Liberty 2007 Courses and Currents
The canoes are launched from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Crews must paddle across the East River to the starting line located on the Manhattan side of the Manhattan Bridge. After the start, crews will soon paddle under the Brooklyn Bridge and encounter the South Street Seaport, Staten Island Ferry Terminal and Ground Zero as they progress around the Battery and up the Hudson River. Depending on the race division, the course goes up the Hudson to the area of either the Lincoln Tunnel (34th Street) or the Holland Tunnel (Canal Street) where crews must cross the Hudson to New Jersey. Crews will then head back down the Hudson River past Hoboken, Jersey City and Ellis Island to the Statue of Liberty. Here, crews will turn east and head across New York Harbor, around Governors Island and hug the Brooklyn Piers. Crews will know the end of the race is approaching when they cross under the Brooklyn Bridge and come around the bend within view (and earshot) of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The finish line is marked on the Brooklyn side just before the Manhattan Bridge.
Detailed course descriptions are below.
Women’s Course | Men’s Course | Mixed Course
Download Word Document - All Courses *UPDATED 6.26.2007*
Course may change on account of weather and other safety factors.
Women’s Course
Total Length: 15 miles, Launch Time: 7:00AM, Start Time: 7:30AM, 6.30.2007.
The currents in NY Harbor are strong, complicated and change by the minute. The descriptions of the currents below are approximate, based on the most likely currents to occur at the day and time of the race.
Section 1: Start to the Battery
Length: 1.5 miles
Currents:Strong current (3.2 knots) against race direction,
decreasing slightly with distance.
Section 2: The Battery to 34th St (Buoy 1)
Length: 4.0 miles
About 0.8 knots in race direction at the beginning of the section, increasing slightly to about 1.3 knots over time at the end of the section.
Section 3: Crossing the Hudson from NY to NJ (Buoy 1 to Buoy 2)
Length: 0.5 miles
1.3 knots from the left (South)
Section 4: Buoy 2 to Statue of Liberty (Buoy 3)
Length: 5.5 miles
1.8 knots against race direction.
Section 5: Statue of Liberty (Buoy 3) to Governor’s Island
Length: 1.0 miles
1.6 knot current from the right (South)
Section 6: Governor’s Island to Finish
Length: 2.5 miles
Variable current in race direction (1.0-2.8 knots).
Men’s Course
Total Length 15 miles, Launch Time: 10:30AM, Start Time: Approximately 11:00AM, 6.30.2007
The currents in NY Harbor are strong, complicated and change by the minute. The descriptions of the currents below are approximate based on the most likely currents to occur at the day and time of the race.
Section 1: Start to the Battery
Length: 1.5 miles
Currents: Medium current (1.3 knots) in race direction.
Section 2: The Battery to 34th St (Buoy 1)
Length: 4.0 miles
Slow current 0.8 knots in race direction at the beginning of the section, becoming slack tide at the end of the section.
Section 3: Crossing the Hudson from NY to NJ (Buoy 1 to Buoy 2)
Length: 0.5 miles
No current, slack tide.
Section 4: Buoy 2 to Statue of Liberty (Buoy 3)
Length: 5.5 miles
Insignificant current in race direction at the beginning of the section, increasing quickly over time and distance to 2.0 knots at the end of the section.
Section 5: Statue of Liberty (Buoy 3) to Governor’s Island
Length: 1.0 miles
Strong current (2.0 knots) from the left (North).
Section 6: Governor’s Island to Finish
Length: 2.5 miles
Map for both Men’s and Women’s courses
Mixed Course
Total Length 11 miles, Launch Time: 2:00PM, Start Time: Approximately 2:30PM, 6.30.2007
The currents in NY Harbor are strong, complicated and change by the minute. The descriptions of the currents below are approximate based on the most likely currents to occur at the day and time of the race.
Section 1: Start to the Battery
Length: 1.5 miles
Currents:
Strong current (3.7 knots) in race direction, decreasing with distance.
Section 2: The Battery to the Holland Tunnel (Buoy 1)
Length: 2.0 miles
Strong current against race direction (2.8 knots).
Section 3: Crossing the Hudson from NY to NJ (Buoy 1 to Buoy 2)
Length: 0.5 miles
2.8 knots from the right (North)
Section 4: Buoy 2 to Statue of Liberty (Buoy 3)
Length: 3.5 miles
2.8 knots in race direction, decreasing slightly over time and distance.
Section 5: Statue of Liberty (Buoy 3) to Governor’s Island
Length: 2.0 miles
Strong current (2.0 knots) from the left (North)
Section 6: Governor’s Island to Finish
Length: 2.5 miles
Strong current against race direction (2.0), decreasing over time.
Map for Mixed Course
June 29th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Really should make the mixed race a non judged event, like a fun run. People that want to race should be in their respective classes. People that want to just have fun and paddle, paddle mixed, but no acknowledgment of placing of awards.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Am looking to do this race next year with a mixed crew and wish in fact that the course was the same distance as the men/women’s races and could in fact be run concurrently with one of those two events. Racing a mixed crew especially when travelling to a race is a much more social time while still maintaining a competitive aspect to the event.