I am planning to bring down my ‘new to me’ NS26 Classic from Midway Marina in Connecticut River to Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City by the last week of April.
It would be great to get help from a fellow Nonsucher who can join me in this maiden voyage of ‘Inner Peace’. All expenses on me.
We would be mostly sailing and some motoring. The boat has a 27HP engine. This trip will allow me to learn the nuances of handling a Nonsuch.
Thanks,
Siva Surendira
ND26C #42 “Inner Peace”
Jersey City
I don’t have time to make the trip with you. I did make this trip last fall and can offer some observations.
The East Haddam Swing Bridge is undergoing renovation. What are the available opening times?
It will take around 3 hours motoring in the Connecticut River to reach Long Island Sound.
You will need to plan for one or two ports of call for overnights in Long Island Sound.
You need to time your passage of the East River. This might make your second night staying either at Eastchester Bay on the mainland side or Manhassett Bay on the Long Island side. Both are just before the entrance to the East River.
Plan on 3 days to make the trip in daylight.
Ward Woodruff
N33 #8 Margery
Niantic Bay, CT
Siva: There is a lot of info available about coming down the East River and through Hell Gate. Read up on it. Also, a great resource is the current Eldridge Tide & Pilot book.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Siva,
You may also find some support/help/crew member on the WWS (Women Who Sail) facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/292744864104327. There are also probably some sub groups of WWS who would be closer to you.
Maggi Cowlan
NS30U “AliaII”
Deale, MD
Siva,
That sounds like a great experience for you and a fun opportunity for someone in the area. (Being in Los Angeles, unfortunaately that someone is not me.)
You might consider getting in touch with Donna and Travis Epes, the heads of the Long Island Sound regional affiliate of the International Nonsuch Association, since they may be able to find locals for you, and could help you meet other owners in your area. I’ll send you their contact information separately, or you can look them up on the www.Nonsuch.org website. Click the MEMBERS tab, then select REGIONAL LEADERS.
You might also want to get in touch with Ed Strazzini, the INA Director for New Owner Support to see if he can offer any help. I’ll put you in touch with him, also.
Best wishes,
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Thanks Bob. Will get in touch.
Hi Siva,
As I believe we live near each other in Jersey City, I can make some time to meet with you to review the float plan and provide tips/guidance especially for coming down the East River. None of it is difficult, it is a fairly easy trip, even for the first time doing it, if you have planned ahead of time, which you have already begun. I will not be able to make the voyage with you, but should be able to find an hour or two to sit with you to map it out.
Which navigation program will you be using? It will be good to be familiar with it before your trip, so if you need to adjust your plan during the trip you can do it without having to look up instructions.
I recall previously suggesting to have the NOAA Tides and Currents link at least on your phone. This tells you the timing of maximum ebb, maximum flood, and slack and speed of current (very important!) for a particular location, i.e. Hell Gate on the East River, so you may plan/time your trip so you use the current flow to your advantage.
I find it best to plot several of the key points (i.e. Throgs Neck Bridge, Whitestone Bridge, Hell Gate, Brooklyn Bridge, Hudson River Entrance (directly in front of Morris Canal, entrance to Liberty Landing Marina). Use the shallowest water depth offered on the chart choice (i.e. 6 Feet for Hell Gate).
This is their main page:
https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/
This is specifically for Hell Gate - adjust the date for when you may be passing through:
NOAA Current Predictions - Current Predictions
You can reach out to me via Messenger (as before) so we can coordinate getting together, if this will work for you.
Peter Grabow
S/V CAKE WALK III
1987 30U 430
Jersey City, NJ
Attached is the current East Haddam Swing Bridge info based on the construction schedule.
Hi Siva,
We’re also new NonSuch owners, and will be moving Soave from Westbrook, CT to Westport, CT in a similar timeframe. Not sure if I’ll be ready by end of April, it is our hope.
I don’t have any direct experience with the leg between LIS and NY Harbor, but it’s in future plans for Soave. If our timing aligns I’d volunteer to be an extra hand. Especially if you need to rotate in new crew on day 3 of the trip.
I realize it might not be a logical place for you to stop, my home club is Cedar Point. If you run into weather or mechanical difficulty I know our club would be a friendly place to stop.
Let’s stay in touch these next couple weeks to see if our schedules align… even stuff like car drops for crew might come in handy who knows?
Rob Cohen
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Westport, CT
Siva
I’ve made this trip many times unfortunately I have 50th High School reunion at the end of April followed by a trip to Grand Cayman and can’t sign on as crew.. As Joe mentioned the Eldridge Tide and Pilot book:
https://amzn.to/49lGeFS
would be a great help navigating the currents in Long Island Sound and New York Harbor.. I find it’s best to be at the Throgs Neck Bridge at high tide. Then you can ride the favoring current all the way to the Battery and the hop over to Liberty Landing. DO NOT plan on sailing down the East River. The winds flowing around the buildings and the current will tend to make your boat do boat spins depending on the conditions. The Tug Boat Captains are not amused by this. 
Mike
BIANKA
1986 30U
Long Island
Good point about the tugboats, Mike!!
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
I did the trip through NY Harbor in 2008 delivering my previous boat, an Ericson 33 to Mattasquuan inlet. We left New London late morning and overnighted at Port Jefferson. The next day we hung out touring City Island’s mooring fields until we caught a favorable tide down the East River. This is very important. Use Eldridge to time the tide at Hell Gate. You definitely need a favorable tide. The trip is fabulous. We made it to Great Kill Staten Island just as darkness was setting in on a late July day. It was thrilling sailing under all the bridges from Throgs Neck to the Verrazano. I have fond memories of the trip and would love to reprise it one day.
Michael Passero
Born To Run, NS33 #42
New London CT
Not to brag, but just to let people understand something – it is not impossible or particularly dangerous to go against the current in either direction coming down the east River. I’ve done it both ways, once in my 30U. Just takes longer.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
I agree with Joe regarding going against the current. It’s certainly doable tho it’s to your advantage to time your trip to get the advantage of favorable flow.
Ed Strazzini
PELICAN, N33#36
Deltaville, VA
I have done it. How slow? Very slow. Not hard to pick up a favourable tide.
Hi Ward,
Thanks for the tips. The swing bridge opens at 10 am (earliest) on Thursdays.
Here is what I am thinking.
9th May - 9 am - Start from Midway Marina, CT
9th May - 9 pm - Reach Port Jefferson, NY
10th May - 5 am - Start from Port Jefferson, NY
10th May - 5 pm - Reach Jersey City, NJ
What do you think? Do-able? The will be able to catch the low-tide on East River which starts at around 10 am.
-Siva
Hi Rob,
Here is what I am thinking. Cedar Point is a good alternative to Port Jefferson, NY. Would you want to join us for the day sail on day 1 (9th May)?
9th May - 9 am - Start from Midway Marina, CT
9th May - 9 pm - Reach Port Jefferson, NY
10th May - 5 am - Start from Port Jefferson, NY
10th May - 5 pm - Reach Jersey City, NJ
-Siva
Thanks Peter. Planning to be at Hell Gate at around 10ish in the morning on 5/10.
All the info you need for that transit, in detail, is in the Eldrige book.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Thanks Joe