Sailing

The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St.. Cold Spring Harbor has announced a spring series of NYS Certified Safe Boating Courses for individuals aged 10 and older. These courses provide essential knowledge about safe boat operation, regulations, and responsibilities of boat ownership. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, participants will earn a Safe Boating Certificate.

The course meets the New York State education requirement for the Personal Watercraft Operation Permit, Youth and Adult Boating Certificate. New York State certified instructors present the course in the Museum’s workshop. Participants may view the museum’s exhibits during short breaks throughout the 8-hour course.

Participants may bring a bagged lunch for the lunch break. Adults over the age of 18 have the option to walk into Cold Spring Harbor village to purchase lunch or coffee at any of the businesses or restaurants Main Street has to offer. Minors are not permitted to leave the museum during the course unless a parent or guardian is accompanying them.

Starting January 1, 2025, a safety certificate will be required of all operators, regardless of age.

Upcoming course dates are scheduled for Saturdays, April 5; May 3; June 21; and July 12. Each course will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to continue offering this important course to our community,” said Cristina Ainslie, Assistant Director of The Whaling Museum & Education Center. “Boating safety is paramount, and this course will provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe on the water. Dozens of Long Island residents already have their certificates with us through this course at the museum, and we’re excited to offer more opportunities to get certified this spring!”

The program fee is $35, which includes access to exhibits at the museum for the day. Payment will be collected at the museum before the program begins, and both cash and credit card are accepted. Registration is required and can be completed online at cshwhalingmuseum.org/events.

For more information about the NYS Safe Boating Course or to register, please visit cshwhalingmuseum.org/safeboating.

By Beverly C. Tyler

A few years ago, on the eve of the celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday, my wife and I watched the DVD movie “Amazing Grace,” based on the story of how a few dedicated men and women in England, at the beginning of the 19th century, ended the British slave trade. As dramatic as the story was, I was equally impressed by one of the special features, a tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. One of their on-line exhibits notes, “The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration of people…which brought millions of Africans to America.” 

One of the main concerns of the Freedom Center is that around the world, “there are estimated 21 million to 45 million people trapped in some form of slavery today… more than at any other time in human history.” A film, special feature or website is no substitute for an actual visit to the Freedom Center and other museums and historical societies that tell stories of our history, culture, diversity and the challenges we face.

There is a darker side to the diversity of our community. It has many facets, including stories of our enslaved people and our community’s part in the slave trade. One story begins here in East Setauket, along Shore Road, overlooking Setauket Harbor.    

Joseph Rowland built the  schooner-yacht “Wanderer” in 1857 for Colonel John D. Johnson, a member of the New York Yacht Club and a wealthy sugar planter from New Orleans. Johnson raced the schooner and won every race until the yacht club disallowed “Wanderer’s” participation due to her size and speed. Angered, Johnson and “Wanderer” left New York in late spring 1858 for a tour of the south, including Charleston and Savannah. At every port “Wanderer” was widely acclaimed.  

During that tour Johnson sold “Wanderer” to William C. Corey and soon after she appeared in Port Jefferson. She was fitted out for the slave trade, probably at the yard of J.J. Harris. With installation of large water tanks and the appearance of the schooner “Charter Oak” outside the harbor with more supplies for “Wanderer”, S.S. Norton, surveyor of the port, became suspicious and notified federal officials in New York. The revenue cutter “Harriet Lane” intercepted “Wanderer” off Old Field Point and took her in tow to New York over Corey’s loud protests.

Corey glibly talked himself free and “Wanderer” was allowed to leave for Charleston, SC where the real owner Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar surfaced. Lamar, staying in the background because of his previous connection with slavers, obtained customs clearance for her. They completed fitting out for the slave trade and sailed for Africa. 

