Fort Wadsworth

Fort Wadsworth, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Guarding the "Narrows" that is the entrance to New York Harbor, Fort Wadsworth is one of the country's oldest forts. Some Staten Islanders joke that the fort was built to protect against an invasion from Brooklyn...a point rendered useless with the construction of the Veranzzano Bridge! :-)

Staten Island 9/11 Memorial

Staten Island 9/11 Memorial, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Staten Island, for me, has always been on the way to the Jersey Turnpike. Staten Island as a destination/day trip revealed much that I was unaware of including this memorial. The memorial is in a direct line of sight with the World Trade Center and commemorates those Staten Islanders lost on 9/11. This unique site uses a "postcard" theme with a carved profile (taken from family photographs) of each victim. Impressive and moving.....

Foggy Harbor

Foggy Harbor, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Fun on a rainy day, fog shrouded Manhattan as seen from Staten Island.

Boat Traffic

Boat Traffic, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The view through the rigging....Photography while sailing has it's challenges.

Staten Island Ferry

Staten Island Ferry, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Few things in New York are free. The best bargain in town just might be the free ride on the Staten Island Ferry with it's gorgeous views of New York Harbor. Interestingly, the ferry never really "turns around"..it just changes direction as the stern becomes the bow and vice-versa. One would think that the endless back and forth navigation just might become rather tedious for the crew members!

Seven Forty am

Seven Forty am, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
It's always nice to know what time it is when you are sailing on the Hudson. The Colgate Clock has actually been a part of the New York landscape since 1906, a Colgate Clock has been on the Jersey side of the river since 1924. When the corporation moved to the mid-west in the 1980's it was agreed that the clock would remain under the stewardship of the new landowner. At any rate, I suppose there's no excuse for being unaware of the time if you have a view of the river....

Staten Island Bound

Ferry Newhouse, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
On a mission and full speed ahead.....Perhaps the best navigational advice in these situations is to stay out of the way! The Staten Island ferries are a constant factor in New York Harbor, always cross to the stern!  -:)

Riverside

Riverside, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The late afternoon sun lights up lower Manhattan...seen from Liberty Landing Marina/Park.

Miss Freedom

Miss Freedom, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Tourist Traffic....A cruise to see the harbor sights is a must for most tourists to the Big Apple. There is no better time for tour boats than the summer. For local boaters however, navigating New York's waters can be somewhat daunting at times.

Good Morning NY

Good Morning NY, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Getting an early start...Good Morning New York!

Manhattan Sail

Manhattan Sail, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Manhattan to starboard.......And we still asked for a "table with a view" when dinning out! Gotta love it.

The Narrows

The Narrows, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The Verrazano Narrows mark the entrance to New York Harbor. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge connects Brooklyn and Long Island to points south. I speak from first hand knowledge: passing under is much more enjoyable than crossing over as the bridge is frequently heavily traveled.

Harbor Tanker

Harbor Tanker, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe
There were times during our sailing adventure when we felt like the preveribial ant in an elephant parade. Sailing New York Harbor  is not carefree boating......

Ferry Crossing

Ferry Crossing, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The view from Liberty Landing Marina is impressive at all hours of the day. Convenient ferry service to Manhattan is from the marina's main dock. A very cool way to visit the City......

Morning Departure

Morning Departure, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Still and quiet are not adjectives to describe New York but our dawn departure provided a very peaceful approach to Manhattan. A very different perspective indeed...

Passing To Port

Passing To Port, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
All that talk about nautical "Rules of the Road" need to be applied in New York Harbor. The size of our sailboat shrunk considerably as ferries, tankers, tugs and barges shared the waterway. A fast moving Staten Island Ferry can put things in perspective in a hurry.

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
A sail into New York Harbor would not be complete without paying one's respect to Lady Liberty in spite of heavy boat traffic.
Soon after this shot we were surronded by tour boats. The jet ski on the scene was a bit like a bicycle on the expressway and created a bit of chaos.  

NYC Arrival

NYC Arrival, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
This photo blogger has been off the grid for awhile as we are sailing into Manhattan from points east. After hours on the ocean this view was a welcome sight...Life is Good!