Sebago Canoe Club

Justine Curgenven Speaks in Brooklyn, 3/26/2015

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 23:32:00 +0000

Kayaking 2,500km along the Aleutian islands

Come and hear award winning filmmaker and expedition sea kayaker Justine Curgenven talk about the highlights and challenges of her world first kayaking journey along the Aleutian islands and Alaskan peninsula, described as "the greatest technical sea kayak expedition in the world". With round-the-world adventurer Sarah Outen, she set out to paddle 2,500km along the archipelago to the nearest road confronting more than 20 long crossings which separate the tiny unpopulated islands. Alone for 101 days in one of the windiest, roughest places on earth, these two women are swept away from land by unknown currents, pounded by rough seas and approached by bears. Experiencing an edge-of-your-seat journey, they gain a rare insight into themselves, the rich wildlife and the lives of the few people who live in this harsh yet beautiful landscape. Justine will show video clips from the highly-anticipated film and tell behind the scenes stories.
The fun starts at 7:30 pm on March 26th.

Floyd Bennett Field is a venue change - Justine's presentation is being hosted by Sebago, and originally it was going to be at our Brooklyn location, but the great popularity of this well-known expedition paddler and producer is drawing more people than we think we can fit in our cozy Canarsie clubhouse, so Ranger John D. at Floyd Bennett (a fellow paddler and a really nice guy) has arranged for the move to the Ryan Visitor Center. Thank you John and thank you National Park Service!
Donations will be accepted to help defray Justine's travel expenses. Refreshments will be served.

If you'd like to attend, please RSVP either to the general Sebago Canoe Club email address, contact"at"sebagocanoeclub"dot"org, or on the Facebook event page. For instructions to Floyd Bennett Field, use Google maps (the map on the Facebook event page is completely wrong for some reason). Hope to see you there!

Here's the trailer from the film:

CCNY Concrete Canoe Team at Sebago

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 02:59:00 +0000

4/28/14 Update - YOWZA! This just in from the head of the Canoe Committee:

"Sebago Canoe Committee

Please pass the word .........

The CCNY engineering students won overall FIRST PLACE at the American
Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe Competition at Cook's Pond !!!

They have much thanks and appreciation for their training at Sebago.

They set course record for Coed !

They immediately asked if they can return to train at Sebago for the
nationals in Pittsburg in 2 months !

Bravo Sebago !"

AWESOME!

Oy. Here we are, two weeks after the Season Opener, and I still haven't finished talking about what we found going on back in the basin, after our paddle around Canarsie Pol and prior to retiring to the clubhouse for the traditional consumption of mass quantities.

We found a crew of energetic young folks charging around the basin in a most unusual craft - a canoe made out of concrete.

This group was the City College of New York's 2014 Concrete Canoe team, who'd been working with members of Sebago's Canoe Committee for a few weeks.

The American Society of Civil Engineers hosts this annual competition (which began in 1988, not surprisingly in Michigan, a canoe-crazy state if ever there was one). Teams are challenged to design, build, and finally race their own concrete canoes.

From the ASCE's Concrete Canoe site: "The ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition (NCCC) provides students with a practical application of the engineering principles they learn in the classroom, along with important team and project management skills they will need in their careers. The event challenges the students' knowledge, creativity and stamina, while showcasing the versatility and durability of concrete as a building material."

It was really neat finally seeing one of the boats! Like most people, when I think of something made out of concrete, I think of something that's solid and immobile - fascinating seeing it made into something floaty and fleet. I should've take a close-up or two - the boat had nice racing lines to it but when you looked at it closely, it absolutely wasn't pretending to be made out of anything but concrete (and I think they said it took about 7 people to move it around).

The team had been coming out for a few weeks in all kinds of weather and were being coached primarily by a member of the Canoe Committee who's done a lot of dragon boat racing. I'm not a great judge of canoe technique but I thought they were really looking like racers, and they had the boat well under control on what had turned into a very breezy afternoon.

For a few more pix, click here.

Spring Safety Spiel (cross-posted from Frogma)

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Well, goodness, have we got a nice-looking weekend coming up here in the Northeast. Temps in the 60's in NYC, light winds and sunshine - perfect weekend to break out the ol' canoe, right?

