Integrity Cruise

Day 60: Tom's River, NJ to New York City

Home

The Adventure

The Boat

About Us

Contact Us

Day 60: Monday, June 6th:Our group of four boats was having such good luck with fair seas outside, we hoped for one more day of it. Boats our size have to go out into the Atlantic from Manasquan Inlet (about 15 miles from where we were anchored in Tom's River) at least to Sandy Hook, NJ (the northernmost tip of New Jersey).

So we decided to get up and underway early (6:30 am again) to be in the Atlantic before the seas kicked up. There were dire predictions of severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening, and we wanted to be in a safe place. We planned to make it around Sandy Hook to anchor as a minimum. As a maximum, we wanted to anchor in a special spot in New York Harbor (you'll see).

So off we went, Skinwalker was in the lead, Integrity second. Behind us was Candy Dish and finally Stephie's Choice. We have failed to mention that the shoreline all over New Jersey is cheek to jowl lined with nice (expensive) homes:

To get from Tom's River to Manasquan Inlet one must traverse the Point Pleasant Canal. We entered with a small "stranger" in our string:

This canal suffers from tidal differences between the bodies of water at each end. In addition, it is very narrow. As a result there is almost always a strong current. As we went through it was against us and running about 3 knots (we travel at about 7). A phenomenon of this high current is "standing waves" which build up as a result of wind opposing current. These were about 1-2 feet high and produced eddies to be concerned about. Note the steel walls along the edge of the canal:

Ruth continued her study of bridges. This one, on the canal, is about the only vertical-lift highway bridge we encountered so far:

And, behold, a couple miles farther there was another. Slightly different:

We noticed "Escape Ladders" in the canal about every tenth of a mile. They were very disconcerting. They were mounted in the steel walls of the canal and offered a person in the water the only means of escape from the current:

The canal was about eight miles long and at the end, before Manasquan Inlet, one encounters this double set of bridges. First is the highway bridge, then a zig and a zag and then the railroad bridge. Tricky maneuvering - particularly if there are boats coming the other way:

Here is a closer look at the railroad bridge. It is normally open unless a train is coming so we slipped right through. Sadly, the bridge closed right behind us and Candy Dish and Stephie's Choice got stopped for a few minutes:

And next we go out the Manasquan Inlet. The jetties protecting it from shoaling are particularly boater-unfriendly:

Here's a closer look:

Outside, Skinwalker decided they didn't need to lead anymore so we slowly passed them. Ruth got a good picture of this seaworthy trawler:

We made good time north and got to Sandy Hook fairly early. The seas had not built up much although the haze had gotten to almost a "fog" consistency. We all decided to press on up to New York.

You may not know that some marker bouys in the waterways also have a "gong". Ruth was interested in how the "gong" worked. Note the bell in the picture. Around it you can see swinging vertical rods near it. On the ends of the rods are hammers that swing as the waves rock the buoy. The hammers strike the bell randomly. Voila! "GONG"!

Near the entrance to the "Lower Bay" is Romer Reef. This light marks it:

A littler farther up the bay is West Bank Light:

As we approached Staten Island and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge we began to merge with large ocean freighters, tankers and container ships. They move quite fast and are HUGE!:

A freighter was closing quickly on the container ship:

The Verrazano-Narrows bridge crept out of the haze. Candy Dish was in the lead by now. This bridge is over two miles long:

The fast freighter passed a tanker at the bridge:

Then we passed him as we went under the bridge. Note the water running out of the front. That is his anchor wash down system. He was preparing to anchor:

Just north of the bridge on the Staten Island side is this abandoned fort - whose name we can't recall right now (Webmaster note: Fort Wadsworth). It has a lighthouse on top that is also abandoned. Strange combination:

We were now in New York Harbor proper. Here the ferries, tugs and various boats run in every direction. This one crossed in front of us at full speed. Of course he had "right of way":

Next was the famous Staten Island Ferry; we dodged him as well. Can you see that green statue between him and Candy Dish?

Here is a portrait of the SI Ferry:

Manhattan on the right and Lady Liberty on the left began to creep out of the haze:

We began to focus on "The Lady". She was our goal for the day:

We began to make out the people on the grounds:

There is something special about seeing this sight from the bridge of your own boat:

The tourists get to her via these ferries. One arriving:

..and one departing:

This is Liberty State Park right behind the Statue. There is a small harbor in the park that was our targeted anchorage:

And this is the view from our anchorage:

It appeared to be a nice park but there was no way for us to access it:

We were tired and concerned about the storms that were predicted. And they came. Fortunately they were not too severe and our anchor held. Sadly another boat dragged anchor almost into the seawall at about 11:30 pm. They got away from the wall and re-anchored safely.

Position tonight: N40 41.676 W074 03.816

To return to our Main Page simply

close this window.