Author Archives: Sally

Whitehall Gig David Thorleif Heim Planking Complete

BY
Lorne Swarthout
The planking is complete! On Sunday, July 15, the VCB boat building crew added the last of the 108 cedar strips that make up the hull of our new gig, the David T. Heim. 
 
The planking process began about 8 weeks ago. It involved glueing thin strips of western red cedar (1/4″ x 3/4″) edge to edge, held in place temporarily with a small brads at 15 points down the hull. 
 
The next step will be to sand the outside of the hull and get it ready for fiberglass. 
 
Volunteers are working on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons (and sometimes days in between). Anyone interested in having a hand in this exciting project is invited to join us. No experience needed!
 
 

Fort Point Channel 2018

VCB High School Crew: Angela Peng, Sophia Day, Puneet Johal, Mark Winter, Nafel Khan
 
On Saturday, June 9th, VCB sent a crew of High School Rowers to Boston to compete in the seventh annual Fort Point Channel Open sponsored by Hull Life Saving Museum. The race attracts spectators and rowers from all over New England along with VCB  from NYC. The race is open to all skill levels and Coxed-4 rowing craft. Teams compete head to head in a series of round-robin style heats. The course runs around the Boston Tea Party Museum ships, under bridges and around tight turns, ending in a sprint for the finish line in front of Martin Richard’s park next to the Boston Children’s Museum. 
 
VCB fielded a crew of High School juniors and seniors with coxswain Sophia Day and Mark Winter, Angela Peng, Puneet Johal, and Nafel Khan at oars. Our youth crew came in an extremely close second place in the Seconds High School category out of four crews in the category, missing out on first place by a mere 7 seconds.
 
It was also one of our youth rower Nafel Khan’s birthdays who spent it racing for VCB. There was a small birthday celebration after the race ended.

Zoe Rises to the Gowanus Challenge

Dear friends,

The Zoe came in first today in the Gowanus Challenge canoe race. Undaunted by the superfund waters of the Canal, Luke and I bent to our paddles and outpaced 10 red plastic Old Towns. We were happy that our beautiful cedar canoe was also the fastest canoe. First prize today was a metal crank dredged from the Canal bottom (?) and a bottle of Gowanus gin (!).  

 

Many family and friends showed up to enjoy the warm sunshine and rock music and general good feelings. Thanks for coming. And special thanks to those of you who contributed on our behalf to this worthy organization which advocates for a cleaner Gowanus Canal. 
 
Lorne

Free Public Rowing in Prospect Park 2018

The Village Community Boathouse is offering free public rowing on Prospect Park Lake this summer. Sessions run from noon until 4:00 PM on Saturdays from June 9th through August 25.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Community rowing is open to all, although some physical dexterity is required to get in and out of the boats. The focus of the program is recreation in a safe and respectful environment. Each participant must sign a waiver; under 18s need to be escorted by a parent. Life jackets are provided—and must be worn!

WHAT WE ROW: We use a diverse fleet of traditional wooden rowing boats, built by volunteers and similar in shape and appearance to those used in the early days of park rowing.

WHERE WE ARE BASED: Boats are launched from the ramp on Well House Drive in the north-west corner of the lake. Our temporary boathouse–a shipping container–is located just across from the ramp..

WHY WE DO IT: Rowing is a beautifully simple, healthy, and empowering sport, and the ample waters of the lake are an ideal place to pursue its pleasures. The park is surrounded by a large and diverse population that needs more access to on-water recreation.HOW WE FUND IT: We are a nonprofit organization entirely run by volunteers. While no commitment is required from those who row with us, our facilities, boats and equipment require regular upkeep and repair. Your donations make our program possible.

 

Contact: [email protected]

David Thorleif Heim Keel Laying Ceremony

On Sunday, May 20th, Judy Heim, friends and VCB volunteers gathered together to ceremoniously lay the keel for a new Whitehall Gig. The gig has been named after David Thorleif Heim who helped to build the VCB flotilla and support our mission over the years. 

Judy Heim with VCB Boatbuilders Marcel Dejean and Lorne Swarthout