And of course the answer to that question is, as always for this time of year,

"Yes, of course, but please learn the risks and have the right gear."

I suspect I'm preaching to a combination of choir and fellow preachers here but I always feel like I have to do this this time of year - the air's warming up but that water is still cold to the point that a mishap that would be humorous in August could actually be the last mistake that person makes.

There've already been a couple of the usual late winter/early spring news stories about kayak accidents doing the paddler social-media circuits - a couple of fatalities, plus one really lucky saved-life story. Naturally the story with the happy ending involved a paddler who was wearing their life jacket - I haven't got time to hunt down the link right now but if I'm recalling correctly, the story was that someone spotted the overturned kayak from shore and called for help. The paddler was past the point of being able to move by the time rescuers arrived but the lifejacket kept them afloat.

In NY State, we're still in the time of year when anyone out in a recreational craft of 20' or less is required by law to wear a properly-fitted lifejacket; that's not the rule everywhere, but a boater who doesn't is taking a big and completely unnecessary risk.

Beyond that, dressing properly is also important - remember that we had a very, very cold winter; I was talking to some of my polar bear swimmer friends last weekend and they were remarking on how cold the water remains right now at Coney Island.

Thinking of doing some spring boating, but not sure how you should prepare, or just feel like you could use a refresher? Visit the links in my Cold Water Safety section on Frogma, top of the sidebar - always good to know before you go!

Seal Watching Sans Kayak, Hoffman and Swinburne Islands, 3/16/2014

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:55:00 +0000

Seal-Watching Sans Kayak, Hoffman and Swinburne Islands, 3/16/2014, a set on Flickr.

Possibly the easiest Sebago trip I've ever planned. "Hey guys, here's the event, here's the website, buy yourself a ticket if you want to come, see you on the boat". Ended up being a great day - I'm so glad that the Bowsprite took Tugster Will on an Audobon tour for his birthday, I'm not sure I would have thought of this on my own. Click here for Tugster's post - brrr, there was still snow then! The tours were only supposed to run through the 9th, but they extended for 3 weeks. I got a ticket the first one when I found out (I'd tried to get on the one on the 9th but it had been sold out, so I was tickled to find out about the extension), and then decided to spread the word at Sebago as this seemed like a great off-season activity that anyone could enjoy. We ended up having a very nice turnout, 8 of us went, and aside from the fun of having friends along, I think this was probably much nicer than the sold-out one on the 9th. With the short notice, I think the Sebago crew made up half of the passengers - no sardines at the railing trying to get the best view, there was plenty of room for all! Sound like fun? There are 2 more left, tickets can be purchase on the NYC Water Taxi site.

Iced in at Sebago, 2/1/2014

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:38:00 +0000

I'm finally recovering from a cold I've had for a while and with the forecast this weekend calling for temps in the spendidly high 30's (woohoo) I found myself itching for a paddle.

Fortunately Steve the Paddling Chef called for a hike instead. I'm awfully glad I decided to join in on that instead of paddling - turns out there would have been a major logistical issue with paddling! Here are a few photos from the club yesterday, taken before and after our short hike at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

No more writing - click on the first picture to go to the better slideshow view.

Cross-posted from Frogma.

Manorville Hike, 12/8/2013

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Some of us at Sebago do keep paddling all winter, but not everyone's got the inclination (or the cash, a drysuit can be a very expensive addition to one's paddling wardrobe). However, most members are still very interested in spending time outdoors in pleasant company, so one of our members, Frank F., has volunteered to organize some hikes over the off season. I joined in on one of these yesterday.

It was a really nice hike, about five and a half miles in the Manorville Hills County Park. We started out with a couple of miles along the Paumanok Trail, and here I'm just going to share the little writeup that clubmate Dottie left on my Facebook version of the gallery I'll link to at the end of this post:

"The Paumanok trail is a 125 mile trek through wilderness, where you can encounter glacial kettles and erratics, rolling hills with panoramic vistas, parabolic dunes, coastal plain ponds, White Atlantic Cedar swamps, Dwarf Pines, Pitcher Plants, Painted Turtles, fields of Reindeer Lichen, maritime grasslands, Harbor Seals, Harrier Hawks, Olive Hairstreak Butterflies, Cedar Waxwings, and more. Long Island is an island of great natural diversity and the Paumanok Path visits much of it."

