Newport to Bermuda Race June 2012

There are various levels in sailboat racing. You can race one night a week, and occasional weekends in the EBYRA races http://www.ebyra.org/. You can list your name and info in Windchek http://windcheckmagazine.com/ for captains looking for crew under the 'Crew Connect' section to broaden your circle of races. You can be proactive in talking with local crew letting them know you desire to do more racing to further challenge yourself and improve your skills, and might they know of any boats you can crew on.

This summer, if all goes well, I'm planning for my first Atlantic ocean race, from Newport to Bermuda at 635 nautical miles beginning on June 15th http://www.bermudarace.com/. And, in talking with other sailors over a dark-n-stormy after a local race on City Island, they freely shared their knowledge and experience and pointed me in the right direction to get started.  These races take about a week or so depending on the wind. That's a long time to be at sea, when the longest race you may have done is a day race!

The first place to start is a Safety at Sea course at the prestigious New York Yacht Club at 44th & 5th ave.
This course is required before embarking on a long distance ocean (off-shore) race.

New York Yacht Club
cityseekr.com

The course is open to the public and this year falls on March 24th.
Register early!

http://nyyc.org/yachtracing/event_310

Saturday Night Fright at CIYC!

Come on out and join us tomorrow night for a spook-a-licious time at
City Island Yacht Club!!

The party is open to non-members and members.

I've got my costume, hope you've got yours!

It's not too late to RSVP!

If You Were A Sailboat

If you were a sailboat, I would...

...sail you to the shore.

Sailing Life on City Island Column Needs You!

As some of you may know, I also write a regular column entitled, Sailing Life On City Island, for our local Island Current newspaper. Initially the column was to run through the summer, but because of the positive feedback (thank you!) the column will continue through the off season too!

I intend to write stories highlighting some of our Island sailors, as well as our rich nautical history. Know a former boat builder who lives on the Island? Perhaps you know someone involved during WWII in building minesweepers, or ship builders who worked on any of the America's Cup boats built here?

Do you know a funny, or harrowing tale of the sea associated with an Islander, or maybe you've had one yourself! Special events at your yacht club open to the public? Do tell! Your ideas are most welcome for articles.

Oh, and thanks to the team over at the Island Current for creating a fancy new header for

 'Sailing Life On City Island!'

So, do feel free to send me your thoughts, or feedback.

 Remember the saying, "it takes a village!"

Monday Marker

What a weekend! But, it's Monday once again.

There's no need to "panic!" Consider Monday like a 'mark' that you simply need to round...

...before the weekend is back again!

 For more photos from the Harlem Yacht Club J/24 NE Regional Hoxsie Regatta

see over 160 photos I shot now posted on the HYC Facebook page.
If you seek a photograher for races/Regatta's, contact me for additional portfolio.

http://tinyurl.com/joycemphotos

Sail-Al-Dente

A German ad campaign for a new pasta restaurant.

Danke!

Tour De Bronx Comes to City Island

Come out and join your fellow Bronx-ites in the Tour De Bronx free bike event this Sunday! It's supposed to be mild and in the low 60's, perfect bike riding weather! Go sailing down a hill on your bike (ok, cheesy).

"See the borough’s historic districts, vibrant neighborhoods, beautiful waterfront and gorgeous greenways from the best possible vantage point: your bicycle. Ride on the Sheridan Expressway, closed to traffic for Tour de Bronx riders. After crossing the finish line, enjoy an end-of-ride festival at the New York Botanical Garden."

http://www.tourdebronx.org/

There are two route choices - the leisurely 25 mile loop, or the faster 40 mile run, which even comes onto City Island! If you want to come out and don't know anyone else going, send me an email, or join this NYC biking group that's great fun! The  Bike to Adventure! Meetup

Tour De Bronx map

In the Tour De Bronx, we bike'n with rhythm and...

