TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

After a good night’s sleep, my alarm went off at 0515, which felt way too early.  I slowly got moving, folded up my blankets and such, hanked on the genoa, removed the sail cover, and I was ready to go.  The morning was warm, clear and calm.  The Hudson River was tranquil in a way that only occurs late at night or early in the morning.

I cast off the mooring at 0545 to motor south down the Hudson toward the Battery.  With the current I was easily making 7.5 knots across the ground, enjoying the quiet morning and the soft light of the sunrise.  Before I knew it, I was rounding the Battery and heading underneath the Brooklyn Bridge up the East River.  Still making great time, although for some reason, motoring up or down the East River always makes me slightly uneasy.  I always imagine the engine quitting and ending up adrift in the swift current.  Luckily, once more the engine kept putting along, and I glided past Hell Gate, North Brother Island, and Riker’s Island.

Still not a breath of wind, and by now it is getting hot.  We (me and the boat) keep chugging along, still making decent speed past the Whitestone and Throg’s Neck Bridges and into the Long Island Sound.

After passing City Island, the temperature is well into the 90’s, not a cloud in the sky (and no bimini, hence no shade.)  I stop twice to jump overboard to cool off a bit, and arrive in Port Jefferson, Long Island around 1600.

I picked up a mooring at the Setauket Yacht Club, make sure you have a reservation on a weekend.  The launch service is quick and reliable, and the shore facilities are acceptable.  Port Jefferson is somewhat charming, but lots of tourists—which I guess included me.

Good night’s sleep on board.