Planning a family friendly NYC sail on the Sloop Clearwater!

[Neil Gordon]

As many of you know, I have been a long-time volunteer and am currently on the board of directors of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

Clearwater will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, and will also, due to some strategic changes, be spending considerably more time in the New York City area (i.e., 79th Street Boat Basin).

I’m posting to see if there might be interest in a Cape Dory* family friendly sail on a traditional Hudson River sloop… 105’ but still with a tiller! Something like a Saturday afternoon in April…

*Bring as many of your non-Cape Dory friends as you can find!

If there’s interest I can share more details, handle all the arrangements, and will be sure to be on board as shanty master for the day!

More about Clearwater can be found here: Clearwater.org

[Bill Goldsmith]

Neil,

Count me in! I'm a member and supporter of Clearwater. After we rebuilt our guest docks at our yacht club in Ossining, we have regularly invited the Clearwater to tie up as needed. Our club also hosts a Clearwater spin-off organization, Ferry Sloops. We could also provide logistics at our club in Ossining if needed.

Bill

[Neil Gordon]

Neil,

Count me in! I'm a member and supporter of Clearwater. After we rebuilt our guest docks at our yacht club in Ossining, we have regularly invited the Clearwater to tie up as needed. Our club also hosts a Clearwater spin-off organization, Ferry Sloops. We could also provide logistics at our club in Ossining if needed.

Bill

Thanks, Bill. Clearwater was in Ossining just last week.

[jbenagh]

Neil, I think that would be great! We can probably make it.

Jeff

[Neil Gordon]

By the way, this is more than a passive boat ride. You're all needed to help raise the third largest sail in North America, and are welcome to take a turn at the tiller.

[kerrydeare]

... this is more than a passive boat ride. You're all needed to help raise the third largest sail in North America ...

Neil, my back hurts. Is there any way to do just the shanty part?

[Neil Gordon]

... this is more than a passive boat ride. You're all needed to help raise the third largest sail in North America ...

Neil, my back hurts. Is there any way to do just the shanty part?

The way it works is this: The louder you sing, the harder you pull. The louder someone else sings, the harder you pull. So we need "someone else" as much as we need actual line handlers. (I'm starting to believe that if you sing loud enough, and sufficiently off key, the sail will go up by itself.)

[Neil Gordon]

UPDATE: Based on a positive initial response, here, on Facebook, by private message and by email, I've asked if the Sloop is available on April 27, 2019... both Easter and Passover are the weekend before. I'll post more as soon as details are available.

[Neil Gordon]

While we're at it, it anyone has ideas or preferences for an on board program of sorts, let me know. I'm sure I can persuade the
Captain to give a talk on the sailing characteristics of Hudson River Sloops... tell me what you'd like to see and hear.

[tjr818]

I am so sorry that We will not be able to take advantage of this. I would like to hear about the "Hudson River jibe", was that something peculiar to the Hudson rivser sloops? How is it best performed? And what are the advantages?

[Neil Gordon]

I am so sorry that We will not be able to take advantage of this. I would like to hear about the "Hudson River jibe", was that something peculiar to the Hudson rivser sloops? How is it best performed? And what are the advantages?

The main and boom on a Hudson River Sloop are huge, and there's lots of main sheet. Hauling in the main for a traditional jibe is a big job, and then when you jibe, you have a wildly swinging and powered main to deal with, and a very long sheet that's trying to play out through blocks that can easily eat your arm.

Alternatively, with a Hudson River jibe, on a dead run you turn the boat, sail by the lee, keep turning, keep turning... the main will jibe as it back winds ... the crew carries and then tosses the now slacking bundle of main sheet to leeward. The sheet is full out and the main and boom go full out to the leeward... but because the boat has already pretty much turned 90 degrees, the Sloop is on a beam reach. With the main full out, the main de-powers itself as it gets to the end of the jibe. (The Sloop has turned 90 degrees, but the main has turned through 270 degrees of wind.) You then just turn the Sloop back downwind, the main powers up and off you go. As the main pretty much takes care of itself, the jib is trimmed accordingly, to a beam reach, then is eased as the Sloop is steadied up on its new course. I don't remember it being done in heavier weather, but with a reef or two in the main (and Clearwater tends to reef early and often) I think it's about the same.

[GeorgeH]

Hi Neil,
Maria and would be interested in sailing on Clearwater.
- George

[Bob Lascelles]

Hi Neil,

Sailing on Clearwater sounds very cool. Count me and my grand daughter, Adelaide in!

All the best
Bob

[Carl Thunberg]

Kathy and I will be there. Clearwater was built at Harvey Gamage Shipyard, which is (was) in South Bristol, Maine where our summer camp is.

[Neil Gordon]

I just completed an application for an afternoon sail from the 79th Street Boat Basin in NYC, for Saturday, April 27, 2019. I included a sail from Yonkers and a back up date of Saturday, May 5 as alternatives, as we don't yet know where exactly the Sloop will be in the Spring. (It's somewhat dependent on Clearwater's mid-week education sails and where the school kids are.)

To get this moving and allow me to book the sail ASAP once I get the details from the Clearwater office, I'd appreciate payments to both reserve your spot on board and to get a deposit to Clearwater ASAP. We can take up to 50 passengers... $50 each (or more if you want to include an added donation to Clearwater!), with 100% going to Clearwater and its mission of environmental education, outreach and action. You can send it to me at 87 Ivy Street, Brookline, MA 02446. Make your check payable to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., and please include a list of names and contact information of those sailing with us. (If you prefer doing this online, you can make a direct donation at http://www.clearwater.org and email the receipt to me with a note that's it for the Cape Dory sail.) Send me a PM if you need my email address.