We didn't see too much wildlife because we were all talking, catching up with each other as we walked, but that was half the fun. The scenery wasn't as dramatic as some hiking areas but it was very pleasant. It was a pretty quick drive, we had people along who knew a lot about the area's geology, which always makes a hike more interesting to me, and the gently rolling hills made for some very nice hiking, not boring but not too hard either. Another good point that Frank pointed out about this park is that it's got a pretty extensive network of trails, so it can actually handle a lot of hikers without feeling crowded. There were a number of cars in the parking lot but except for a couple of gentlemen who were doing trail maintenance for the county, we didn't see anybody else all day!

I'm just at the point in recovering from a nasty cold I'd come down with the weekend after Thanksgiving (why do we say "I caught a cold" when it's more the other way around? This was an office bug that I'd managed to evade for 2 weeks before it finally got me but when it did, ugh!) that I really felt like it was time for some gentle exercise. if it was summertime, this would've been when I would've go joined my open-water swimmer friends out at Brighton Beach for a slow swim and some basking in the sun - this time of year, though, this hike was just what the doctor ordered. It was hard to get myself out the door in the morning - I got a ride from neighbor Beth so I only had to walk a block to meet her, but our meeting time was 7:30 am and it was sooo chilly outside - but I'm very glad I did.
Click here for a photo trip report!

Cross-posted from Frogma.

Four Sparrow Marsh paddle september 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 21:05:00 +0000

A nice September day to paddle from the clubhouse to Four Sparrow Marsh behind Flatbush Avenue in Mill Basin. A little windy on the bay but quiet and serene in the marsh.

Sebago Canoe Club volunteers at Floyd Bennett Field's "A Day on Jamaica Bay" Family Fun Day

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 15:59:00 +0000

Here are some photo's from last Sunday's family fun event at Floyd Bennett Field, "A Day on Jamaica Bay". Our friend -- that's "our" as in "most of us at Sebago", not "our" as in the royal We -- John, one of the head rangers there and the one who started their kayaking program, had planned this event to feature kayaking but because his seasonal staff had already gone back to school, he called on Sebago for volunteers to help him run it. Eight of us (I think) turned up to help out.

Things got off to a little bit of a slow start and I was afraid I was going to regret giving up the dinghy racing that was the original plan for the day, but then John went across the street to the Ryan Center, where the rest of the events were centered, and let people know that kayaking was happening at the Gateway Marina. After that, we had a very nice flow of people for the entire time, there were always people on the water but never too many for us to keep track of and also, I think, never so many that anybody had to wait, which was nice because we didn't end up having to pull anybody off the water to give somebody else a turn. John estimated that we ended up getting about 70 people on the water, and as far as I could see everybody had a great time! Gorgeous day, glad this was able to happen (one weekend later and of course it wouldn't have happened). Nice way to see out September!

John gives a five-minute intro to our first visitors

Waiting to launch early on. We didn't have quite enough boats (especially doubles) on the beach at first but we quickly got more off the trailer when people started turning up in good numbers. The doubles were important, we had a lot of parents who were able to paddle with children who were too small for their own boats. In one or two cases there were tears when the parent decided it was time to go - usually you don't really want to make children cry but crying because they don't want it to end? That's not so bad!

Paddlers on the water. This was at Gateway Marina and it was a great venue, very sheltered but a fair amount of water for people to paddle around on. The less adventurous stayed near the launch, but we let people go as far as the pier marking the outside of the marina and a lot of people did go down to take a look out at the lower harbor.

Doubles race!

Fellow volunteer - towards the end of the day, we were wrapping up.

Beach cat people came out to play just as we were putting the Parks boats away. Not part of the event but too pretty to not take a picture!

And here's a happy, wet, and sandy Ranger John - we made his day! Here's hoping he's able to get back to welcoming people to his park SOON.

Cross-posted from Frogma.

Touching the Sublime from a Boat in Jamaica Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:49:00 +0000

I have observed Jamaica Bay from the driver’s seat of a car inching along the Belt Parkway, through a window of the A Train as it rattles over the two bridges connecting Broad Channel to the rest of Queens, and from inside a roaring passenger jet as it takes off and lands at JFK. By far, my most cherished vantage points are while paddling my kayak or sailing my sailboat upon its waters.

