Day 3: Iona Island to Little Neck Bay, L.I.
August 28, 2000



Electrical Problems Resolved; Haverstraw Bay and The Palisades

A great night anchored at Iona Island. However some electrical problems showed themselves by morning. My masthead light was out and the battery dead. For some reason, the motor had not charged the battery during the previous day of running.

I fiddled quite a bit with connections and did not seem to solve anything. So I resolved to stop at a marina at nearby Peekskill and at least have a test light put on the alternator.

Once underway, and within sight of Peekskill, I decided on more attempt at cleaning the alternator input connection to the battery was worth a try. I cleaned very diligently and was rewarded with a "ready light" on the autopilot when everything was connected. Just a bad connection. I again had power as I passed the Indian Point nuclear power station just below Peekskill and I continued on into Haverstraw Bay.

The bay is a very wide expanse of Hudson, perhaps 4-5 miles wide at its maximum and an easterly wind allows me to hoist sail. First the main alone, and then as I clear the Bay and begin a straight run down the final stretch of river to NYC, the jib comes out too.

But it isn't easy sailing. The wind is very fickle. It barely blows from the east, then suddenly accelerates sending the boat off on a new heading because the "Horatio", my autopilot, can't adjust course fast enough. I take over steering myself, then decide to lower the main since the boat is too tender with it up when the wind gusts.

The Tappan Zee bridge looms ahead and the New Jersey Palisades on the west side of the river. They are interesting formations. Pillars of rock formed from volcanic action. I sail under the Tappan Zee bridge; one I have been over on automobile on many occassions. A different expeerience.

Soon, I am approaching Manhattan with its skyscrapers and am quite nervous about my next course of action. Originally I intend to anchor up near Liberty Island in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. However my sailing guide says to pass through Hell's Gate in the East River starting 2 hours after low tide at the Battery. I am nearly at the Battery in time to continue on through Hell's Gate (a section I am a bit nervous about). I decide to simply continue on rather than stop early for the day. It is about 2:30 pm so I can just make it.



Stressful and Lucky Passage through New York City

NYC is a nerve wracking port for a small boat to navigate through. I take down the headsail and start the motor. I inadvertantly pass in front of a NY waterways "taxi stop". This causes two catamaran type water taxis to have to throttle back and wait for me to chug past. They are clearly annoyed and one of them pushes full throttle sending a large wake of water my way as a sign of displeasure. I pound my way through and take to visible notice. I round the tip of Manhattan and say farewell to the Hudson River. I'm now in the ocean.

At the Battery, more taxis, barges, ships, tugs, and ferries move about. I hug the shoreline trying to keep out of everyone's way. I'm surprised to see a large brown turtle (not a marine type) poke his head out of the water at me as I pass closely by. He must be a streetwise Manhattan turtle to survive to that size all the large objects rushing back and forth in his water world.

The Brooklyn Bridge marks the East River and my passage turns from southward to northward up past the Manhattan east side and Brooklyn on my right. Roosevelt Island splits the waterway. I stay on the left shore. After Roosevelt Island ends, I hug the right (Brooklyn) shore and enter Hell's Gate. The current isn't too bad! The wind is very strong against me as I start to swing towards the west.

Lots of choppy water ahead for the next few miles. I stay close to the north shoreline to avoid the heavier stuff, but am still pounding my way against the chop although moving very rapidly with perhaps 4 knots of helping current. The wind blows so hard I have trouble keeping the bow directly into the wind coming out of the east.

I notice the forestay flopping up and down with the pounding motion of the boat! Something isn't right. It shouldn't be that loose. What's going on? Since there is no way I can currently leave the helm to go up to the forestay attachment, I check the backstay. The fittings are nearly unscrewed. The backstay is so loose it is about to come unattached! I carefully look at the threading on the stay screws to ensure I don't inadvertantly tighten in the wrong direction, then carefully tighten up the backstay. It is a very close call! Don't know what I would have done if the mast came down in that section of water! As soon as things calm down a bit, I race up to the bow and check the forestay. It is OK. To ensure this doesn't happen again, I install a stainless steel circlip in the adjusting screws of the backstay, which will prevent the screw for turning and coming loose. As soon as I can, I'll do this with all the stays and shrouds on the boat! Disaster was a mere screw thread or two away!

It eventually becomes dark and I really need to settle down somewhere for the night. I pass under the Throg's Neck Bridge which represents the start of Long Island Sound and the end of the East River, and veer soutward into a small bay. There are boats at the end of the bay at anchor or moorings. I finally find a place in about 10 feet of water in Little Neck Bay on Long Island. The night sky is filled with lights of aircraft taking off and landing at the nearby LaGuardia airport, but there is little noise to disturb my stay. Glad to have this difficult section of the cruise done. I'm a day ahead of where I though I would be. I'll need to find fuel before continuing very far tomorrow, but am very satisfied with the day's sail.

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