So far this season tidal currents have had minimal impact on our planning. But from the entrance to New York harbor and north this changes. The channel that starts off Sandy Hook, New Jersey can give you three+ knots of help, or hindrance. Picking the best times used to entail laborious calculations. But now we just look at the current atlas data on any of numerous navigation computer programs, check waypoint ETA, and adjust accordingly. Sometimes this works and others it is like hitting all the red lights on your way home.
A trip along New York’s East River goes by quickly with the current assisting. In our case, with engines barely ticking over, we are making 12 knots. The last time we were here, September 4, 2001, the skyline was different.
Whenever we are in the City a visit to South Street Seaport is guaranteed.
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of weekday traffic, just a couple of small ships working against the current.
The level of visual decay is less than in previous visits, and “tagging” almost non-existent.
As you reach the northern section of the East River the currents accelerate, reaching a peak around Hell’s Gate.
We record 16 knots on the GPS (SOG) with engines turning 1200 RPM. We shoot through the Gate and into Long Island Sound. This time, from Sandy Hook onwards, we hit all green lights.
The East River opens into Long Island Sound, where it is significantly cooler than where we have just been. A blanket is called for on our bunk and long sleeve shirts when the sun sets. It feels wonderful!
The anchorages are filled with sailboats and stinkpots are definitely in the minority.
Along with catching up with long time friends and family, there are a few avians to observe.
They seem less concerned with their private space than the inhabitants further south, a trait perhaps assimilated from the human population.
The sunsets are dramatic, the one advantage of a polluted atmosphere.
There’s a traveling moon and we are off to even cooler environs.
Post script:
We are writing this blog as we head north on Long Island Sound. Having just had a clear example of why most sailors loath powerboats we thought a few photos might prove illuminating. To set the scene, we are in a wide open section of the Sound, with no navigational constraints and deep water all around. The yacht above is picked up on radar and AIS, the intercept plots show a closest point of approach of under 100 meters, much too tight for comfort. The AIS shows the yacht’s course and speed, but MMSI number and name are not programmed, so we cannot hail them by name on VHF.
We are in their danger zone, i.e. they are the burdened yacht and we are the stand on. They are traveling at 15.5 knots SOG.
They pass within the predicted 100 meters in an abnormal starboard to starboard orientation rather than port to port.
And they are throwing a huge wake. This has little impact on Wind Horse, but any normal yacht would be bounced around with a high degree of unpleasantness not to mention risk of bodily harm.
The other yacht could have slowed down to pass, and should have altered course so we were port to port with a much wider separation. Their behavior was unseamanlike, rude, and with a smaller yacht in our position, potentially dangerous.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 17, 2011)
July 17th, 2011 at 4:53 am
Hi Linda and Steve!
1.: I can follow your comments regarding their behavior in general, but why are they the burdened ship? Assuming free waters, in this situation I expect both of you to be burdened to turn starboard for port to port passing. What am I failing to see?
2.: They seem to be towing something. Is somebody waterskiing? King Kong, may be?!
July 17th, 2011 at 8:06 am
Morning Harald:
The rules of the road and collision avoidance regulations establish who is the vessel with right of way (stand on) and who has to give way (burdened) vessel. If you are are looking forward and there is some on your starboard side, from the bow through 120 degree arc (same as the running side lights) then you are the burdened vessel and must keep clear.
At the same time the right of way vessel must maintain course to allow the burdened vessel to maneuver out of the way.
There are other rules for other situations, of course.
They are towing a large dinghy.
July 17th, 2011 at 8:00 am
With regards to the inconsiderate vessel, it would appear he’s towing as there is a heavy duty bridle trailing in all three shots, this could make his manouverability restricted, he’s not displaying a diamond but my understanding is that wold only be required were the tow length greater than 200m
July 17th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Hi Rob:
The offending yacht is towing a large dinghy.
July 17th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Maybe they thought they were the stand on vessel since there were towing another vessel perhaps even a commercial operation of sorts! Haha. Probably they learned this technique (assume stand on unless otherwise challenged) from driving in NYC. 🙂
July 17th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Or maybe they thought since they wave the americann flag they have the right of way over foreign vessels.
July 17th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Unfortunately, the operator of said yacht doesn’t have the least idea about operating at sea. It’s just a big, SUV to him/her. Being big means being the alpha dog and shoving everything else aside.
Sorry I wasn’t following your course more closwely. We’re visiting relatives on LI. We could have waved from shore to you!
July 17th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Got it- wrongly I considered this as head-on situation (Rule 14) and not as the crossing situation (Rule 15) which it actually was. Thanks for your reply!
July 18th, 2011 at 3:06 am
This raises a question I don’t know the answer to, when can a towing vessel be considered “a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver” and therefore have right of way regardless of stand on status under rule 18(a)(ii)? Is it a subjective rule or are there criteria? Does a restricted vessel have to be marked as such or do they wave the signage requirements if it is a recreational vessel not normally engaged in towing activities?
July 18th, 2011 at 8:04 am
Hey Rob,
I’m sure Colregs states that a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre is “due to the nature of her work”.
There ain’t no work going on towing your dinghy.
Anthony
July 18th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Hi Steve,
You are in my neighborhood (I am in Westport CT) how long will you be in the sound? After following you virtually for a few years it would be wonderful to see Wind Horse in person.
Larry
July 18th, 2011 at 10:17 am
Hi Larry:
We’ve moved on to Rhode Island, but will be heading to Maine tomorrow. Perhaps we’ll meet up on our way south.
July 18th, 2011 at 10:30 am
They are certainly the burdened vessel and the angle makes rate of closure quite high. In a lot of the areas I boat 100 meters is not an unreasonable clearance. Some time you have boats within 100 meters on 3 sides. Given sea room more is preferred.
July 20th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
You’re passing by Marblehead? I’ve been lurking for three years. Would love to see Windhorse.
July 20th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Hi Kevin:
Passed by yesterday, now in Maine. Perhaps on the way back.