One may experience the sublime anywhere, while walking The High Line, peddling a bike through Central Park, or sitting on a bench at The Cloisters as much as by attending a service at St. John the Divine or any Synagogue, Sanctuary, Mosque or Temple in the city. Among my favorite touch points is the cockpit of a boat, be it a sailboat or a kayak. It is then that I truly, mystically, experience the sublime as mediated through nature and the beauty and isolation that can be encountered in Jamaica Bay.

Far from the honking horns of the Belt, the rattle of the subway, the roar of a jet, and the cacophony of noise, jumble of sights, and mixture of smells that is often urban New York City, while my sailboat or kayak silently floats upon and slices through Jamaica Bay’s waters, I sometimes experience peace that is as much spiritual as psychological as I physically retreat from the mundane urban landscape. After paddling or sailing awhile on some of the more remote parts of the bay, my soul feels refreshed and my mind and senses cleansed as if all the stress of city life has been washed away in the bay’s cleansing waters.

Be it walking or running shoes, bicycle, kayak, canoe, sailboat, or any non-motorized form of transportation that will take you into a through nature, find your own vantage point, some place and activity far removed from video games, cell phones, computers, taxis, subways and buses, far removed from the urban landscape where you too may touch the sublime. You and our city will be better for the experience.

- - -

Last night I attended Gotham Writers Workshop free Essay & Opinion Writers Workshop in Bryant Park. Workshop leader Melissa Petro invited those in attendance to take fifteen minutes to write an essay. The above is an edited and revised version of what I wrote. It is also posted on my personal blog Summit to Shore.

City of Water Day at Sebago - 7/20/2013

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 13:55:00 +0000

From City of Water At Sebago -- July 20, 2013

It was a very good day at City of Water Day in Canarsie! It was very hot and a little windier than we like for beginner paddles, but we got a whole lot of people out on the water in canoes, kayaks, and a Sunfish sailed by Holly the Sailing Co-Chair, with safety boat support provided by sailors Jim (the other Sailing Co-Chair) and Chris B. Between them being out there and the relatively sheltered area we have in the Paerdegat Basin, we were able to keep trips running all day. Click on the link below to see a few more pix of the day.

2013 Season Opener

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:50:00 +0000

Saturday, April 27^th, was not only the season opener, the first “official paddle
of the season” for the Sebago Canoe Club in Brooklyn, it was also one of the first post Hurricane Sandy events. A group of kayakers left the Sebago dock around 10:30 and paddled around Canarsie Pol. Other paddlers and rowers paddled independently of the organized paddle. My wife, Vicki, and I were two of those who paddled independently.

Looking at the Belt Parkway Bridge over Mill Basin

Vicki and I put in just after the Canarsie Pol paddlers had taken out. It was our first paddle of the season, first paddle since Sandy, first paddle since sometime in the fall, and first time to paddle under the newly finished Belt Parkway Bridge over Mill Basin and not under the old bridge which has been removed. I paddled my Ocean Kayak Drifter, a sit-on-top I probably had not paddled in over a year. Vicki paddled her Current Designs Sirocco. Using an old fashioned mercury thermometer, I checked the water temperature under the bridge. It was 57°F. The air temperature was in the mid 60’s.

Kayak Committee Mtg Convened by Kayaking Chair, Tony

Vicki and I paddled under the bridge, past buoy 13, and to where the channel to the salt marsh would have been if it had been high tide. Not wanting to miss the kayak meeting or the food, we turned around there and paddled bcak. Our total paddle was about only an hour long, but enough to reacquaint us with paddling in Jamaica, especially after Sandy, and to wet our appetite as well as paddles and bats for an upcoming paddling season.

General Mtg Convened by Commodore Walter

After getting back to the Sebago dock we carried our boats up to the wash racks where we rinsed both salt water and debris from Sandy off. Then we attended the Kayak Meeting, held in the club house at 3:00, and convened by Kayak Chair, Tony Pignatello. After the Kayak Meeting we took a break and headed outside for the General Meeting, convened at 4:15 by Commodore Walter Lewandowski with several other chairs and officers making reports. We enjoyed food, wine, and fellowship before, during, and after the meetings.

