The conditions were ideal for our ride out the inlet into the North Atlantic, and north to NYC. We had a SW wind, rolling waves, sunshine and visits from dolphins. We rode the tide and surfed the waves to make it to Manhattan under 5 hours. I navigated and steered the entire trip. It was a great day- and to make it even better, the work we had done changing out fuel filters and cleaning the related parts, made for a smoother engine idle as well.

That section of the NJ coast is constant soft white beaches all the way to the NJ Highlands and Sandy Hook. Once past there, the NYC skyline comes into view. The bells on the channel buoys in NYC are hauntingly beautiful. The New York Harbor is a very busy place filled with ships, ferries, police boats, pleasure crafts and sailboats. Here are a few images I was able to take with a slightly free hand.

Into NYC under the Verrazano Bridge which connects Brooklyn and Staten Island. It’s a long one. The two main columns that support the bridge are built on an angle to conform with the curve of the earth. It’s beautiful and also visible from where we ultimately anchored at Liberty Park.

We followed the channel around the Statue of Liberty into the park and anchored in the Jersey City Basin. You can see the statues light over the trees above a children’s sailing camp.

Along the way I believe we have encountered angels. The jet skiers in Cape May that freed us from mud at low tide, a River boat who tooted hello as he passed me near a bridge with confusing buoys and showed me the way, and a single hand Looper in Brielle who guided us through our first fuel filter and generator filter changes. I thank the divine love that sent them to us right when we needed them. And you too, you know who you are. All our love from the big 🍎