Slavers were rigged to outrun the slave squadrons of Great Britain and America, both of which were trying to stop the now illegal slave trade. On the west coast of Africa, “Wanderer” took aboard some 600 enslaved Africans and sailed for America. They were laid down side by side alternating head and feet, chained wrist to ankle, and kept there for days without sanitation. 

On the evening of November 28, 1858, “Wanderer” landed 465 Africans on Jekyll Island, Georgia. The rest had died during the voyage and were unceremoniously tossed over the side. Most of the Africans suffered from diarrhea, dietary deficiencies and skin diseases. They were sick, tired, needed rest, care and good food to recover, but had to be dispersed as soon as possible to avoid Federal questions about their status. A camp was set up and Dr. Robert  Hazelhurst, married to the sister of John and Henry DuBignon, owners of Jekyll Island, checked every African and none died in his care. 

“Wanderer” was seized by Federal authorities, but the Africans, now on Georgia soil, a slave state, had been quickly sold at auction. There was outrage in the U.S. Congress but little, if anything, was done, less than two years before the start of the Civil War.

The real story of “Wanderer” is about the enslaved African people who survived and thrived. Cilucangy, (SIL-U-CANNY) who learned basket weaving from his mother was taken from field work when his talent was recognized. Ward Lee, his American slave name, and his wife and many of their descendants lived their lives in Aiken County, SC not too far from where he was first enslaved. They raised four children and many of their descendants moved north settling in New York and on Long Island. These included 87-year-old Ocea Lee-Barnes, a resident of Hempstead, Long Island when she was interviewed in 2008 at a “Wanderer” survivor reunion on Jekyll Island. Cilucangy told his story in 1908 to an anthropologist from the University of Chicago. He dreamed of returning to Africa and died ten years later without fulfilling his dream.

  As of March 2024, the state of Georgia has identified at least 67 of the 409 captive men, women and children who were illegally smuggled aboard “Wanderer.” Cilucangy’s sons moved north, grandson William moved to Brooklyn. In the 1980s, his great-great granddaughters were named the Doublemint Gum Twins. Today the family includes teachers, lawyers, and guidance professionals. Margaret Higgins, another great-granddaughter of Cilucangy, lived in Nassau County and her grandson is named Alexander Cilucangy Valenti.

Many enslaved Africans from “Wanderer” remained in the coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia with a number being sold to plantations and individuals around Brunswick, Georgia and Jekyll Island. From December 1858 until the start of the Civil War, newspapers followed the destinies of some “Wanderer” enslaved Africans who were discovered in all the states of the lower south. Partly as a result of enslaved Africans landing on Jekyll Island, the Buchanan administration (1857-1861) strengthened the African squadron by adding steamers of war and permitting closer co-operation with the British. 

In 1861, “Wanderer” was seized by the federal government and used as a Civil War gunboat. She was credited  with capturing four prizes. After the war the U.S. Navy sold her to private owners who ran her aground on Cape Maisi, east of Cuba, on January 21, 1871 and she was a total loss.  “The Last Slave Ships – New York and the end of the middle Passage,” a 2020 book by John Harris, tells the story of New York City’s extensive involvement in the slave trade. 

Extensive research on shipbuilding in the Three Village area and Suffolk County was conducted over many decades by local writer and historian William B. Minuse (1908-2002). His research on “Wanderer” included a trip to Jekyll Island, Georgia where he was able to photograph items such as the mess kettle used to feed the enslaved Africans after they arrived on Jekyll Island.

Author Beverly C. Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket. Tel: 631-751-3730. http://WWW.TVHS.org

The Long Island. Photo courtesy of Fred Hall

By Sabrina Artusa

The Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company have added a new vessel to its fleet: the Long Island.

The 300-foot long,  53-foot wide ferry completed its first voyage to Bridgeport on Dec. 27. The boat features new amenities such as an updated interior and tier 4 engines, the highest standard for diesel engines. It can carry 1,000 passengers and up to 124 cars.

The Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company Vice President and General Manager Fred Hall was the second passenger on the first voyage of the Long Island. “It was a wonderful trip; it was great to see people oohing and aahing at the decor that they hadn’t seen before.”

Unlike the smaller Park City, the Grand Republic or PT Barnum, the Long Island has seating along the window, a counter with phone charging stations, two-seat and four-seat tables and a separate cabin for pets.

The speed is the same as the other boats, but the engine is of a higher standard and releases less carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon and particulate matter emissions.

The addition of a fourth boat to the fleet allows Hall and the company to pursue ventures besides the simple transit to and from Bridgeport.

Hall said that years ago the company used to plan excursions to other locations, such as Playland Park in Rye, an overnight trip to Albany or a trip down the Connecticut River. With an extra boat, this now may be possible.

A fourth boat also alleviates the burden of demand. the company can only schedule three boats, but having a fourth reduces the inconvenience of delays in the case one of the others needs repairs or is out of commission.

Further, Hall is exploring the possibility of using the fourth boat as a shuttle. In other words, if there is a surplus of vehicles waiting to board, and the scheduled vessel is at capacity, the fourth can serve as a shuttle to transport the remaining cars.

“This is the huge benefit,” Hall said. “Everyone asks me when is your peak season. I’ve always said when the public schools aren’t in session.” He had meant summers, but has since realized that weekends are just as busy.

“Our goal is to provide three-vessel service every weekend of the year. It is not going to happen 100% of the time. If you have four boats you have a better chance of providing three-boat service on the weekends consistently,” Hall said.

Come down to the Port Jefferson Harbor and check out the new addition of the Long Island.

By Ava Himmelsbach

This past Saturday, Sept. 7, the Port Jefferson Yacht Club and Village of Port Jefferson held their annual Village Cup Regatta to raise money and awareness for Mather’s Palliative Medicine Program and the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Anyone interested was allowed to be a crew member on the sailboats, with no experience required.

The event included multiple activities throughout the day, with two main parts: a parade followed by a race. The parade ran from the outer harbor on the west across to the waterfront on the east. In the race, participants from the Village of Port Jefferson and Mather Hospital competed as part of the Village Cup Charity Fundraiser.

The parade allowed teams to circle the port on their boats, all of which were decorated with flags and banners, and wave to the large crowd of guests as a prelude to the race. Families gathered on the docks to view the parade, which was managed by Port Jefferson Yacht Club staff and accompanied by bagpiper Marty Sexton. The parade lasted about 45 minutes and helped the sailors adjust to sporadic wind patterns throughout the day.

Despite overcast weather and sudden rain, sailors and guests had a great time, creating memories of a lasting tradition likely to continue in years to come. Rain began shortly after the parade and continued lightly for a couple of hours. Fortunately, the showers did not interfere with the race, and sailors proceeded as planned.

Port Jefferson Yacht Club Village Cup Regatta Committee member Dianna Stackow managed the setup process for the post-race gathering. “We are here to set up for the party that happens after the race,” she said. “They have speeches, raffles, food, wine, beer; Ralph Macchio will be here, and some government representation.” The party began around 3:30 p.m., welcoming guests and participants as they finished the race and celebrated another year of the tradition. “This is our 15th year, and we are going to break $1 million [in donations]. We’re very proud because we’re such a small club, so it’s such a large thing for us to do. It’s just such a good feeling, all around, everyone, our little club, you know, close together, and it’s nice to see what we accomplish.”

After an exhilarating race, participants, families, and guests gathered at a party in the Port Jefferson Village Center to celebrate their efforts and the successful fundraising brought by this year’s regatta. Celebrity ambassador Ralph Macchio has supported the regatta — along with the two programs funded by it — for the last 10 years. He was present at the event this weekend, along with many returnees who have helped uphold this tradition for the past decade and a half.

The friendly competition ended with the Village of Port Jefferson team winning.

