Hello from the Hudson River

[DennisM]

Though I've been sailing off and on since I was a kid, I waited until last April (and the tender age of 62) to buy my own boat. From that moment, I've been trying to gain 30 years' worth of experience in as short a time as possible. I've been racing, taking ASA and JWorld courses, and I took the boat on a 400-mile cruise from Kingston, NY, (90 miles up the Hudson River from NYC) to Sag Harbor, LI, and back with a friend who is an ASA instructor.

All I can say is I can't get enough, can't wait to get my boat back in the water, and I'm already charting out a cruise to northern Maine, also perhaps Nova Scotia, for mid to late June.

I have found valuable information on this website and look forward to learning more. As I've said to most anyone who will listen, it wasn't until I bought a sailboat that I realized how little I really knew about sailing.

[robertfraser]

Hi Dennis,

I have also recently "took the plunge"... I bought a 30 Pearson 2 seasons ago, and am eager to get back on the water.

We're down the coast from you in Toms River, NJ, and are palnning a week in NYC this summer, and psooibly hooking up and over to Little Neck Bay to visit family in Bayside.

Regards,

[DennisM]

Hi Robert,

Thank you for your reply. On my way back from the LI cruise last season, I discovered that there are moorings available at the 79th Street Boat Basin. You can't reserve one, so it's first come - first serve, but they're only $30 a night. Try to get a hotel in NYC at that price, eh?

For what it's worth...
- D

[James S]

Originally Posted by DennisM

As I've said to most anyone who will listen, it wasn't until I bought a sailboat that I realized how little I really knew about sailing.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations..
Yeh...You date and date and have "friends"...but its when you actually get married that you realize how little you knew.

[DennisM]

Thanks, James. And the worst part is, I knew even less about sailboats themselves. When I bought the boat, I couldn't have told you what all the lines were for.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
kind regards,

[DennisM]

Thank you, John!

[hugosalt]

Welcome Dennis, Great shakedown cruise to Sag Harbor! We are
all still learning. Have cruised the east end of long island many times, but never up the Hudson, will do this fall...and if I may I will pick your brain for some local Hudson River local knowledge.
Dennis/Robert
We are in western most LIS just south of City Island/ just east
of Little Neck Bay...let me know when your coming through, if
need help with mooring or local info. Hugo

[DennisM]

Thank you, Hugo. I might just take you up on that. My next cruise is planned for the third week in June. My hope is to get to northern Maine (Castine and the Eggemoggin Reach) where I have enjoyed wonderful sailing in friends' boats in the past. And if time, boat, and weather allow, I may also try to get to Nova Scotia.

If I can help you in any way on your trip up the Hudson, please don't hesitate to ask. One hint: there are good restaurants right on the river in Newburgh, Highland and Kingston. Newburgh and Highland restaurants will let you overnight at their dock for free if you eat there. The problem with Highland, however, is that a freight train comes through about 100 yards from your boat about every 1.5 hours all night long. And since there is a road crossing there, the trains blast their whistles about 12 times when they go through. Sleeping is not really possible.

[CalebD]

NYC Parks also has about 16 moorings just south of Pier 40 (Houston St.) and is equally cheap.
Hudson River Park - Pier 40 Moorings
Marinas : West 79th Street Boat Basin : New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Nyack Boat Club (25 nm up river) also has cheap transient moorings.

Originally Posted by DennisM

Hi Robert,

Thank you for your reply. On my way back from the LI cruise last season, I discovered that there are moorings available at the 79th Street Boat Basin. You can't reserve one, so it's first come - first serve, but they're only $30 a night. Try to get a hotel in NYC at that price, eh?

For what it's worth...
- D

[DennisM]

Thanks, Caleb! That's really good to know!

[hugosalt]

Dennis, No problem I will pm you with some info.
Thanks for heads up on Hudson River restaurants and dockage,
sure I will have more questions as we start to plan trip. Hugo

[Dave the Canuck]

Welcome and congrats on joining the ranks of great Hudson River boaters. Most notably, Captain Sully.

[DennisM]

Hi Dave. That's funny! Last time I cruised south of the George Washington Bridge, I told my friend to keep looking up, since they like to land airplanes here.