Registration is open for rowing teams to support Rocking the Boat at their Rocking Manhattan event. The 30-mile circumnavigation, planned for Saturday, September 23, is a fundraiser, and their goal is to ultimately raise $300,000 for their programs.
Rocking the Boat says they, “Empower young people from the South Bronx to develop the self-confidence to set ambitious goals and gain the skills necessary to achieve them. Students work together to build wooden boats, learn to row and sail, and restore local urban waterways, revitalizing their community while creating better lives for themselves. Kids don’t just build boats, boats build kids.” They’ve amassed a fleet of more than 50 student-built boats. Below is one of their latest, the recently launched Whitehall they named KALEIDOSCOPE.
A great program and great people. Their students built a historically accurate tender (early 1600s) for the Onrust, a reproduction of a Dutch Leeboard Yacht originally built in NY harbor (Very appropriate for this NYC group) over the winter of 1613-1614. They produced a very nice period-correct boat, WATER PENNY.
ROCKING THE BOAT is one of those projects that has no downside. My spirit is uplifted by their vision; everybody wins.Their waterfront location is irreplaceable, and they’re in the process of purchasing the building they’re in from a very sympathetic landlord. Please support ROCKING THE BOAT.