National Maritime Heritage Foundation’s
“Broadside” Newsletter
In This Issue:
The DC Sail Learn-to-Sail Program
NMHF/DC Sail Barbeque & Open House
Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival
American Spirit – Sailing and ready for booking!
Friday night member sails begin May 19
NMHF wins Grant from DC Children & Youth Investment Trust -
Can you Crew? We’re looking for Volunteers!
After three years at the Earth Conservation Corps’ “Matthew Henson Center,” we have moved our sailing operations to the Gangplank Marina on Washington’s SW Waterfront. This represents a good move for us, with more complete boating facilities and amenities including the “Cantina Marina” restaurant. Now, all of our operations are in one place, and “American Spirit,” “DC Sail,” and “Kids Set Sail” can use the same facilities and equipment. Our sincere thanks go to Coastal Marine, the operators of Gangplank Marina, and their general manager, Dave Gohsman. We look forward to many happy times there.
Programs:
High School Sailing Back to
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The National Capital High School Sailing Program is in full swing now. NMHF hosted a varsity-level interscholastic regatta on Saturday, April 29 and everyone had a great time! The Gangplank Marina is turning out to be a great venue to host these sailing events.
We also had a number of our High
School sailors participate in the Jobson Cup team race regatta in Annapolis on Saturday, May 4. NMHF Sailors from Sidwell Friends, TC Williams, Woodrow
Wilson and St. Stephens & St. Agnes participated in this event, and had a
great time. Congratulations to the athletes from Sidwell Friends, who won first
place!
On Saturday, May 20, NMHF will host a JV sailing regatta at the Gangplank Marina. We invite you to come down to watch the event if you are interested.
Instructor Training Session Back to
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When: Sunday, June 4th 9:30am-2:30pm
Saturday, June 10th 9:30am-1:00pm
Where: The Gangplank Marina, 600 Water Street SW , Washington DC, 20024
Want to volunteer instruct for DC Sail? We offer free training sessions so all our instructors are on the same page. They're free and led by our own Duncan Hood - an internationally recognized instructor trainer. Sign up now via e-mail (dcsail@nmhf.org). We will conclude this session with a barbeque at Gangplank Marina! (See below for more information)
Tuesday Night Racing Back to
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When: Tuesday, May 16, 6:00pm
Where: The Gangplank Marina
Come race one of our eight club FJs in the picturesque
Washington Channel. Tuesday Night Racing offers participants a chance to learn
to race in a fun and friendly environment. Scores don't matter here—the goal is
to simply enjoy racing on the water. Racing will cost $10 a head for DC Sail
members, and, will be free for SuperMembers.
The DC
Sail Learn-to-Sail Program Back to Top
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30am-1:00pm
Where: The Gangplank Marina
Sign up today! A session consists of four lessons with a trained instructor and
up to four other sailors per boat. You will gain the skills and knowledge
necessary to sail the Flying Scots on your own. After you lessons, you can come
back and rent at your convenience. Classes are held Saturdays & Sundays,
two weekends in a row, from 9:30am to 1:00pm at the Gangplank Marina.
Cost:
§ Non-Members: $225; includes an NMHF Basic Membership (a savings of $25!!)
§ Current Basic Members: $200
§ SuperMembers - $175
DC Sail Boat Rentals Back to
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When: Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:00-9:00pm
Saturdays & Sundays 9:30am-12:30pm & 1:00-4:00pm
Where: The Gangplank Marina
Boat Rentals are available to current DC Sail members who've received their appropriate skipper rating. Both the Flying Scots and FJs are available. Rentals cost $25 for members and are FREE for SuperMembers. Please make your reservation at least 24 hours ahead of time. Call 202-547-1250.
Blessing of the Fleet Back to
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When: Sunday, May 21, 2006, Staging at Noon, Boat Parade at 1pm
Where: The Gangplank Marina
DC Sail and NMHF will participate in the Blessing of the Fleet along the Washington Channel to celebrate the start of the 2006 boating season. The Grady White motor boat, a 19’ Flying Scot, and an 11’ Flying Junior sailboat will all join in on the parade. If you are interested in participating, please email dcsail@nmhf.org for more information.