Follow the Osprey

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:10:00 +0000

Canarsie Pol osprey, April 2007

With the remnants of last weekend's blizzard still in evidence, there's certainly no mistaking the fact that it's still winter, but the days ARE getting longer (I do love it when I start seeing a bit of blue still left in the sky when I leave work at my usual hour of 6, and we are there!), and the various Sebago committees are beginning to gather to plot out the season's fun (SailComm was last night, kayak & canoe committees this weekend), and before too much longer, our local ospreys will be starting their long flight back from their wintering grounds to the South. One of the ospreys that nests in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (over in Broad Channel) has actually been tagged with a GPS tracker, and I'm really looking forward to following along on Osprey's Journey.

Thanks to John at Control Geek for passing the word word word, word on the bird!

Cross-posting at Frogma.

Sealwatching Hike

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:38:00 +0000

With a forecast for winds gusting to 32 mph, Sebago's sealwatching paddle turned into a sealwatching hike. We did a loop around the west end of Jones Beach, starting and finishing at the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center - about 5 miles at a nice leisurely pace. It was hard to see the seals in all the chop but there was one definite and two possible sightings, plus all sorts of birds. Lovely day to be BY the water. More pictures tomorrow!

Sailing: Philosophy for Everyone: Catching the Drift of Why We Sail

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:31:00 +0000

The sailors among us might be interested in Sailing: Philosophy for Everyone: Catching the Drift of Why We Sail, Edited by Patrick Goold; Forward by John Rousmaniere, ISBN 978-0-470-67185-6, and my review of it on Summit to Shore.

Welcoming the New Year, Sebago style!

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 03:32:00 +0000

From Sebago Canoe Club Annual Frostbite Regatta (plus New Year's annual meeting)

Happy New Year! Here's a link to a few (by my standards anyways) photos from this morning's annual New Year's Day paddle at the Sebago Canoe Club. Always a nice way to start off a year. Welcome 2013!

Post Sandy Repairs Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 01:52:00 +0000

Sebago Canoe Club members of all ages and races, recent members and long-time members tackled post Sandy repair work this Saturday.

Post sandy walkway before repair

The biggest job requiring the most people was repairing the main walkway, lifted off its foundation by the tide and left broken and scattered around the club grounds. Even after the walkway was sawed into smaller pieces, it took ten to twenty people to lift and replace the sections. One crew had started near the dock and was replacing the walk from west to east. Another crew had started at the sidewalk gate and was replacing the walk east to west.

We all took a lunch break before finishing the walkway work. Many volunteers had made soup, stew, and chili or brought store made lunch items for a group lunch. Scattered around the club grounds, members ate lunch and told of their own hurricane experiences as well as sharing other news and stories they had heard from others.

Slipping the final piece into place

Refreshed by a hearty lunch and rest, the final sections of the walkway were cut and carried into place until the last piece of the sidewalk puzzle was put into place, only an inch or two having to be cut off to make it fit into place. It was like the joining of the transcontinental Sebago railroad sans the golden spike.

Sebago walkway after repair

Throughout the morning and afternoon others had been hard at work cleaning out the storage containers, cleaning and re-positing sailboats and kayak, pulling water logged material out of the club house, and other odds and ends. It was a true group effort involving forty to fifty people and a testament to the dedication many Sebago members have to the volunteer run, 501C3 nonprofit membership organization that operates as a concessioner on New York City Park land.

A lot of work still needs done around the club, inside the clubhouse and containers and out on the grounds, but the grunt work which demanded many hands is finished. With walkway, kayaks, and sailboats back into position, it is now much easier and safer to move around on club property and the grounds look almost normal.

Recreational Water Advisory For Jamaica Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:42:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12
October 31, 2012
Contact:
Chris Gilbride/Ted Timbers (DEP) (718) 595-6600 Chanel Caraway (DOHMH) (347) 396-4177

Recreational Water Advisory For Hudson River, East River, New York Harbor, Jamaica Bay and Kill Van Kull

Due to flooding and power related shutdowns caused by Hurricane Sandy, wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations have discharged untreated wastewater into New York City waterways. The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene advises that direct contact with the Hudson River, East River, New York Harbor, Jamaica Bay and the Kill Van Kull for recreational activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing or any other water activity that would entail possible direct contact with the water should be avoided until further notice.

