Westport, CT Long Island Sound to NY Harbor Advice

[twelve43atnight]

Hey everyone;

In about 2 weeks my buddy and I are sailing our Bristol 30 from Westport to NY Harbor for a couple weeks. We plan to sail Southwest, through Hell gate, down the east river, and around the southern tip of Manhattan.
When I measure the distance on google earth it comes out around 46nm.

Our plan is to set off Saturday Aug 1st and grab a transient mooring somewhere around City Island (a rough halfway point). Any suggestions on a place to stop would be awesome! Sunday we'd continue on south through Hell gate, east river, and the battery.

This is my first (his second) navigation trip so ANYY advice you can give will be GREATLY appreciated!!

Cory

[psiegelnyc]

Make sure you get the tides right. Consult your Eldridge's for current change at the Throgs Neck Bridge. The current can run 4-5 knots. Be careful.

[Jason Flare]

Heading south, hit Hell Gate at slack before ebb. You'll have a nice current carrying you down the East River,

We usually anchor just east of the Throgs Neck bridge on the south side of the sound. Good holding but very stinky muddy bottom. Your transient mooring by City Island is a great way to avoid that mud.

I don't have a chart handy but it seems to me Hell Gate is about 7 nm from the Throgs Neck, so figure on about an kour and a half to two hours to get there from City Island.

Have fun.

[twelve43atnight]

This is great! Thank you! Super helpful.

[kerrydeare]

Originally Posted by twelve43atnight

... my buddy and I are sailing our Bristol 30 from Westport to NY Harbor for a couple weeks. We plan to sail Southwest, through Hell gate, down the east river, and around the southern tip of Manhattan ... Our plan is to set off Saturday Aug 1st and grab a transient mooring somewhere around City Island ...

Consider instead going into Manhasset Bay to drop the anchor Saturday night. This is at least as good as picking up a mooring to the west of City Island, and you can come and go here under sail, etc. Next morning it's an easy run down the East River, but be absolutely certain to play the tides correctly through the Hell Gate (usually you can hit the Throggs Neck when the ebb begins at the Gate and be fine in a small yacht).

I'm curious what you all will be doing in that area for a full two weeks (?).