...of course with a very comfy seat (your tukus will thank you :) which I purchased at Metro Bikes!
http://www.metrobicycles.com/

Nope! I'm not Kidding

Boats are being hoisted out of the water, jack stands put in place.

Gear taken off and stowed away for the next season.
Halloween talk is in the air.
Pumpkins sold at the corner store.

Another Fall has come and we human boaters aren't the only ones lamenting
the dog days of August.

"Damn, how do I start the engine?!
No, not enough bacon in the world will get me out of the boat!
Unless...unless it's the maple kind? :)"

When you got it, you got it

He's still got it.

Age ain't no thing.

Just ask her!

Happy 125th Birthday Miss Liberty!

Cast Off to The High Line & Skyline

As I've mentioned before, since most boats have to be out of the water by 10/31, we sailors have to fill our time with other things. I'll be passing along some ideas to keep us occu-pado during the off season.

Several evenings ago I attended a Gala (as they're called in the fundraising world) at The Standard Hotel on the High Line down in the meatpacking district. My, oh my, what a-mazing views from our top floor soiree at Le Bain!



The Standard - freshnessmag.com



The evening celebrated the new Cinema High School in the Bronx section of Soundview started by none other than Joe Hall who founded The (very hot) Ghetto Film School http://www.ghettofilm.org/ also in the South Bronx. Another City Islander and myself joined the affair, and we made our way up on the roof with full bodied red wine in our glasses and a shimmering Manhattan skyline around us.

The theme song from "New York, New York" played in the back of my mind, as dance music

emanated from Le Bain.



Le Bain - newyorkcitysearch.com



Le Bain Atop The Standard Hotel

So, on an afternoon or early evening, instead of lamenting sailing's off season, take a walk on the west side of the city on the scenic High Line. Originally built in the 1930's to lift the trains off city streets, this now public park is elevated 30ft in the air! It's newly renovated with foliage and water fountains, cozy nooks and intriguing artwork. It's about a mile long walk, part of which goes right under The Standard Hotel. There is said to be a rumor about what one may see in the windows from time to time at The Standard, but (ahem) I'll let you Google that one!

High Line - Photo by Iwan Baan

High Line - Photo on flicker: howlinhill

http://www.thehighline.org/

On a deliciously brisk early Fall evening after a walk on the High Line with a friend or two, make your way up to the rooftop of The Standard Hotel for a drink. May I add, even the individual private bathrooms are chic up there with an incredible view of our city. Dance music is piped in too, but don't enjoy the moment lip-syncing in the mirror with the cityscape as your backdrop for too long, or the attendant will knock on your door!

I'm just say'in.... ;)

Obviously, Not A Sailor

So, who came up with this idea?

 A sailboat in distress is supposed to rock me to sleep??

On the contrary, I'm wide awake thinking:

are these people ok?

anyone call the Coast Guard?

are they stuck on a rock? A reef?

Obviously, this concept was not created by a sailor.

Click below and decide for yourself!

Sailboat Sleep Video

Weekend Blues

Three day weekend =

a four-day work week!

Kick back, lay back and turn on the tunes.

Is it Saturday yet?

Notice The Colors

 "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it"

(American author, Alice Walker)

Maybe the same can be said of the beauty of sunsets,

or of the sea,

 or the vibrant, lush colors of love.

"Someday I'll forget the color of your eyes, the sound of your voice will be unfamiliar,

someday I'll forget that I once loved you, the feelings will have faded.

Someday, I'll forget."

The colors will have gone.

(The Writer's Lounge, My Never)

Notice the colors,
of life.
(Sunset pics above: 10/9/11)

Gone Sailing

Happy Sunday!

http://www.buythesea-bymail.co.uk/index.asp

Salty Sanctuary

 

Commuting from points near and far,

Traffic jams,

Horns honking,

The weight of the world.

You know you are home as you climb the bridge rise,

Temperature falling,

An earthy wiff of a salty ebb tide.

City Island.....Sanctuary.

