[Rhodes22-list] Boat trip

[Bill Effros]

Michael,

As you know, it has long been my position that sailing is terminally 
boring from a passenger's point of view.

If you accept this premise, the only way to preserve a marriage and go 
sailing at the same time, is to provide abundant entertainment that can 
be delivered via the water, but that is not, itself, sailing.

If I were you, here is what I would do.  I'm not going to fill in all 
the blanks, because if you reject the concept I will just be wasting my 
time.  But if you think you may follow up on the idea, I will think some 
more about it.

I would go South, young man, Go South!

Instead of thinking about Newport and Martha's Vineyard, I would think 
about NYC and the Jersey Shore.

There is no shortage of moorings and anchorages between Westport and 
Cape May.  I would sail in short hops rather than motor in long 
passages.  I would sleep late on board, let the kids jump into the 
water, beach anchor, take walks on islands, picnic on the beach, etc.

Interspersed with these activities, I would plan stops at nice hotels on 
the water where your girls can shower, and sleep in big beds.  The newly 
rebuilt waterfront hotel in Greenwich is very luxurious; you can pull 
your boat right up to it; it's within a block of central Greenwich, it 
has an excellent restaurant, and they make deals on certain days of the 
week.  Be there the cheap days when they can't fill the place.

There are nice restaurants on the water everywhere.  Are you a member of 
a Yacht Club?  Many have Sunday brunches that are from another time; and 
if you are a member of one, you can go to many of the others.  Show your 
kids how the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers spent their money.

Playland has fireworks on Wednesday and Friday nights.  These are not 
cheesy, and are clearly visible from my mooring in Greenwich.  You can 
anchor close enough so you can feel the pressure of the explosions. I 
think there is some way to dock at Playland, although I have never done 
it.  It is one of the most lovely amusement parks in the country.  Take 
your family ashore, ride the carousel.  Buy some cotton candy.

City Island has dozens of Seafood houses, many with docks.  There are 
also public docks. 

Going under the bridges you have all gone over so many times is a great 
experience.  "Daddy--are we going to make it?"

The East River is fun.  See New York as you have never seen it before.

You can Dock at the 23rd Street marina for $2 a foot.

Pull up to the South Street Seaport.  Go shopping.

Circle the Statue of Liberty.  Go to Ellis Island.  Is Cirque du Soliel 
at Liberty Park?

Go up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge.  Stop at the Chelsea 
Piers.  Have dinner at Arthur's Landing in New Jersey.  Stop off at 
Piermont.

Back Down the Hudson, under the Verrezano Narrows bridge.  Watch out for 
the ferries and the ocean going traffic--they all have the right of way.

Stop off at Asbury Park.  Seaside Heights.  Visit Jay on Long Beach 
Island.  Gamble in Atlantic City.  Stay in a quaint Inn in Cape May.

Turn around, hit things you missed on the way down.  Return along the 
Long Island side of the Sound.  Oyster Bay.  Port Jefferson. etc.

If done properly you can all have a great time. 

Bill Effros





michael meltzer wrote:

>looks like I am taking vaction from 8/20 thought 9/5,
>17 days total, now the delema, where to take the boat
>:-)
>
>0)home
>1)over night at the thimble islands
>2)couple days in the montauk area
>3)couple days in the newport area
>4) a few days in Martha vinard
>5) blockis land(maybe)
>6)over night at the thimble islands
>7)home
>
>Now the question, now we are talking a wife and 3 kids
>on a small boat, I can only cliam to leave them on
>plum island so many times :-) before the complete
>breakdown takes place :-) so I need any advice on
>marinas and or places to go where the boat/wife and
>kids will be happy? good fun ports? shoping for the
>wife? marinas like a restorts? fun parks? better
>places than I picked above? I take any advice(I know,
>"do not do it" and "leave them home" not allowed :-),
>I fishing for ideas and the guild books are so helpful -mjm
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
>http://mail.yahoo.com 
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>  
>