NMHF/DC Sail Barbeque & Open House Back to
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When: Saturday, June 10, 1:00pm – Sunset
Where: The Gangplank Marina
Do we need any specific reason to celebrate NMHF, DC Sail and its members? Of course not!! Come stop by in the early afternoon if you’d like to sail an FJ or a Flying Scot, and stop by later if you would rather just sit back and enjoy the barbeque. Make sure to RSVP to dcsail@nmhf.org by Thursday, June 8 if you would like to attend.
Alexandria Red Cross
Waterfront Festival Back to
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When: The weekend of June 17, 2006.
Where: Old Town, Virginia
DC Sail & NMHF is in the process of reserving a spot for the Waterfront Festival. We will need YOUR help to work at our booth and promote our programs. Email dcsail@nmhf.org if you would like to help.
American Spirit – Sailing and ready for booking! Back to Top
When: By appointment, check calendar link for
availability
Where: The Gangplank Marina, 600 Water St,
SW DC 20024
American Spirit began this year sailing
with the International Club of Washington, DC. We had a full boat of 43
passengers, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Since then, we have
gone out 8 more times, and have been negotiating with many other groups
including Gray Line Tours, the Boy Scouts, DC Parks & Recreation Dept. St.
Rita’s school and even some guys looking to get married or propose aboard.
Quite an upswing in interest!
If you, or a group that you belong to, want to book American Spirit for an evening cruise, it’s easy! Just give Duncan Hood a call at 202-547-1250 and he’ll make the arrangements. For your convenience, this link will take you to the American Spirit Calendar. Pick a date that’s open and contact us!
Click Here for American Spirit Online Calendar
Friday night member sails begin May 19 Back to
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When: Alternate Friday evenings, Meet
5:30p and
Sail 6:00-8:30p
Where: The Gangplank Marina, 600 Water St. SW DC
20024
Cost: $15 members & family / $50 non-members
This season, American Spirit will host Friday evening sails every other week from 6:00-8:30pm for NMHF members and prospective members. Cost will be $15 for members and a one-time $50 fee for non-members. The non-member fee will be credited as a membership, and then you can return next time as a member! Sign up for evening sails by calling the office and asking to be put on the list! 202-547-1250. Check the online calendar for dates!
Click Here for American Spirit Online Calendar
NMHF wins Grant from DC Children & Youth Investment Trust -
Little “Spirit” still going strong
This Spring, NMHF won funding for visits to area community centers and schools to form a combined program consisting of “Spirit” visits to their location, and “American Spirit” tall ship sails.
To date, we have booked 5 community groups to provide exciting maritime and ecological learning experiences to local students. These trips will begin in June and continue through August. All our thanks go to Peter Guttmacher at DC Children and Youth Investment Trust for his efforts to make this program a reality.
“Spirit” is the world’s smallest
tall ship. Measuring 16’ from stem to stern, “Spirit” travels throughout the DC
area bringing exciting, hands-on learning experiences to local children and
events. “Spirit” can be booked for your location — Just call 202-547-1250, and
we’ll make it happen. It’s a great time, and we can accommodate up to 120 kids
in a two-hour period.
Click Here
for “Spirit” Online Calendar Back to Top
Can you Crew? We’re looking for Volunteers!
Each season, our “American Spirit”
and “Spirit” programs actively recruit volunteers who can help us deliver
programming to our communities. You have the ability to be as involved as your
time permits. Volunteers check their calendars against those of the program
they are interested in, and then contact us. It’s not too hard, and is very
rewarding. You’ll be trained, and directly involved with kids and adults in
the area of your interest. Please take a look at what we do so you can join us!
- “Spirit-in-Schools” program: A daytime program requiring about 3 hours of volunteer time during the morning hours—usually 10am-1pm. “Spirit” is taken to a location and volunteers work with kids in the following areas: life at sea, shantys, tall ship sailing, and rigging
- “American Spirit” program: A 3-hour on-water trip from DC’s Southwest Waterfront. Crew members handle sails & rigging, docking, educational stations, and host guests aboard our 62’ schooner.
Call the
office and get involved! 202-547-1250 Back to
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