On Sunday November 3, a number of VCB volunteers journeyed to Cape Cod in order to row Loyaute, a 38-foot Bantry Bay gig. These traditionally-built boats are the ones used in the Atlantic Challenge, a bi-annual rowing and sailing competition that many of our youth rowers have participated in over the years. The next Atlantic Challenge will be held in July, 2014 in Vannes, France, and the VCB board is hoping that there will once again be a New York contingent on the American team. (For more information, visit the AC website: http://www.atlanticchallengeusa.org/).

We are also exploring the possibility of bringing one of the gigs to Pier 40 next summer, probably after the competition in France, on a temporary loan. That discussion will be one of the agenda items at the next board meeting on November 20.

Thanks to Don and Mary Betts for arranging the visit, and to Ryan Mann, Riley Hall, and Lee Scarborough of Cape Challenge–the organizers of the American Atlantic Challenge team–for hosting us.