September 13, 2003
Hudson - NYC

Our day started foggy and ended in depression :) We had lots of strong wind from all wrong directions. We were taking our sails up and down throughout the day. Some motoring, some sailing. We were initially zipping with tide in morning at some 7 knots, passing by West Point famous for it's military academy. Couldn't landed at their dock anymore due to more security restrictions after 9/11.

We decided to make some scrambled eggs for lunch but Johannes'es big'ol' feet had to give our eggs more than a scramble. After cleaning out the cockpit from yolks and guyi whites we stilll had 3-4 eggs to cook. Johannes wasn't amused and actually the whole day was a bit gloomy.

Then we got some good wind and even though was an ugly day we got some good sailing. Thankful for our rain gear I stayed outside the whole day.

And there it came our fall... Because of the nice progress we were making I drooped my initial plan of landing at the town before NYC and chill out. No I had to keep going against all I know. Put the sail up and I get all happy and willing to go for miles. When we passed famous George Washington bridge it meant not only that I am no longer insured for next few days, but also that there is nowhere to land the boat. Entering NY Harbour the tide was rapidly increasing and we tried to enter marina on 74st. Too shallow, got stack but not too much. Current is crazy by now and our little Mr. Winky as we call our outboard motor barely compensated for it. We clung to a mooring ball at the marina and we hit our lowest day in so far.

I had anxiety attack faced with humanges currents on the Hudson, freaking no place to land, our gasoline almost run out we had no more water and no more food.

We end up having a discourse about Johannes not cleaning up and me being too critical and this day was just the worse one we've had. I had my doubts about the whole thing. Night wasn't any better. The mooring ball was banging all night and I was jumping out to devise some ways to keep it away from my boat.

Worse day in NYC I've ever had. And we couldn't even get out of the boat.

(M)