Through NYC - Thanks George Bush for the Experience

Well, our trip down the Long Island Sound was pleasant with wonderful weather and a couple of day stay in Stamford CT. at the Stamford Yacht Club thanks to the exceptional generousity and hospitality of one David Watkins.  We next sailed to Port Washington NY for the jump off to sail through Manhattan and on to the Jersey coast and here is where things began to heat up.  After a great visit with old friends on Monday, we readied ourselves for an early start on Tuesday only to find out that the entire East River was closed down due to our Presidents speach at the UN on Tuesday morning.  So after much searching and calling (USCG seemed to be as much in the dark as to the access as we were - but the bridge operator on the Roosevelt Island lift bridge new what was going on), we and several other boats also staged in Port Washington (free 2 day moorings for cruising transients) were ready to jump on Wednesday morning.  It seemed that since the UN was in session that the East River was closed on the west side (closest to the UN) but that traffic would be allowed down the east side, but hampered by the lift bridge that only allowed a 40 ft. clearance when in the down position (so all sailboats greater than 30 ft. would need the bridge to lift).  We left Port Wash. at 8:00am to coincide with the tides for the east river at Hell's Gate that would ebb at 10:00am which would theoretically carry us through all the way out the Battery.   Well, we were one of about 15 sailboats that arrived down the East River at the beginning of the ebb but no one seemed to be heading down the river past the lift bridge.  Calling the bridge operator we found out that the bridge was experiencing mechanical difficulties and was not able to lift.  Now there was 15 sailboats and 2 very large luxury yachts circling in the ever increasing tide flow and several coast guard and NYC police boats telling us to stay put.  Finally as the boat traffic was getting really congested, the coast guard agreed to escort us down the west side by the UN.  So we all got in an orderly line and headed down the west side with 3 knots of pushing tide toward the UN.  All of a sudden a secret service gun boat and 2 NYC gun boats and 3 Coast Guard machine gun boats come screaming up the river telling us that this is a security risk and that we all have to motor back up the river against the tide to a staging area until further notice.  So we all turn around and start heading back when a tug pushing a scrap metal barge comes running down the river (on the west side) and pushes us all out of the way.  As we struggle against the tide in an orderly disfunctional group the Coast Guard notifies some of us that we can turn around and head back down the river so now all the boats turn as they find out but over the VHF radio the NYC police are asking who authorized the change in direction.  Now all the gun boats are racing up and down the line of sailboats in a histerical fashion.  Finally we are told that we can proceed with 1000 yards (over 1/2 mile) between us and that if we do not obey that we will be turned back again.  We are the fifth boat in the line and there is a Coast Guard machine gun boat escorting us down the river.  As we get under the tall bridge on the west side we see that now the secret service, NYC police, and the coast guard are stopping the boats behind the front 5.  We keep going knowing that we have limited time due to the notification that the Battery (point of land at the tip of Manhattan) will be closed after 12:30pm for 2 hours because the president will be flying out by helicopter and all water traffic will be halted.  We are now moving at 9.5 knots (4 extra knots due to the tide flow) and racing to the battery.  However, we notice that the building (60 floor sky scraper) on the east side of the river is in flames with fire boats racing up the river and sirens everywhere.  We keep going and see Bush's Helicopters in the air above coming to the Battery early.  Just as we are passed by the two biggest Ferrys I have ever seen in my life (by the way they do not slow down or alter course for sailboats thank you), be get to the Battery and there are the Helicopters on the platform with a bunch of people at their gangways.  We don't stop and make it past the Battery just as the secret service, NYC police, and Coast Guard shut down the entire waterway.  Well, big breath, we think we are free and clear, however we then realize that all commercial traffic has been shut down from coming into NYC so as we pass the Battery we are met by a sea of tug boats, barges, and cargo ships (I counted 27, but I was keeping my eyes on the road sort of speak).  We did get an amazing view of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  But the motor out the Verrazano Bridge was extremely rocky and turbulant.  So, by the time we got to Great Kills, we all had enough for the day and will be hanging out here for 2 days to let the weather pass (showers and T-storms expected) before we head out again down the NJ coast towards the Chesapeake and beyond.

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