We left Port Jefferson, NY before sunrise.

It was dark pulling out of the anchorage but the only other boat in the anchorage was stationary when we left.

Along the way into the East River we passed several tugs pushing barges in the rain and fog.

Tug pushing a barge hailing us by name via AIS

Several hailed us using “MV Simple Life” due to our AIS. They say things like “We’ll meet you on the two” meaning a starboard to starboard pass.

The weather was not nice and I always smile when I see fishermen out in small skiff’s on crappy weather days. How much do you need your fishing fix?

Once you pass Execution light,

LI Sound really starts necking down.

You enter the East River by going under the Throgs Neck Bridge and we always time our entrance with the current tables

Whenever we enter the East River we are looking for bodies like on Law and Order.

Soon your going by LaGuardia airport, Riker’s Island and the floating Jail boat

Then it’s the city that is thrust upon you.

Traffic noise was really loud. Seemed odd to be on a boat surrounded by deafening city noise

I think the Staten Island Ferry docked here?

The sound of police sirens, helicopters, jets, traffic, everywhere.

Apparently they even have boat bulletin boards.

Soon we were dodging water taxis and ferries like the Staten Island Ferry

Then it was by Lady Liberty

Under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and out to sea.

Here we found lots of large container ships surrounded by oversized tugs.

Be careful of Romer shoal. You can’t miss the breaking surf on a lumpy day.

I also noticed that Sandy Hook kinda looks like the boot of Italy, no?

Soon we were heading due South and that’s where you find a winter beach.

The wind was about 20 kts but it was an offshore wind.

That meant we could hug the lee shore and have a comfortable ride.

We were traveling only 1/4 mile off the beach and you could watch the waves break.

It was dark as we made our way down the Jersey shore.

There was a SCA (Small Craft Advisory) in effect

Waves were small but the swell was large.

This shows up in the depth sounder’s and looks like a lumpy bottom.

Soon we were making our way into Manasquan River Inlet in the dark.

The tough part is that the channel is very narrow and shallow.

We had to use our searchlight to light the unlit daymarks.

Twice we had to stop because of less than 5′ of water and poke around to find the channel.

Rather than anchor in the shallows we found a Brewer’s Crystal Point marina.

Tonight we are tied to the fuel dock and we’ll be gone before sunrise bound for Cape May.