New York City

NYC Skyline

New York City is one of the most iconic cities in the world, and one of the more unique ways we have experienced it is via KINDNESS, our 43’ catamaran. Touring the city by boat provides a panoramic view to see all the highlights of the city including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, the United Nations, the Chrysler building, the Empire State Building and the Freedom tower. Boats also provide access to areas like the Hudson and East Rivers, where you can get a great view of the New York City skyline. We entered NYC through the East River from Long Island Sound, an experience we will not soon forget. So many bridges, beautiful buildings, and amazing views and also strong current..

Statue of Liberty

No visit to NYC by boat could be complete without a spin around the iconic Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture located on Liberty Island in the New York Harbor. It was a gift to the United States from the people of France and was dedicated in 1886 by President Grover Cleveland. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy, representing the United States’s commitment to these ideals. It is a universal symbol of hope and optimism, inspiring people around the globe to embrace freedom and justice..

East River Transit

The East River transit to NYC requires some timing as the currents are quite strong at 3+ knots on occasion through out the journey. There are eight bridges to travel under, all unique and beautiful in their own way. One portion called Hell’s gate rocked KINDNESS like a washing machine tosses laundry. There are many many high speed ferries along the route as well. We enjoyed seeing the United nations building up close and personal. There are times when this whole side of the East river is shut down for 2.5 to 3 hours at a time while the UN is in session, some post 911 safety protocols put in place by the US Coast guard. Getting the drone footage was a little harrowing. The raging current combined with the strengthening winds required us to land our mini drone back to the boat at its full speed. We ended up crashing it. However, fortunately it landed on the boat minus two propeller blades. In hind sight we should have turned to boat around against the current to slow her down. As they say, “All that ends well.”

Going Ashore

We found it quite difficult to get ashore. Most marinas require you to stay on their docks in order to use their dinghy docks. It is possible to pay a fee, as another boat who was with us on the East river needed to drop a passenger off and successfully did so. There are not a lot of moorings or anchorages in the area. Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty are great for a night and to enjoy the lit up skyline yet they are rocky. Staying longer would be uncomfortable with the rolling from ferries and any unfavorable wind situations.

So if you desire to experience the city on land, there may be better ways than visiting by boat. At the same time it was amazing to experinece that million dollar view if only for a limited time.