~JGL
(thanks! - I couldn't have said it better) 

Happy Columbus Day Weekend!
Don't leave our Island home (unless of course you don't live here,
then get here :)
It'll be great weather for a sail Fri-Mon on CI!
To find out more about the J-24 Fall Sailing Series
this Sunday inquire here http://www.j24fleet61.com/

Just Over The Horizon

I couldn't agree more.

Sail on Steve...sail on.

(sailboat pic: svquietly.com)

Hey Neighbor - Ap't available on the Island

Apartment available on Tier Street! Check out the link below for more pics and contact info. It's not far from me on a quaint, little street. Sometimes it feels like City Island is so far away from the big city, but we're not really.

http://www.cityislandsailing.com/2011/03/apartment-available-on-city-island.html

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood,

a beautiful day for a neighbor..."

City Island, da' nautical island in da' Bronx.

Yo, we got game.

Gimme Shelter

October.

I love to hate it, and hate to love it.

It's the month boats are hauled out of the water and dry-docked where they'll remain until next Spring. It's the month where I realize I won't see my sailing buddies as much as I'd like to until May. It's a month where words like "winterize," "jack stands," and "decommissioning," are spoken reluctantly from our Island lips. We're forced, here on the East Coast, to bow to winter's cold, harsh, no sailing, snowy days. So...what do we do until Spring?  I'm getting ahead of myself I know, it's Autumn, a season of pumpkins, and apple cider, bike rides, fall colors and sailing in sweaters.

http://www.work4idlehands.co.uk/

And looking on the bright side, we live 10 miles from Manhattan, and about 50 or so from skiing upstate, we've got options. Last night I had the good pleasure of going to a book reading at the 92nd St Y on Lexington. They have many nice events that can get one through a cold evening, including wine tastings too. Speaking of wine tastings, I'm going to my favorite winebar in NYC, at Cellar 58 tonite. Ask for Ariello, he'll take gooood care of you. And Sean and Jacob play Flamenco music every Tuesday. See this coupon at Groupon http://www.groupon.com/deals/cellar-58-nyc
  http://www.cellar58.com/

Back to the book reading. I first became a fan of Michael Ondaatje with the The English Patient. He spoke last night from his new book The Cat's Table, and I'm a fan all over again. It's about adventure, friendship, a boys to men voyage and sailing on the sea. A superb Fall or Winter read.

The Cats Table by Michael Ondaatje (excerpt)

Irish author, Anne Enright read too from her book, The Forgotten Waltz. I hadn't heard of this author before last night, but oh, how I enjoyed her talent and wit. I wanted to invite her out with my friends to Dempsey's on 2nd and 4th for a pint! She, and her writing have been described as, "wry, reckless, candid and funny." She spoke with the tell-it-like-it-is Irish candor I appreciate and recognize so much. I'm reminded again that the Irish have a certain perspective on life and love that is so wonderfully familiar to me. I recommend her book and cannot wait to dive into it myself.

The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright (excerpt)

When introducing the authors last night it was mentioned that "art can be a shelter to us." It's true, and I, although I will miss sailing, am looking forward to embracing other pleasures this Fall and Winter. I'll list and comment from time to time on fun ideas to keep oneself happy and occupied through the non-sailing months. But for now, check out the 92nd St Y for their full calendar. http://www.92y.org/index.aspx and get some shelter.

Extreme Sailing Live from France!

Two good reasons to like the French. Extreme Sailing and Frank Cammas. Although I'd root for American, Ed Baird any day too. Or Dean from Australia.  I've become a new fan of the Extreme Sailing sport. How can you not? All those stellar sailing machines...and the boats are gorgeous too ;-) This sport takes skill, fearlessness, indomitable drive and teamwork.

All that on one boat...I'm a fan.

The Extreme Sailing Series is live underway from Nice, France.

http://www.extremesailingseries.com/ (click on the green banner atop the site to watch it live)

Here's a promo!
(best to watch it full screen)

Go watch it now live!

(October 2nd last day)