The Department of Environmental Protection is responding to the impacts caused by Hurricane Sandy on its waste water treatment facilities and will monitor water quality conditions through testing to verify when these water bodies are safe for recreational uses.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:35:00 +0000

Vicki and I made it down to the club late this afternoon. There is a lot of work to do to clean up, repair and rebuild. Here are some shots from our visit.

After Sandy Update

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Commadore Walter Lewandowski has updated the club after Sandy via our yahoo group:

"I went to the club this morning and can report almost everything is still there. I estimate at least two feet of water covered the property based on high water lines on the containers. Much is moved around and the clubhouse still had water inside. I was unable to get into the clubhouse to assess damage.

We will not be participating in the food bank paddle this Saturday on Long Island due to the damage at the club from Sandy. All members should plan on offering some assistance for the cleanup effort this weekend. Details will follow later this week.

A reminder to please photograph any damage before you attempt a cleanup."

"Greatful and dead" iPhone & iPod Cases by andytechie | Redbubble

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 23:10:00 +0000

"Greatful and dead" iPhone & iPod Cases by andytechie | Redbubble:

Last Moonlight Paddle of the 2012 Season

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 20:28:00 +0000

Weather permitting; we will have the last moonlight paddle of the 2012 season Friday, September 28th. Meet at the clubhouse no later than 7:30 PM (earlier if possible and it takes you awhile to get ready to paddle) and plan to be on the water, launching in the dark with a light on your boat, no later than 8:00 PM. We will enjoy food, drink and camaraderie afterward. Moonlight paddles last from one to two hours and cover three to six miles depending on weather and ability of the group.

Also, here is a link to a site of worthless self-promotion that also mentions the Sebago Canoe Club and our moonlight paddles.

http://www.meetthemoment.com/moment/view/john-h-1#email-link

The First Moonlight Paddle of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:16:00 +0000

In spite of a forecast of possible thunderstorms, eight paddlers enjoyed a calm Jamaica Bay under a spectacular super moon Friday evening, May 4, 2012.

Paddlers started arriving at the Brooklyn Club House a little after 7 PM. A fire was built in the wood stove to take the chill off the Club House and to provide for a warmer space to return to. With an announced "on the water" time of 8:00 PM, all paddlers were finally on the water before 8:15 PM.

The evening was one of firsts. Not only was it the first Moonlight Paddle of the 2012 season, it was also the first led by John Harris and assisted by Vicki Moss. For Laurie G., it was her first Moonlight Paddle ever but will certainly not be her last. Walter and Dottie each paddled with their new Greenland paddles for the first time. It was the first time John paddled the demo Chatham 17 he bought in January. For Tony, it was the first time he used his new deck light.

Embarking at high tide under a nearly full moon, the eight Sebago lunatics easily paddled over the mirror smooth water, under the Belt Parkway Bridge, and out into a beautiful moonlit Jamaica Bay. After crossing the channel to Canarsie Pol, they circumnavigated the island counterclockwise. On the back side of the Pol they encountered a large flock of birds which darkened the moonlit sky and created a "thumping"sound across the water. A few jets, landing lights blazing, were also descending into JFK.

Crossing back from the Pol toward home, the group waited for a party boat to move up channel before crossing. Other than the small fishing boat they passed by near the bridge, the paddlers encountered no other traffic.

Back at the Club House, gear rinsed and stowed, the eight moonies enjoyed assorted snacks and beverages while also watching the recently released and colorized 1902 Le Voyage Dans La Lune with soundtrack by Air.

The next Moonlight Paddle is scheduled for Friday, June 1, 2012. Paddlers should be at the clubhouse by 7:30 PM and plan to be on the water by 8 PM.

