Federal Anchorage 20 Charlie

The route through New York via the East River is challenging enough, but Hell Gate certainly lives up to its name. At spring tide, the current can reach as much as six knots, so the general advice is to pass through at slack water, when the current is at its weakest. That is why we had arranged for the pilot to board at the sea buoy at 05:00.

As we had to wait overnight, we asked the pilot service whether we might be able to anchor in Gravesend Bay. They advised us to contact VTS. Unfortunately, Gravesend Bay was not an option, but they did have an alternative: Federal Anchorage 20 Charlie.

It was only when I looked up the position on the chart that I realised where we would actually be anchoring: on the Hudson, right in the middle of New York. And I really do mean right in the middle. Less than 200 metres from the Statue of Liberty, with the Manhattan skyline directly opposite us.

Quite unbelievable. Seven crew members aboard a sailing ship more than a century old, anchored in a spot like that. It is one of those moments when you have to pinch yourself just to be sure it is real.

And the voyage through New York itself is still to come!