![\"2016-09-23-15-37-18\"](\"http:\/\/www.eglin.net\/2bikes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/2016-09-23-15.37.18.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWe headed down the Hudson with a plan to stop at the George Washington Bridge for the night. \u00a0As we approached, we realized we could get to the City and still have some light. \u00a0We arrived at Liberty Landing Marina just as it was getting dark, though getting dark is not something that happens in NYC. We refueled and pulled around the corner to anchor for free at Ellis Island. \u00a0The view was something else, but that said so was the rolling and the noise from the party boats on a Friday night.<\/p>\n
The next day we head out of the Verrazano\u2013Narrows Bridge and slipped in to Raritan Bay, the water behind Sandy Hook just south of Staten Island. We booked a mooring ball at the Raritan Yacht Club<\/a> on the recommendation of a member we met at the Toronto Boat Show.<\/p>\n RYC’s set up is great. \u00a0Despite being almost wiped out in Sandy with the loss of 58 boats and most of their docks and a lot of the shore-side facilities we found a great club, they have rebuilt their docks and the temporary bathrooms in a trailer are nicer than the average yacht club. \u00a0They have a launch service to take you to and from the boat, removing the need to tender in and out.<\/p>\n The club is located in Perth Amboy, a small, largely Hispanic community. \u00a0The town has a nice vibe, the housing is well kept, however the business area along the main street has been gutted by out of town malls and consists mostly of dollar stores and nail parlors. \u00a0It is quite eye opening to be in the US but also be in an entirely Spanish speaking environment. \u00a0I am wondering when the US will be forced to get serious about bilingualism in government, not under Clinton or Trump for sure, but the next President is going to have to consider a way forward.<\/p>\n We picked up 2 crew members to help us with the offshore passage around New Jersey to Delaware City. \u00a0Tom and Shannon came to us through a post on Ocean Crew Link<\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0Shannon, an experienced sailor, came as a watch leader, and Tom, who is learning the ropes, as help for Kathleen’s shifts.<\/p>\n The weather forecast for the passage was reasonable and we set sail about 9:00pm to head out of Raritan Bay. \u00a0Tide timing for getting into the Delaware Bay put departure from NY Harbor and entrance to Delaware Bay at night. \u00a0This is challenging as big ships don’t like little boats getting in their way. \u00a0Our first encounter with a big ship was in the first hour and we carefully picked our way out of Raritan Bay and out of the harbour approaches to a clear area, well away from the traffic separation lanes.<\/p>\n The first night was mainly motoring, by lunch time we had the sails up and some really great sailing as we went slowly down the New Jersey coast. \u00a0The path was away from the path of most traffic but we did see a few large ships.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n