Status of Eastbound Flotilla to CD Rendezvous 2000

[Catherine Monaghan]

I thought I'd let everyone know how things are going with the planning of our eastbound flotilla from NJ to Niantic Bay in July.

There are currently 2, possibly 3, NJ boats that want to sail together to the rendezvous. The smallest boat is a CD25 which is limited in it's travel distance by the amount of gas that can be carried for its outboard. We have to be sure to stop where they can gas up.

We need to clear NY Harbor by July 2nd due to the OpSail 2000 events.

For those that are unaware, NY Harbor will essentially be closed to vessel traffic July 3rd through the 5th due to the presence of the Navy (large security zone which changes depending on the day from 100 yards to 500 yards from their ships which will be anchored from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to the northern tip of Staten Island on the NJ side of the river and again from Liberty Island to the George Washington Bridge, also on the NJ side), the tall ships (you cannot get near them either), and the fireworks barges.

The East River will be closed at 11:30 a.m. on July 3rd while tall ships transit the East River from Long Island Sound to their anchorage at Gravesend Bay. Other ships will be entering from Sandy Hook.

No vessels will be permitted to transit the waters between Governors Island and The Battery in southern Manhattan from 7 a.m., July 4th until the end of the parade of sail.

Anyone thinking of transiting NY Harbor should visit the Coast Guard's web site at: <a href="http://www.uscg.mil/d1/sailevents2000/B ... ull.htm</a>
Be sure to read the <a href="http://www.uscg.mil/d1/sailevents2000/F ... >temporary regulations</a> that will be in effect during OpSail 2000.

So far, our itinerary looks like this (subject to change):

7/1 -- Boats leave Morgan and Red Bank, NJ and sail to either Great Kills Harbor, Staten Island, NY or Gravesend Bay, Brooklyn, NY and spend the night on a mooring, marina or at anchor depending on harbor.
7/2 -- If from Great Kills, leave harbor at approximately 0630 to arrive at The Battery at approximately 0930 (high tide 0926) and transit East River clearing Hell Gate at approximately 1100 (slack 1126) then clearing Willets Point at approximately 1300 (ebb begins at 1228). Depending on conditions we'll either head for Norwalk, CT or Oyster Bay, NY, preferably Norwalk.
If from Gravesend Bay, leave harbor at 0815 to arrive at The Battery at approximately high tide.(see above itenerary from The Battery)....
7/3 -- Leave Norwalk at approximately 1130 during the flood so that we'll have a majority of the day with the ebb and we'll head for Branford, CT.
7/4 -- Leave Branford at approximately 1230 and head for Essex, CT.
7/5 -- Leave Essex for at approximately 1330 for a short sail to Niantic Bay OR continue cruising (Fishers Island or Block Island) and return to Millstone Point Harbor on the 7th for the rendezvous.

If you'll be joining us along the route, please let me know ASAP since reservations will have to be made at the marinas for a group of boats, especially during a holiday period and I have to be able to tell them how many boats they'll need to accommodate.

You're on your own for the return trip since we'll be on a 2-week vacation and will continue to cruise after the rendezvous.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay



catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Catherine,

Good information for all! It is probably most important for all to know the changes in the Federal Regulations in the various ports of call for the Tall Ships. The Federal Register says it all (in very fine print covering about 4, 8 1/2 x 11" pages, for New London only!) but it boils down to this: Stay at least 100 yards away from any tall ship, if transiting an anchorage area, keep speed at "no wake" or less than 6 knots. Do not anchor in special anchorage areas ie. Niantic Bay(but note that there is still a lot of area in Niantic Bay that you can anchor, like just off of Millstone Harbour!). Tall Ships have deep drafts, so they CAN'T anchor where we can! Also, stay out of special safety zones ie. for New London, it is from the markers off Bartlett Reef to the New London Channel outer markers and then up the Thames River to the railroad bridge. Sounds terrible, but there is a lot of Long Island Sound in which to sail and accompany the Tall Ships as they make their way into New London.

Also, everyone should realize that during the week of 7/8 to 7/15 the whole area of New London will be overrun with boats and shorebound tourists. As an example, the transportation people for OpSail2000ct have arranged something like 10 to 15 satellite parking areas for people that are driving to New London for the celebration. I guess what I am saying here is that you should plan on being self-sufficient. Hanalei WILL be, and she is at a slip in Noank!

Catherine, I wish you and the other Captains of your transit fleet fair winds and following seas(particularly through Hell's Gate!). Hope you make it easilly through New York Harbour. Oh, by the way, your ports of call up the South shore of Connecticut sound reasonable. You may be able to make it from Branford to Niantic Bay in one leg though. I've motor sailed my brother's CD-30 (about 5 - 51/2 knots) from Branford to Noank in about 10 hours if I remember right. Depends on the tides too!

Keep us all informed, I look forward to a glass of wine with you Sir, when you arrive in July!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Don Carr]

I concur with Mr. Stump. The sail from New Haven (City Point) in about 12-15 knots of SW breeze takes about 9-10 hours. You will get about 1-1.5 knots boosted if you hang out about 2 miles offshore and avail yourself of the fair tide. I sailed it last year left NH harbor at 9:30AM and the ship was secured inside the Niantic River by 6:00PM. Averaging 5knots.

By the way.Dave.. is the Hanalei lounge open for us mooring rats?

Fair Winds.
Don Carr
s/v Camanae
CD25



carrd48@netzero.net