NYCkayaker Paddle from Hallets Cove to Red Hook SAT. 9/23 at 10:30AM

[GerryChem at aol.com]

Hi:
 
On Saturday Sept 23 Steve Blumling and I plan to paddle from Hallets Cove  in 
Astoria, Queens south the East River, across Buttermilk Channel to  Valentino 
Park in Red Hook, Brooklyn
 
We will leave on the ebb at around 11AM
 
While we are in Red Hook, the locals are running a valet service for kayaks  
that day. You park your kayak and visit local Red Hook restaurants, bars,  
markets, museums and special events
 
Maybe your non-kayaking family and friends could drive there and meet  you 
 
Maybe we'll explore the near-by Erie Basin which is filled with  relics, 
ruins and wrecks.
 
Then return home on the flood  around 5:15PM. Bring lights and a  camera !!!
 
I have pasted below the invitation from the local Red Hook group  sponsoring 
this event. They are called  Port Side New York
 
If you would like to join us on this paddle, let me know by back  channel 
e-mail or cell phone
 
Jerry Blackastone
c 914 318 4630
 
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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.

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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

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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

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