Hurry up or wait

I decided not to rush and raise anchor to follow Stowe. The flotilla is not supposed to start until 10am at the south end of Chapel Hill North Channel. So there is no rush. Like Reid I am solo sailing. I'd rather rest now because when I am at helm I'll be there for awhile especially once the flotilla starts and there will be a lot of boats around. I was also going to dress ship (fly signal flags) but, with it blowing like it is and being by myself it's time for the KISS system. Keep it simple sailor!
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6:15 am Reid is up and so is the wind

When I woke up at 6am. I saw Reid had one sail up. A cold front came through overnight and the winds are blowing. White caps on the bay. Reid is anchored close to the lee shore. His anchor seems to be holding though. I see him scampering around on deck. Wait
Looks like he is underway. Looks like we are starting early. Don't blame him the wind could have pushed him onto shore. Time to finish my coffee raise anchor and join him on the trip back to New York.
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SOLITARY SAILING

It is a still night at anchor. I can see the anchor light of Reid's boat two hundred feet away. I wonder how he is preparing for his return. I'll pull up anchor in the morning and perhaps swing by to say hello to him. I'll try and blog from inside the floatilla tomorrow too.
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LOOKING FOR REID STOWE

The main reason I made this cruise to New York was to participate in a flotilla of boats welcoming back Reid Stowe a mariner who has spent over 1000 days at sea. The flotilla is to meet up Tursday June 17th by the Chapel Hil Channel near Sandy Hook. So I decided to head down there today and anchor and wait for the floatilla on Thursday. I arrived near the Sandy Hook Coast Guard station to find only one boat anchored there. It was Reid's boat the Schooner ANNE. As I sailed close by I could still see Reid still had the yellow quarantine flag flying. I guess this ment he still had not cleared customs. I did not see Reid and did not call out to him as I sailed by a few times. After three years at sea I figured he needed the space to get ready for his return to New. York. You can see in the photo the ANNE looks like she has been away for awile. Likewise I anchored a ways off again to give Reid his space before all the hoopla he will receive once he gets back to New YorK.
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GATEWAY TO THE SEA

I had an absolutely delightful sail today. Several tacks across the harbor combined with a favorable current made the sail just wonderful. The harbor seems to have an awful lot of empty oil barges anchored though. I was wondering if they are standing by ready to take oil that is being collected in the rig disaster.
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Another Gateway

This time it's the Hell Gate Bridge. Visually impressive and less industrial looking than the Triborugh/RFK bridge at the top of the picture.
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GATEWAY

After a forty mile cruise I anchored BIANKA in Little Bay. One of my favorite anchorages. I'm anchored next to the Throgs Neck Brdge. Which marks the gateway to the East River and the end of Long Island Sound. After a lay day at anchor. I head toward New York Citu on the southwest tomorrow.
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TIME TO PUT ON THE SAILING SHOES

You've got to put on your sailin shoes
Put on your sailing shoes

Everyone will start to cheer

When you put on your sailin' shoes

Well the boat is rigged. Sail is on. Just a few more fresh provisions, ice and beer and then I can put on my sailing shoes and leave the shore shoes on the dock.

DESTINATION: NEW YORK HARBOR

Assuming I can get BIANKA's wishbone rigged and sail on board today. I should be heading off to New York Harbor as the first cruise of the season by the weekend. I always enjoy the trip to New York as I always seem to find something curious and interesting somewhere along the journey. Such as the interesting sites I observed during last years sojourn as seen here and here. Though I have a special reason for heading into the Port of New York next week which I will be talking about in a future post as I get underway.  Another reason a sail to New York is so interesting is that the city and it's waterfront is constantly changing for better and for worse. Professional Mariner Capt. Bruce Brucato has some musing on this at his NY TUGMASTER blog. Here is the money quote:

It’s easily acknowledged that the city is so transient that it’s residents tend to overlook its legacy as one of the greatest ports in the world.- Capt. Brucato

Indeed those of us who approach the city by the water see changes that the pedestrians on land often miss. Plus we get to approach the city the way sailors like Hudson, Verrazano and the Native Americans in their canoes did. Using the same tidal forces to make our journey easier. It is a unique perspective and a trip that I never get tired of making. The East River transit is one of my favorites through Hell Gate and into the harbor. Capt Brucato captures that journey from a unique perch in this time lapse shoot:

Two days before the mast

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