NYCkayaker Kayak safety meeting with NY Waterway

[Dan Starer]

On Thursday about dozen kayakers, mostly from the Hudson River Paddlers
Guide and the Downtown Boathouse, met at the NY Waterway tour terminal with
Alan Warren (safety officer of NY Waterway), two of their captains, Mike and
Rick, and Coast Guard PO Paul Church.  Here's what we learned that all
kayakers should be aware of:

1. When transiting the NY Waterway terminals at 38th St. on the Hudson River
during sunset and perhaps an hour or two before, there is substantial glare
on the water.  As we left and returned to the terminal in their ferry boat,
a kayaker and outrigger were paddling by.  These paddlers were impossible to
see in the glare.  On a sunny day with the sun getting ready to set in the
west, do not assume you are visible to boats coming from the east.

2. While NY Waterway does monitor channel 13, they pay closer attention to
the following channels, because the NY Waterway captains communicate with
each other on these channels:

Channel 69 on the Hudson north of  Chelsea Piers
Channel 71 on the Hudson south of Chelsea Piers
Channel 72 on the East River

You may have a better chance reaching them on these channels than on 13.

3. When NY Waterway boats leave the terminal at 38th St. they are
particularly concerned about their blind spot at Pier 76, the pier that juts
out just south of their terminal.  Pay special attention when transiting
their terminal from the south.  When their southbound boats launch they are
supposed to go fairly close to Pier 76, and this presents a particular
hazard to kayakers.  They suggest if paddling at night always carry a radio
and call the "NY Waterways captain going to Lincoln Marina" on channel 69 to
announce your intentions.

Their northbound boats are supposed to go straight out of the terminal at
38th St and then veer north.

4. The ferry boats are affected by tides & wind at least as much as we are,
so give them plenty of room to deal with conditions.  This is especially
important when they launch or land at their terminals.

5. We had a lengthy discussion about the radio chatter where captains refer
to kayakers as "speed bumps" and use other charming expressions.  The
management of NY Waterways is aware of this problem, promised to discuss
this with the captains, but says this attitude is deeply entrenched in the
commercial maritime culture.  Don't expect much change.

Dan