Easynews wrote:
Planning to spend the night on the East River or NY Harbor to watch the
fireworks. Any one that can offer advice as to good spots to anchor and
enjoy the show, would be appreciated.
Also anyone that has done it in previous years, I'd be interested to hear
how rough it gets, as probably there will be a miriad of boats and quite a
few with more than enough drinks in them.

Thanks
AJ

Never done the East River in NYC, but if that show is anything like
Elliott Bay in Seattle
the greatest hazards are right after the show ends. It will be dark,
only 2/3 of the boats will have working running lights, people will
take off in every direction at once, and you will have 5 knot sailboats
mixed in with some guys impatient to get home (after all, have to work
in the morning), and who will speed out of there at 15-20 knots or
better. About the time you think you've picked a decent course, some
clueless huckabee out for his annual boatride will serve you a face
full of spotlight from the dash of his 16' Zoomalot and you will be
blind for a couple of minutes at least.

General tip for wathcing fireworks shot from a barge: resist the
temptation to get as close to the barge as possible, unless there's a
moderate breeze and you are definitely to windward. On a relatively
still night, the cloud of powder smoke will obscure a lot of the aerial
bursts if you find yourself looking up at too steep an angle.