NYCkayaker Red Hook on 9/23

[Tim Gamble]

Hi All,

I am posting this on behalf of Carolina at Portside. For questions you
should contact her directly

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
SATURDAY, SEPT 23
Ole Kayak Valets
in Red Hook's Valentino park

COME PADDLE TO RED HOOK!

PortSide NewYork will provide Kayak Valets from 11:00 am to 7:00pm
Saturday 9/23/06 in Red Hook's Valentino Park so visitors arriving by
water can leave their boats and visit Red Hook (that's hand-powered boats
only.)  Rain date: Saturday 9/30/06.

Red Hook maps will be provided with info on where to eat, shop and see
areas of local interest, or get one now at
http://www.portsidenewyork.org/Red%20Hook%20Guide%20050602.pdf

Discounts and specials at local merchants are in the works. Info on safe
boating in New York waters will also be available.

For updated info, see
http://www.portsidenewyork.org/Ole%20Kayak%20Valet.htm

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WHY?
Red Hook is great and you should visit!

PortSide would like to have a boathouse installed in Valentino Park and
believes a high turnout this day will demonstrate the need for such a
facility where visitors could leave boats.

------------

PRACTICAL DETAILS:

Bring a photo ID so we can ID boat owners when they pick up boats.  We
will issue you a ticket, but the photo ID is backup in case you lose the
ticket.

You can hail us that day on VHF channel 68 by calling "PortSide"

Please RSVP to PortSide mail at portsidenewyork.org or 718-852-0821 so we
have some idea what numbers to expect.

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SAFETY:

If you are coming from the north, the Buttermilk has some of the fastest
currents in the harbor. It is also a very busy commercial channel with
fast ferries, containerships and tugs and barges.  Their captains are
always concerned when they see recreational boaters as they can't be sure
of the skill level of boaters like you.

The large commercial vessels have more limited maneuverability than you as
they can't move out of the narrow channel and they need up to a mile to
stop.  (See Rule #9 below).


Please be considerate and prudent and stay out of the channel.  Don’t
cross in front of large vessels at any distance less than a mile, and make
any change of course an obvious move so your intentions are clear.  You
can hail them on your VHF on Channel 13.

If you are coming from the south, be careful crossing the entrance to the
Erie Basin.  Tugs and barges exit at speed and cannot stop. The Water Taxi
dock is active on weekends.  Just past this point are the submerged
remains of a pier extending out some 200 feet from the wharf where you can
see the Lehigh Valley 79 Museum Barge docked.  These rocks are submerged
most of the day.  (PortSide is talking to the Coast Guard about installing
a buoy there.)

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MAP, CHART, TIDES:

9/23	tides	low 3:30am	high 9:29am	low 3:49pm	high 9:35pm

Interactive chart http://www.boatersbox.com/html/nyharbor.htm
click QuickChart Shortcuts, then click Governors/Liberty/Ellis Islands at
left

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EXCERPTS FROM RULE 9, COAST GUARD RULES OF THE ROAD:

(b)     A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel
shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only
within a narrow channel or fairway.
 (d)     A vessel shall not cross a narrow passage or fairway if such
crossing impedes the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only
within such channel or fairway. The latter vessel may use the sound signal
prescribed in Rule 34(d) if in doubt as to the intention of the crossing
vessel.
Rules of the Road in full:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm

------------

ABOUT US:

PortSide NewYork seeks to breathe life into the relationship between Red
Hook’s landside community and the maritime sector—to the advantage of
both.

www.portsidenewyork.org
mail at portsidenewyork.org

PortSide will soon be located aboard the tanker Mary Whalen.
More at http://www.portsidenewyork.org/mary_whalen.htm


See you on the beach!

Best,

Carolina Salguero
Director
PortSide NewYork
168 Beard Street, #4
Brooklyn, NY  11231
SATURDAY, SEPT 23