The Memorial Parade of Boats can be viewed from Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson. File photo by Bob Savage
View Memorial Parade of Boats at Harborfront Park prior to race

It’s time once again to sail for a cure as the 15th annual Village Cup Regatta, a friendly competition between Mather Hospital and the Village of Port Jefferson, returns on Saturday, Sept. 7. 

Presented by the Port Jefferson Yacht Club in partnership with the Village of Port Jefferson, the Regatta raises funds for Mather Hospital’s Palliative Medicine Program and the Lustgarten Foundation, the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research in the world. Last year’s Regatta raised more than $100,000, which was divided between Mather Hospital and the Lustgarten Foundation. The event has raised almost $960,000 over 14 years and is poised to reach $1 million in donations this year.

The Regatta consists of Yacht Club-skippered sailboats divided into two teams representing Mather Hospital and the Village of Port Jefferson. Employees from the Hospital and Village, along with  village residents, help crew the boats, which race in one of three classes based on boat size. The festivities begin in Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson Village at 10 a.m., where you can purchase shirts,  commemorative hats, nautical bags and mugs. The Memorial Parade of Boats begins at 11 a.m. at the Port Jefferson Village dock. All sailboats participating in the Regatta will pass by the park dressed in banners and nautical flags on their way out to the racecourse on Long Island Sound.

Actor, director and local resident Ralph Macchio will once again serve as Village Cup Regatta Celebrity Ambassador for the event. Macchio has helped to publicize the important work of the two programs funded by the Regatta for the past 11 years. Macchio’s wife, Phyllis, is a nurse practitioner in Mather Hospital’s Palliative Medicine Program.

Following the Regatta, a celebratory Skipper’s Reception and presentation of the Village Cup will take place in a restored 1917 shipyard building that today serves as the Port Jefferson Village Center.

To sign up as a crew member for the Mather Hospital team, contact Cindy Court at 631-476-2723 or [email protected]

To sign up as a crew member for the Port Jefferson Village team, contact Sylvia at 631-473-4724, ext. 219 or email [email protected].

Businesses, organizations and individuals can support the Regatta and the programs it funds by sponsoring, donating, or purchasing tickets to attend the Skipper’s Reception or view the Regatta on a spectator boat. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit http://portjeffersonyachtclub.com/community/village-cup/ or www.facebook.com/villagecupregatta.

Photo from the Whaling Museum

COURSES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AGES 10 AND OLDER

The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor recently announced a spring series of NYS Certified Safe Boating Courses for students aged 10 and older. These courses provide essential knowledge about safe boat operation, regulations, and responsibilities of boat ownership. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, participants will earn a Safe Boating Certificate.

The course meets the New York State education requirement for the Personal Watercraft Operation Permit, Youth and Adult Boating Certificate. New York State certified instructors present the course in the Museum’s workshop. Participants may view the museum’s exhibits during short breaks throughout the 8-hour course.

Participants may bring a bagged lunch for the lunch break. Adults over the age of 18 have the option to walk into Cold Spring Harbor village to purchase lunch or coffee at any of the businesses or restaurants Main Street has to offer. Minors are not permitted to leave the museum during the course unless a parent or guardian is accompanying them.

Upon completion of the NYS Certified Safe Boating Course, students will receive a temporary safe boating card valid for 90 days. For students aged 18 and above, obtaining the permanent card requires sending the completed form and a $10 check to NYS. However, individuals under 18 will automatically receive the permanent card without any fee.

Upcoming course dates are scheduled for Sat, April 13; Sat, May 11; Sat, June 8; and Sat, July 13. Each course will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to continue offering this important course to our community,” said Gina Van Bell, Assistant Director of The Whaling Museum & Education Center. “Boating safety is paramount, and this course will provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe on the water. Dozens of Long Island residents have already their certificates with us through this course at the museum, and we’re excited to offer more opportunities to get certified this spring!”

The program fee is $35, which includes access to exhibits at the museum for the day. Payment will be collected at the museum before the program begins, and both cash and credit card are accepted. Registration is required and can be completed online at cshwhalingmuseum.org/events.

