2022-07-02 Overnight trip to New York, Port Washington, and Kris is an clutz

We left Lewes with a predicted south wind, and for once the forecast was accurate.  Had a very nice sail from Lewes, DE, up to New York City.   As we have done before we tried to time the trip so we would arrive in time for favorable tide and current, and be able to pass through New York harbor, and the East River and make it to Port Washington, NY.   

This is tricky timing, as you are never sure how fast you will sail, as it depends on the winds.   We did a spot on job this time, and hit everything with perfect timing.

Leaving Lewes, DE

Verrazano Bridge in New York, early in the morning

Doesn't look like much room for this guy under the bridge

Coming into New York Harbor, early morning

Statue of Liberty, with classic orange Staten Island ferry

Manhattan, with tug going by

Can you see the thin tall building being built in the center of photo.  With land at a premium, you go up instead of out.

We enjoy some of the funky architecture, only appreciated from a distance

One of the funkiest

Timed the trip perfectly, so made good speed through "Hells Gate", a spot of high currents when traversing the East River

Notice our "SOG" speed over ground is 10.3 knots.   That's 5 knots of current helping us along.

Last half of East river is not too scenic, so good time for a nap.   Always a bit tired after a overnight trip. Sling seat is sooo comfortable.

A much deserved nap after the overnight trip

Passing by worlds largest prison barge (Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center)  No inmates out and about

Arrived in Port Washington to beautiful weather, warm days and cooler nights.  Port Washington is active harbor.  During the day we can watch the kids out learning to sail on the little boats.

360 video of Port Washington Harbor

Thursday night is race night at Port Washington, We enjoy watching the races, as old racers ourselves.

Evening sailboat races in Port Washington

Sailboat race in brisk winds - all cheeks to the teak!

We also did some projects while in Port Washington.  General maintenance, but Kris decided to finish sewing the dodger, as we had the material now.    

She likes her new powerful sewing machine - make sewing thick stuff a breeze - including her finger.

Put the needle though her left pointer finger.  Luckily when the tip of the needle broke off, it did not stay in the finger.

Kris was a little bummed, as it seems every time she hurts herself, there is very little physical evidence, as with the needle, you can barely see where she punctured herself, going in through the nail and out the bottom of the finger.  Her finger is still a little numb at the tip, but no other issues.     

She should have been more careful about complaining about lack of physical symptoms to get sympathy as a couple of days later, we were enjoying a beautiful spinnaker sail from Port Washington up to Port Jefferson when her wish of physical symptoms came true.

Execution Rocks Lighthouse, manned from 1850 to 1979

Nice spinnaker sail

Winds built while sailing the spinnaker, and we needed to take it down.  Dean went up front to pull down the sock, and Kris went to release the sheet.   There is a lot of pressure on sails - more force than you realize sometimes.   The winds were around 12 - perfect for the spinnaker, but then gusting to 17 - not good.  When your release our spinnaker sheet, you remove it from the cleat, and the 3 to 4 turns around the winch usually means you can easily hold the sheet by hand - not this time.  The cleat was only partially off when the force of the winds on the spinnaker ripped it out of Kris's hand.   Burnt her hand, and the line was whipping around, and also lashed her across the back of the thighs, although not as bad as the hand.

2nd degree rope burns.

Kris spent the next 6 hours holding ice and cold water against the burns until the pain subsided.  Dean had to do the rest of the sail handling and anchoring tasks.

The white spots have not gone away, and the skin is hard and leathery where white - hope it softens or goes away with time, but at least we are pretty sure there will be scarring this time - so please - now that there is physical evidence - give her some sympathy so she can stop hurting herself 😁