Why not the GWB?

[Jimmy-D]

I'm considering joining a fractional boat next season on the southern Hudson. I am wondering though why I only very rarely see anyone sailing around the GWB? The charts don't indicate any issue in that area.

[bvander66]

New York Harbour not a wonderful area to sail, lots of traffic, nasty currents, wierd winds. Gets worse up at the GWB. Better sailing out on LIS or Raritan Bay or even north around the Tappen Zee.

[RobGallagher]

Half mile wide and two knots of current coupled with the fact that wind often runs up or down rivers. Meaning that you would have some pretty challenging tacking to get in one direction or the other. Depending on wind direction and current, could be impossible to go one way or the other.

Certainly challenging, but far from ideal. The boats you see might just be going to or from some place.

[CalebD]

Besides the fairly strong north or south current from the tides the cliffs of the Palisades which are 200 - 300' tall tend to make the wind a bit iffy; particularly if the wind is out of the west.
Further north near the Tappan Zee the river widens to 3 miles and the land flattens out which makes the current somewhat more docile and the winds less flukey.
My boat is up in Nyack.

[weinie]

Originally Posted by bvander66

New York Harbour not a wonderful area to sail, lots of traffic, nasty currents, wierd winds. Gets worse up at the GWB. Better sailing out on LIS or Raritan Bay or even north around the Tappen Zee.

I dunno 'bout that! When I took the basic sailing class several years ago at Manhattan Sailing School, evening sails with the manhattan skyline and the statue of liberty right there were some of the nicest inshore views one could wish to see. Though I was no expert at the time, I hardly remember nasty currents or strange winds near the battery park area.

[Jimmy-D]

Thanks everyone makes a lot of sense.