The Atlantic Ocean weather forecast looked good, so we and Spinning Dreams decided to make the 96 mile run from Atlantic City to Staten Island, NYC. Because we knew it would be a long day, we agreed to leave at 0600. The fog disagreed. After a three and a half hour delay to allow the fog to burn off, we headed out the AC channel into the Atlantic.
Wind and tide were in opposite directions as we entered the Atlantic, generating high waves and turbulence. It was rough for a while, and the Admiral asked if we should turn back. But after we turned to port and headed north, the south wind and 2-3 foot swells from the south gave us a smooth ride.
We traveled about two miles offshore, passing fishermen and Jersey Shore communities along our way north toward NYC.
After about six hours we rounded Sandy Hook (originally “Zand Hoek” in Dutch) and entered NYC’s Lower Bay. A few miles across the bay is Great Kills Harbor, a protected nearly-circular bay and Italian neighborhood on the south side of Staten Island. The bay is filled with mooring balls for sailboats, and the north shore of the bay is lined with marinas.
We stayed at Great Kills Yacht Club three nights. Club member/Gold Looper/ambassador extraordinaire John Calascibetta was very accommodating, warmly welcoming us and other Loopers to his “blue collar yacht club.”
I rode my bike to nearby Frank and Sal’s, a highly recommended Italian grocery and deli. It had a surprising variety of fresh pastas, prepared salads, and made-to-order Hero sandwiches. I had to stop shopping because my bike basket would only hold so much!
A heavy thunderstorm came through Staten Island while we were at Great Kills. The double rainbow after the storm was beautiful!
Tomorrow we will take a short cruise through the New York Harbor to Liberty Landing Marina, near the Statue of Liberty and across the Hudson River from Manhattan. John and Katy (our son and daughter in law) will join us there a few days to explore the City!
