Rowing in Prospect Park Lake – Opening Day 6/14

From PPL614

Opening day was a great success. We had 68 waivers signed. It was a lovely opening day.
Thanks to Batya Zemansky, john Wittrock, Curtis Bezault, Karen Henderson and Joe Fung, volunteers who all made it happen.

Public Rowing in Prospect Park!

From PPRowing Pics

The Village Community Boathouse and the Prospect Park Alliance are offering free public rowing on Prospect Park Lake this summer. Community rowing sessions run from noon until 4:00 PM on the following Saturdays:

June 14, 21, and 28
July 12, 19, and 26
August 2, 9, 16, and 23

And from 4-7 PM on the following Thursdays:

September 11, 18 and 25

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Community rowing is open to all, although some physical dexterity is required. The focus of the program is recreation in a safe and respectful environment. Each participant must sign a waiver. 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 near the south end of the lake. Our temporary boathouse, a shipping container, is located near the Vanderbilt Playground.

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.

MORE QUESTIONS? WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Visit our website (www.villagecommunityboathouse.org), write us at [email protected] or phone Rob Buchanan at 917 656 7285.

Memorial Day Row to Governors Island

by Dexter Tong

From Governors Island Row

Five gigs set out in the morning for Governors Island from Pier 40. Around thirty people showed up for the excursion, representing Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, NEST+m, LAB, and several other high schools. The fleet rowed south through the slack tide, eventually landing at the island at approximately noon. Though it was sunny and in the 80s for most of the day, the rowers were able to enjoy all that Governors Island has to offer; historic forts, vast lawns, food trucks, and a swath of new park space spanning to the southern tip of the island. Everyone reconvened in the afternoon to head back to the boathouse. The trip was tough, as the gigs needed to cross the East River flood and fight the last of the Hudson River ebb with the sun continuously shining down, with few clouds in sight. All were exhausted, but it was a worthwhile trip to see the new Governors Island.

Elm City Open Water Challenge

From 2014-05-10

VCB sent crews from The Harbor School and Stuyvesant High School to New Haven on Saturday, May 10th to participate in Sound School’s Elm City Open Water Challenge. In addition to Sound School, Harbor School and Stuyvesant High School, Ledyard Community Rowing and Bridgeport Rowing also participated in the race. There was some heavy fog in the morning both in the Hudson and later in New Haven Harbor but luckily, it cleared up by the time of the race. The four mile course was two and a half oval laps around New Haven harbor. The Sound School came in first in the First Constitution, the Harbor School second in the Storm Queen, and Stuyvesant third in the Warrior. The rowers found it to be an intense race but an incredible experience for us all.

Special thanks to Jeff Alpert and Sound School for hosting this wonderful event. We hope to be invited back next year.

Brooklyn Navy Yard Build and Bash

From BNY510

Here are some shots of the Benjamin Banneker Rowing Club assembling a 15-foot Whitehall rowboat at Building 92, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Museum and Visitors Center. The boat is roughly based on plans for a “New York Whitehall” that was built at the Navy Yard 150 years ago and is described in Howard Chappelle’s “American Small Craft.” Once finished and painted it will be used in VCB’s Prospect Park Lake rowing program this summer where families can take free boat rides, see their craftsmanship and learn more about the historical significance of this vessel.
The New York Whitehall was part of the Brooklyn Boat Builders Bash at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where students from Benjamin Banneker Academy and VCB volunteers invited the public to help sand and paint the hull. The event was a celebration of locally-made boats, community boathouses and Brooklyn’s proud nautical heritage.