"The pictures show a pretty smooth water surface, this must have helped matters..."
Writing as a New Yorker with extensive experience both on (boats) and in (scuba) the waters of the Hudson, let me say this:
The Hudson is a tidal river that even during periods of slack water exhibits numerous conflicting currents both at the surface and sub-surface. This also leads to complex thermoclines not dissimilar to thermal air mixing (turbulence). It's not placid.
Because of the deceptive scale of the aircraft and surrounding boats on the river, let me assure you the surface wasn't smooth, and it's a sure thing surface currents were at 8-10 kts and possibly conflicting.
ADDED: I live on the shore of the Hudson River at the very northern border of NYC, approximately seven miles north from the water-landing site. The Hudson is a seasonal flyway for Canadian geese, and we see large flocks of them, sometimes hundreds in widely spaced V-formations ~ transiting the river at this time of year.
Last edited by AcroChik; 15th Jan 2009 at 21:51.