If it's 4:30 a.m., we must be going to NYC

Up way too early, at 4:30 a.m.!  We had to have a 5 a.m. "anchor up" in order to hit the currents in the right direction to cruise through NYC this morning. I have to admit, I was amazed at how light it was already at 4:45.  Don't want to discover that again any time soon....

Shortly after we left Sandy Hook, we could see the Brooklyn skyline in the early morning haze.

A fast ferry passed us on his way to NYC, taking in early commuters.

In the distance, the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, linking Brooklyn and Staten Island.  The toll? $16. I feel like we're in NYC when we pass under this bridge.

A large container ship dock is located shortly after you pass under the bridge.  This ships are big!

 

Next,  the Manhattan skyline in the haze.  That really tall building with the top above the clouds? The new Freedom Tower.

 

 

One of the many Staten Island Ferries zipped past us.

 

 

Up close and personal with Miss Liberty.

 

 

And her glowing flame.

 

 

Latitudes and Best of Times are heading into the city!

The sun came out just as we neared Manhattan.   The Freedom Tower is almost clear of the clouds now.

Past the  ferry terminals - the old and new.  Interesting how ornate the older one is and how basic and "modern" the newer one is.

A better view of the Freedom Tower and Manhattan as we approach the Brooklyn Bridge.

A couple of unusual buildings....

This one has a view of the Chrysler Building also.

Of course - the Empire State Building!  Where is King Kong when you need him?  Instead, here is more of the endless building and rebuilding.

And just how tall is the Freedom Tower?  Besides 1792 feet to the tip? The 4th tallest building in the world?  THIS tall....

The UN Building, with the Chrysler Building in the background left (that building sneaks into a lot of pictures...)

One of the critical timing issues for us today was our very swift and short shot through Hell Gate.  Hell gate is a fast, furious watery nightmare if you  don't time it correctly.  Even going with the current, it's a trick.

The current through Hell Gate is about 6 knots, bringing our speed up from the usual 6.5 knots or so to a screaming 12.5 knots per our GPS!  Yes, for a sailboat, that's screaming fast. "SOG" means speed over ground.

Smokey was so relieved after we zipped through Hell Gate and back into flat water, that she wandered outside to stretch her legs and view the world.  She often just sleeps, with one watchful evil eye on us, during trips.

Less than an hour later, we are in the quiet waters of Port Washington, a really cute town with lots of things to do (like laundry, groceries, coffee, restaurants, and a 40 minute train ride to Grand Central Station).  We will be here a few days.

A few lucky folks have some summer "cottages" along the waterfront.

But, as we sailors like to say, we have the same view, but we can change it if we don't like the neighbors!