This is an interview with Cosmo about his experience traveling aboard Obsession from Port Washington to Sandy Hook
From your stowaway spot on a Obsession you get to see and hear a lot of the behind the scenes planning and action. What was it like waiting in Port Washington for Hurricane Florence to pass?
Aye, it was a long wait, Matey. Nine days of twiddling my thumbs (and drinking RUM) while Janice and David had fun in NYC, did laundry, and grocery shopped. They even went to a Mall where David visited a Tesla Showroom. He’d have to find a Pirate’s Treasure to buy one though.
They watched the news and weather a lot. In my opinion Hurricane Florence is going to have a huge impact on their trip south. They were wise to wait.
Sewing sails by hand. It takes patience and strength. David has those qualities. Me, I’d rather watch and drink RUM!
Sunrise in Port Washington the morning we left. A Pirate’s perfect day to leave Port Washington.
Describe the mood on board the morning you left Port Washington. Well, you know, Janice is a morning person and very excitable. David is NOT a morning person and very low key. So it wasn’t surprising to me that Janice was up early (like 3:00am) checking the weather, the tides and currents and making lists. David, meanwhile snored away until she finally nudged him out of his bunk at 6:30am. They went about their business in a methodical way, The anchor was up and they were underway at 6:50am. Janice made lunches. But I noticed that neither of them finished their coffee.
They need travel mugs. Those fancy Obsession mugs aren’t practical for drinking coffee underway. (I drink ALL my RUM straight from the bottle)
David’s calm, cool collected demeanor is one that will serve him well for steering and navigating not only today but for the entire trip.
What’s your job on board?
Me? Ha!! I’m just a stowaway Pirate. I listen, I watch and I drink RUM. They don’t need my simple navigating eequipment and experience (a compass and a bottle of RUM) they have a Garmin GPS, Navionics and Aqua Map on their iPhones and iPad. They have weather, tide, wind and current apps on their iPhones too. They steer, raise, trim and lower the sails, drop and weigh anchor etc. Me, I’m just along for the ride. (And the RUM).
This Navionics App pulls up charts that show not only where you’re going like a map, but the water depths, and the speed and direction of the current.
This Windy App shows the wind direction and speed.
And the trusty Garmin at the helm is tracking our course.
What were some of the highlights of the trip down the East River, through Hell Gate and the Narrows?
Janice took TONS of pictures. I absconded with a few to share with you in this interview.
Under the Throggs Neck Bridge-a black garbage bag (no RUM)
Then The Whitestone Bridge
Rikers Island. No RUM for the guys playing basketball on the deck of the barge annexed for the overflow of prisoners.
Hell Gate. We hit a speed of 8.5 knots because we had the current with us. A good pirate knows how to take advantage of these things to get out of hairy situations. It gives us more reasons and time to drink RUM!
Roosevelt Island
Governor’s Island
AND FINALLY...
The Statue of Liberty
Off the southern tip of Manhattan we came upon ships, tankers, ferries, barges, tugs and barges and of course some pleasure boats. David steered Obsession through this maze with expertise and ease. Janice, on the other hand could hardly keep still. There was so much happening around us! And she wanted to take it all in. In her words, “It was mind boggling, exciting and exhilarating and stressful all at the same time. We are doing this! It is really happening!”
Beyond the Narrows we entered Raritan Bay and made a bee-line for Sandy Hook. We found our way around the sea-wall and to Bob423’s Favorite Anchor Spot in the Atlantic Highlands area. A nap, then a celebratory steak dinner with a champagne toast. (AND RUM)
Thanks, Cosmo for sharing your perspective. I do hope you left some RUM for David!
Argh. He’ll just have to go ashore and buy some more! (RUM)
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