty and Ellis Island all the while dodging the Staten Island Ferry.
The water offers a front row seat to view New York's amazing sky-line.
This Saturday morning had boaters of every description out on the water.  We were shocked to find tiny private fishing boats seemingly oblivious to the mammoth freighter traffic coming up behind them.  As well, tour boats seemed to take great sport in playing in the wake from the tug and ferry boats.  And of course, what would a busy commercial harbour be without dinghy sailing school going on?  We were terrified for the well-being of the dinghy sailors, but gave up hope completely when the kayakers started out!!
The Coast Guard was broadcasting a message that there was a report of a woman in the East River.  We were certain by the end of this busy Saturday more than one may be lost in the Hudson.

Perhaps it's an attitude thing, but on second thought, when we witness the New Yorker's driving, their boating practices are about the same.

Atlantic City Casinos
Anchor to anchor - 33 miles - 9 hours

We caught sight of the casinos in Atlantic City a full 30 miles away. 
We thought the cutting edge architecture of the new "Revel" casino was quite unique as it has a huge ball perched right on top.  What a surprise it was to see it glow crimson red at night. 

By the number of lighted rooms in the hotels, it looks like business is running near to capacity.

Cape May to Atlantic City
Anchor to anchor - 33 miles - 9 hours

As we cleared the Cape May channel today we watched in surprise as the head sail on a boat just ahead of us ripped right in two.  It was very surprising considering the wind strength was just over 10 knots. 

Barry's efforts to get his make-shift chart-plotter working once again finally paid off in Cape May.

Oyster Ground Complication
Chesapeake City, Maryland to Cape May, New Jersey
Anchor to anchor - 55 miles - 15 hours (under power the whole way)

July 10th found us motoring at 5 a.m. in the cool, misty canal.  By 9 a.m. we were riding the tide doing 7.7 knots on the outside edge of the freighter channel in the Delaware River.  Unfortunately we came to an abrupt stop as our prop caught a line connecting 2 oyster floats.  With Sea Star disabled and a current running at 3 knots we gave great consideration to Barry going in the water to cut the line off the prop.  Happily he was able to safely cut us free. 
By noon the tide turned against us and the wind was 15 knots over the bow.  We were mid way through Delaware Bay, under power and making just over 1 knot progress.  At that point we had serious reservations about making Cape May by nightfall. 
We spent 3 hours tacking back and forth across the channel against the sea and wind conditions.

At 4:00 p.m. we finally made our course change mark and with the tide flowing once again in our favour we dropped anchor in Cape May just before dark.