Thursday June 5, 2025
Today was the day we made our grand approach into the iconic New York Harbor—what a milestone! We cruised along with our trusty buddy boats, Goldilocks and 2nd Miss-Conduct. While they planned to continue up the Hudson River, we had a different adventure in mind: an overnight stay directly across from the glittering skyline of downtown Manhattan.
The plan? Travel together just long enough for us and Goldilocks—both first-timers—to get that quintessential Looper photo in front of none other than Lady Liberty herself. A rite of passage!
But of course, nothing’s ever that simple. As we passed under the majestic Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, we spotted an unexpected spectacle—a practice run for this weekend’s SailGP Grand Prix. These aren’t your average sailboats—they’re sleek, hydrofoiling machines that literally fly above the water, reaching jaw-dropping speeds up to 40 mph. They were mesmerizing!
Suddenly, chatter crackled over the VHF: the Coast Guard was shutting down the area until 3:45 p.m. Uh-oh. Would we miss our photo op? Thankfully, our lead boat—our NYC-savvy captain—made a quick call and got the inside scoop on a safe path through. Crisis averted!
Moments later, there she was—the Statue of Liberty, as grand and graceful as you’d imagine. We each took very quick turns posing with her, snapping that unforgettable Looper shot. Mission accomplished!
Just a half-mile past the statue, we peeled off to our marina for the night while our friends continued north. Virtual hugs, waves, and promises to meet again were exchanged. Jeff, cool and collected, backed the boat into the slip like a total pro—he’s definitely found his groove at the helm!
Our slip couldn’t be more perfect: front-row seats to the New York City skyline. To our surprise and delight, this marina was also home base for the SailGP teams. We watched in awe as the race boats were hauled out of the water by crane, de-rigged, and tucked away in massive pop-up buildings. It was like watching a pit crew in action—pure nautical choreography.
Groceries? Delivered via Instacart (game changer!). Later, we caught up with our dear friend Charlie from Long Island, who joined us for a fabulous dinner at Maddy Rose at Liberty House. Delicious food, great company, and waterfront views—what more could we ask for?
Charlie headed off to meet his brother Ron (also a good friend), and we returned to our boat just in time to witness Manhattan come alive. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the city lit up like a dream. I snapped a photo that I’ll treasure forever.
All in all? A spectacular day. One for the books.
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