The report from Manhattan YC's Mike Fortenbaugh was that "we were lucky, very lucky, and feel fortunate that all our planning to safeguard our fleet of J/24s and J/105s in the harbor went well." Their J/24 "story" seemed to be prophetic as all video images on American TV broadcast across all news agencies showed J/24s on the Hudson bobbing easily across the monster chop.
From our friends in the Hudson River Community Sailing, they, too, reported an encouraging tale of survival of all their J/24s other than their clubhouse along the piers. HRCS had this to say, "Thanks for the encouragement and support so many of you have shown HRCS since the storm. We feel fortunate. Our thoughts are with those whose homes and lives have been devastated.
Our Status:
- Our boats rode out the wind, rain, and surge successfully. Staff and members did a great job preparing.
- Our boat house did not fare as well. High storage spared some computers and electronics. The remaining contents of our classroom, workshop, and office were destroyed as 6' of water filled the boathouse and floated and tumbled its contents. The boat house is closed, and we do not have a timeline for its use.
- This past Monday, a week after Sandy, we resumed our after school program using one of our partner high schools as our meeting site. We are making contingency plans should a prolonged absence from the boathouse be necessary.
- We will resume sailing operations (without boathouse) this upcoming weekend November 8th for our youth, members, and the public!
How You Can Help - Donate equipment or supplies:
- Educational materials: laptop computers, calculators, stopwatches, one-subject notebooks, pens/pencils, charts, nautical books (fiction/non-fiction)
- Office and classroom: folding chairs and tables, business telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, electric heaters, fans
- Tools: drills, sanders, grinders, saws, hammers, tape measures
Please contact HRSC at email- info@hudsonsailing.org for any contributions.
