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| From January 19, 2014 |
It’s starting to look like a boat as plank #3 was glued onto the portside. The portside plank was used as a pattern for starboard plank #3 which will be glued in place on Wednesday. We had some new volunteers who worked with Dave Clayton on the gunning dory.
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| From Boatbuilding 1-5-14 |
There’s lots of work to be done as VCB has three boatbuilding projects underway and one gig in the repair bay. Rob Buchanan is supervising the build of a 5-planked Whitehall Gig. The gig, which remains nameless, was begun by Rob’s class of Lang students who retain naming rights. Work has continued with volunteers from the VCB community and Stuyvesant High School. So far, the keel and garboard are in place and the second plank will soon follow.
Other boatbuilding projects include a Prospect Park Lake boat to be tested and used in VCB’s Prospect Park Lake Rowing Program which is to be continued next summer. Rob is building the boat at the Brooklyn Navy Yard with the assistance of Bannaker High School students. The third building project, a 28′ stretch gunning dory, is being led by David Shehigian. Notorious G.I.G., our most popular boat (I think it’s the name) is in the repair bay. Dave Clayton has begun work on the thole pin risers which are well worn.
Boatbuilding sessions are held at the Village Community Boathouse on Pier 40 on Wednesdays at 3:00 PM and Sundays at Noon. All are welcome to lend a hand.
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| From 2014-01-05 |
Frank Cervi, VCB Board member at large, led the charge on a project to build 3 dollies and replace the axle on a fourth. The dollies serve as cradles for storage and wheels to roll gigs from the boathouse to the davit on the pier for launching. Here is rundown on assists…
Mackie Sang cut the hose lengths to fit over the “shoes”…and secured/ glued shoes to the dolly arm brace.
Deborah Clearman belt sanded the arm braces to a furniture quality finish.
John Volker assisted with chamfering, cutting axle wood, and mounting axle rode together.
Yim Lee assisted with sealing the axle wood and mounting prepping holes to receive eyebolts.
Loren Swarthout spliced and chamfered King Tide wood axle to receive the metal axle.
Frank Cervi mounted the dolly wheels and greased axles.
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| From 2014-01-05 |
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| From 2013-11-25 |
Two of VCB’s High School Rowing groups, Stuyvesant High School and Urban Assembly New York Harbor School sent three crews each to Hull, Mass to compete in the Icebreaker November 23rd. The Icebreaker, aka Northeast Region Open Water Youth Championship, is an annual event sponsored by the Hull Lifesaving Museum. Because of high wind conditions, with gusts up to 20 MPH, the race was relocated from the beach in Hull to Hingham Harbor. Traditionally, there are a series of three heats followed by the Nautical Mile, a one mile race, but because of the wind, it took more time to launch boats and row out to the starting postions for the heats, so the Nautical Mile had to be eliminated.
VCB Stuyvesant Second Sixes came in third in a field of twelve with a total time of 13:13 vs the winners, Cape Challenge, with a time of 12:51. NY Harbor School Second Fours A team won in their division with a time of 11:44. VCB Stuyvesant was second with a time of 12:22 out of a field of 11 boats. VCB Stuyvesant First Fours, came in second with a time of 11:07 vs Sound School who won with a time of 10:22. NY Harbor School came in fourth with a time of 13:04.
Click HERE for official complete Icebreaker Race results
Click HERE for a great video of the Snow Row coming up March 1st, 2014.
By Phil Yee
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| From youth race 2013 |
About 170 people attended the Village Community boathouse Youth Race on Saturday, November 9th. Twenty crews competed in the event which was won by The Sound School Avengers. Sound School, Building Bridges Building Boats, Stuyvesant High School, Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, and Newburgh Rowing Club participated. While the event was mostly limited to High School Students, there was a college perimeter race in which Borough of Manhattan Community College lost to a team of Stuyvesant High School Alumnae. The team names were the best part: Harbor Zulus, Stuyvesant Mermen, Sound School Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies, Stuyvesant Frosted Flakes, Harbor Conceited, Sound School Ninjas, Villains, & Avengers.
Thanks to Ruth & Sally for the Costco run, Lissa for the coffee makers, Pablo, Frank & Mackie for setting up, Henry & Brendan for launching boats, Dave C., Phil Shinn & Brenden on the chase boat, Mary Nell for the fish chowder, Michael Anton as MC, Pat McShane on the leaderboard, Joe, David, Eric, Alex & Dexter for manning the floating dock, Eric Russell & Hilary for the marine radios and working both ends of the sprint, Jenny, Margaret, Sheldon & Karl for cooking, and Rene for helping to keep the youths safe.
