The 4th of July in New York Harbor

Saturday, 4 July 2015

This morning we pulled anchor from our Coney Island anchorage, and headed towards the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

The boats that were going to take part in the boat parade were staging there, including the tall ship, Lafayette's S/V Hermione, who it seems we've been just missing seeing all the way up the coast.  As we were riding the current into Manhattan, pilot boats, tugs, fireboats, police boats, USCG, sailboats, and a few trawlers were all gathering to enter the harbor.  

We anchored in Red Hook anchorage, a little bit south of Governor's Island, giving us an eleven hour wait for the fireworks.  It was worth it!

Boats of every size, shape, and color zoomed past us all day, rocking us incessantly.  Much of the waves created in the harbor are from vessels, bouncing off each other, and aggravated by the swirling current of New York Harbor.

The police presence was out in force, with dozens of NYPD boats, fire boats, USCG, and police helicopters.

This is a fireworks barge going past, headed for the East River.

The USCG had announced the closure of East River in its Notice to Mariners, though they allowed boats to enter, remain in the river for the fireworks, not able to anchor, but, just to hold position.  There is no way I wanted to be in that bedlam!

We had a better vantage point, anyhow!  We watched fireworks for a couple of hours from a 360 perspective.  My favorite two shows were the one Macy's presents every year from Manhattan, and one on the Jersey side near the Statue of Liberty.  The Manhattan show was firing the same pyrotechnics off of each of four barges simultaneously.  The Jersey fireworks had two places, mirroring each other.  It was by far the biggest fireworks show I've seen in my life.

As I write this well after midnight, there are still a few stray fireworks here and there.  I looked up towards the Statue of Liberty, and see the Lafayette's Hermione motoring out to sea in the night (headed for Rhode Island I believe).  I also see two Staten Island ferries, a tug and barge, and a few other boats milling about.  

Right now, our bow is facing Manhattan, well lit up, with Brooklyn to our starboard, Jersey City at about 11 o'clock, and the Statue of Liberty about 10 o'clock.  Continuing counter-clockwise, the commercial ports on the Jersey shore, Staten Island, the Verrazano Bridge, and then Brooklyn all down our starboard side.  Everything is lilt up.  The Big Apple truly never sleeps.

I, on the other hand, am headed for the rack!