Scary.
Though there's another boat two slips down from ours with a mast furling main and that sail didn't move an inch. I've also received some more information about this boat. It's used as a "Time Share." We have seen the owner taking people out to give them lessons, but until yesterday I just thought he had a large group of friends and family. He should probably start teaching how to secure that main when buttoning up the boat after sailing. Coincidentally, some people took it out yesterday, came back to dock in 20+ winds and the docking did not get very well. I will not throw stones in that situation, however.
Winds, strong confused currents from a couple rivers colliding, tide, narrow stretch of the river, and the unending parade of traffic, both large and small. We don't even bother putting the sails up anymore until we've cleared the Statue of Liberty far enough south where it opens up. I just motor on past that insanity. Gives me a good chance to clear any carbon from the exhaust elbow as I crank her to near max.
I know you’re familiar with the waters from your younger, East Coast years. Ever get horn blasted by a 10 story Carnival Cruise ship?
The no battens aspect to me is a bit crazy. One of our first seasons owning the boat, I pulled the main out of winter storage, strung it up the mast and a couple days later, lifting cushions in the Q-berth came across the battens still resting in their winter home. Whoops. So I said what the heck, let's see what happens. What happened was the sail was dropped about 10 minutes after it went up, as I quickly realized no battens was no bueno.
