HAVERSTRAW BAY

Aug.26th: HAVERSTRAW BAY

The next day weather threatened and the landscape altered. As we approached Westpoint the sloping hills were replaced by a range of steep mountains and jagged cliffs that cut across the Hudson. Eventually however we passed through these canyons and entered the wide waters of Haverstraw Bay anchoring just off the curving crescent of the little beach at Croton Point. Our first day here was idyllic. It was a Saturday and from the line of weekend cruisers anchored just offshore, of which we were a part, we could see families picnicing in the park and frolicking on the beach. We went for a swim off the boat and enjoyed basking in the sunshine on deck with a book in one hand and a drink in the other. Night-time however was a different story entirely. We awoke about midnight to the sounds of the wind howling through the rigging and the boat tossing about wildly. I was terrified! I was sure “the blow” would dislodge our anchor and that we’d be helplessly swept out to higher waves as Vince struggled with the anchor or, worse, blown in against the rocks. We were completely helpless and, frightened out of my wits, there was nothing to do but simply wait it out, pray for it to end and try to fall asleep. The next morning when we awoke, the wind was still blowing, the boat continued to rock, but the anchor had held firm throughout the night and we were still safe. Rather than risk pulling up anchor and heading off in unsettled weather into Tarrytown marina on the outskirts of NYC with its tricky entrance, we decided to stay put another day and wait for better weather before moving on again. Sunday was another beautiful sunny day and that evening we slept peacefully on still glassy waters.