Sebago Open House Info 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:17:00 +0000

May 17 - May 20th Jamaica Bay Kayak Fishing Tournament

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:17:00 +0000

The Kayak Fishing Classic at Jamaica Bay will be here before we know it. With such a mild winter and reports of anglers already catching fish, many of us can’t wait to get started with the season. The Kayak Fishing Classic at Jamaica Bay is a great way to catch the first fish of the year and hook up with old and make some new friends, all for the benefit of worthy causes. Those of us who share the enthusiasm for the sport of Kayak Fishing know this is a premier event that shouldn’t be missed. May 17th – 20th 2012 at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn NY

2012 KAYAK FISHING CLASSIC TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open to anyone 18 years of age or older.
Minors are eligible to register and participate with a parent or guardian who also participates in the event. Minors must have the signature of his or her parent or legal guardian on the entry form as applicable to any state, commonwealth, county, or federal regulations or law. The obligation to know these rules falls upon the parent. A completed entry form and entry fee must be received no later than the published deadline.

AWARDS: will be presented in 4 categories if the division criteria have been met. Within each of the competitive division there will be first, second and third. In the registration raffle, prizes will be awarded by the pulling of numbers and the total number of prizes in the raffle will be determined by the number of donated items.
Targeted Species (Bass, Bluefish and Weakfish).
Open Division – longest fish caught of targeted species.
Fly Division - longest fish caught by fly rod of targeted species.
Junior Division - longest fish caught by a person under 18 years of age of targeted species.
Electric Division – longest fish caught in an electric powered kayak of targeted species.

Grand Slam - will be determined by the longest aggregate measurement of 1 of each of the 3 target species (Striped Bass, Bluefish, and Weakfish). Tournament organizer has final word on determining winners.

FISHING TIMES: Friday 12noon to 6pm, Saturday 5am to 7pm, Sunday 5am to 12 Noon. All entrants wishing to enter a fish must do so at the tournament tent site before scheduled ending times each day (fish can be entered any time before that time). Tournament fishing is only allowed during safe day light hours. No pictures of fish taken at night will to be allowed to be entered for prizes. During the event it is possible that due to dangerous weather participants will be asked not to enter the water until a period of better conditions – any person not complying will be disqualified from the event.

FISHING LICENSE: We don't need no stinkin' license! While there is NO Saltwater Fishing License in New York State you must comply with the NYS Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. Please register to avoid any issues with law enforcement officials.

PERMITTED FISHING METHODS: All fish must be caught live via hook and line by bait or artificial lure. Entries to the Fly division are not permitted to have any other fishing outfits besides fly rods and reels and are required to launch from the registration area following inspection by a judge.

SCORING: Catch and release criteria, will be determined by total length of the longest fish: for the Grand Slam the combined total lengths of each fish of the target species. Each contestant must have a digital camera to take pictures and enter pictures for prizes. Please have an empty data card in your camera. There will be posters placed at the tournament tent each day. You must take a picture of the poster each day and it must be followed by the fish you wish to be entered for prizes. Fish must be photographed in or on boat, (vessels should be distinguishable in photo) next to provided tape measure. It is recommended that you fish with a buddy not only for safety reasons but for the assistance in taking pictures. It is required to take a picture against the tape measure and requested that you take some holding the fish under its belly with you in the picture. The photo on the tape must show clearly the length of the fish. Total length is determined from the tip of the lower jaw to the end of the tail. The judging committee makes the call and the tournament director is the final authority on length but will not change the ruling of the judging committee. The tournament Director is not liable for photo processing and condition of cameras. In the event of a tie the most visibly larger fish of contestant's catch will be used to break tie. Only Striped Bass, Bluefish and Weakfish can be entered for prizes. Fish taken for consumption may not be entered into the tournament.

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Additional FAQ's

Greenland Style Paddlemaking Workshop!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:52:00 +0000

Greenland Style Paddlemaking Workshop!
Sunday, May 6th, 2012
9am - 4pm
Sebago Canoe Clubhouse, Canarsie, Brooklyn

Chris Raab of Tuktu Paddles will be coming to the Brooklyn clubhouse for his 3^rd straight year to conduct another one of his very popular Greenland style paddle-making workshops. As we leave winter and look forward to the summer this is the perfect opportunity to make yourself a Greenland paddle to start the season with. Depending on weather conditions, we try to hold the workshop outdoors.

Fee is $130, which includes supplies. Deadline for registration is April 20th.

What will be provided:
Instruction and guidance through out the day. A cedar paddle blank (unless
you have requested other materials) and tools as needed.

To register for the class, please contact Elizabeth Green at elizabeth.green10@gmail.com

Check Chris Raab's website for more information:
http://www.tuktupaddles.com/