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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Welcome to our home waters. Glad your coming
this way!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Where do I
begin? First off, let me remind you that my
boat is located about 6-7 miles east of the entrance to NY harbor. I'm just a
little further east than Chris Katehis who Emailed in his welcome a few days
ago. We're the only 2 A30's active in Jamaica Bay That I'm aware of. Of course
my boat is for sale and I might not be a "real" alberger by the time you guys
get up here. I realize that you won't be able to stop at every nook and cranny
along the way, so I'm going to skip the "you must come by my marina" plea and
try to make recommendations that my local knowledge can help you with. (Of
course, If you have excess time, pleeeeease stop by my marina)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> New York is a wonderful
place to sail. Starting at Sandy Hook, NJ there is a wonderful anchorage
1/2 way down on the inside. Turtle Cove. Doesn't have great protection in a
blow, but a nice place to stop. In the same area, if you need protection, go
further South and behind the breakwater at Atlantic Highlands. Several Marinas
in there and room to anchor.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Once you go North of Sandy
Hook, you should start to time your transit with the currents. My recommendation
for info in this regard is to buy and use "Eldridge Tide and
Pilot Book" <A
href="http://www.robertwhite.com">http://www.robertwhite.com</A> (click the
link "Eldridge Tide Book") It's available in most boat stores. The advantage to
Eldridge is that it includes Tidal Charts for NY Harbor and Long
Island Sound (out to Nantucket). It covers the whole East coast but really
Targets and Overloads you with info re NY to New England.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Just north of Sandy Hook
to the west a bit is a nice safely enclosed harbor in Staten Island. Great
Kills Harbor. There are several A 30's in residence there (at least 3, I think),
several marinas and lots of moorings.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> From here up, the
next marinas are in the thick of things in NY and across the Hudson in NJ.
There are two that I would recommend and their both in NJ and both have
ferry service (commuter ferry) to NY. Neither will be cheap, but either should
be safe and fairly convenient for city sightseeing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.portimperial.com/">http://www.portimperial.com/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.libertylandingmarina.com/">http://www.libertylandingmarina.com/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Liberty Landing is also extremely convenient to the
NJ Turnpike if you need to meet crew. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At this point, let me introduce another suggested
guide book. This one is fairly hard to find, but their web site is
good. <A
href="http://www.boatersalmanac.com/">http://www.boatersalmanac.com/</A>
This book has great listings for marinas and other "need to knows" from New
Jersey, all the way to Maine.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.maptech.com/water/EmbassyGuides/index.cfm">http://www.maptech.com/water/EmbassyGuides/index.cfm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Are the Embassy guides everyone is probably
familiar with. Great Guide books but expensive(ish) and DON'T let them get wet
(personal failure on my part)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Recommendations as to What
to see in NY is way beyond the scope of this Email and a matter of your personal
preferences. Suffice it to say, New York is getting nicer all the time. Don't be
worried about rampant crime, it's really not bad. New York was especially nice
in '65 when you guys last cruised up here due to the Worlds Fair. Now, it's
just New York, but it's better than it was then (by far)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> When you finally start to go up
the East River towards LISound, be sure to go with the current. Try to time your
transit to start at the beginning of the current going in your direction. There
are sections where our mighty little boats will stand still or go backwards if
the current is against you. The only thing to watch out for (besides logs in the
water) is Hell Gate (basically under the Triboro Bridge). It gets really rough
(with whirl pools</FONT> <FONT face=Arial size=2>sometimes) when the
current is at it's Max. If you time it right, it's no problem at
all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Right by LaGuardia
Airport, is Flushing Bay. There are a few marinas in there, but unless you need
to hide from weather or current, there isn't much to recommend it. On the other
hand, if you have to catch a flight somewhere..... </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>or meet
crew. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Just a couple of miles
further is Little Neck Bay (east of and to the south by the Throgs neck Bridge.
It is the first of the "after New York" anchorages if you need to recover from
the harbor and river. There are no real services there, just a nice anchorage.
If you need services, go to City Island (just to the north) or continue on to
the next bay after Little Neck, Manhasset Bay. Manhasset bay has services in the
towns of Port Washington and Manhasset. Manhasset Bay Marina (tucked back in the
NE corner) has a restaurant, lifts (hopefully you won't need), mechanics that
are fairly good, and is within a short walk of a West Marine, and normal people
shopping.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> From here on East is Long Island
Sound. I'll be typing all night if I continue (one finger, hunt and peck typist
here). So, Norwalk Islands,
Essex Ct., Hamburg Cove Ct Port Jefferson NY, Huntington Harbor NY, Oyster
Bay NY, Shelter Island NY, Greenport NY, Fishers Island NY (closer to CT),
Mystic Ct, BLOCK ISLAND RI (a must), Newport (the other Mecca), and so
on.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Have a GREAT cruise and hope to meet some of
you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Brian A30
#497 Free Spirit</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>P.S. ask specific questions and I'll be glad to try
to help.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>