For more information about the NYS Safe Boating Course or to register, please visit cshwhalingmuseum.org/safeboating or contact Gina Van Bell at 631-367-3418 ext 12 or [email protected].

By Heidi Sutton

The 14th annual Village Cup Regatta, a friendly competition between Mather Hospital and the Village of Port Jefferson, set sail on Sept. 9 on the Long Island Sound for two good causes.

The Regatta consists of Yacht Club-skippered sailboat where employees from the Hospital and Village help crew the boats, which race in one of three classes based on boat size.

Presented by the Port Jefferson Yacht Club, the Regatta raises funds for Mather’s Palliative Medicine Program and the Lustgarten Foundation, which funds pancreatic cancer research. This year’s Regatta, which was won by the Mather team, raised $94,000 which was divided equally between the two groups. Mather Hospital’s Executive Director Kevin McGeachy accepted the Village Cup and the check for his team at a celebratory Skipper’s Reception at the Port Jefferson Village Center following the races. Mayor Lauren Sheprow represented the Port Jeff Village team.

Actor, director and local resident Ralph Macchio once again served as Village Cup Regatta Celebrity Ambassador for the event. Macchio has helped to publicize the important work of the two programs funded by the Regatta for the last ten years. His wife, Phyllis, is a nurse practitioner in Mather Hospital’s Palliative Medicine Program.

 

 

Scene from SailAhead's Let's Take A Veteran Sailing event on Aug. 13.

It was a spectacular sunny & breezy day for SailAhead’s Let’s Take A Veteran Sailing event hosted by Centerport Yacht Club (CYC) on Sunday, August 13. Thanks to CYC Officers, staff and over 100 volunteers on 35 boats with skippers & crews, all 140 veterans and guests had a memorable afternoon sailing on Long Island Sound to raise awareness for PTSD and veteran suicides.

Photos by Joan Gallo, Martha Keller & Jenny Duclay

The Memorial Parade of Boats can be viewed from Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson. File photo by Bob Savage
View Memorial Parade of Boats at Harborfront Park prior to race

It’s time once again to sail for a cure as the 14th annual Village Cup Regatta, a friendly competition between Mather Hospital and the Village of Port Jefferson, returns on Saturday, Sept. 9. 

Presented by the Port Jefferson Yacht Club, the Regatta raises funds for Mather’s Palliative Medicine Program and the Lustgarten Foundation, which funds pancreatic cancer research. Last year’s Regatta raised more than $109,000 — a record sum — which was divided between Mather Hospital and the Lustgarten Foundation. The event has raised almost $860,000 over the past 13 years.

The Regatta consists of Yacht Club-skippered sailboats divided into two teams representing Mather Hospital and the Village of Port Jefferson. Employees from the Hospital and Village help crew the boats, which race in one of three classes based on boat size. 

The festivities begin in Harborfront Park, 101 East Broadway in Port Jefferson Village, at 10 a.m, where you can purchase shirts, commemorative hats, nautical bags and mugs. The Memorial Parade of Boats begins at 11 a.m. at the Port Jefferson Village dock. All sailboats participating in the Regatta will pass by the park dressed in banners and nautical flags on their way out to the Long Island Sound for the race which begins at 1 p.m.

Actor, director and local resident Ralph Macchio will once again serve as Village Cup Regatta Celebrity Ambassador for the event. Macchio has helped to publicize the important work of the two programs funded by the Regatta for the last ten years. Macchio’s wife, Phyllis, is a nurse practitioner in Mather Hospital’s Palliative Medicine Program.

Following the Regatta, a celebratory Skipper’s Reception and presentation of the Village Cup will take place  at 3:30 p.m. in a restored 1917 shipyard building that today serves as the Port Jefferson Village Center, just steps away from the Harborfront Park.

To sign up as a crew member for the Mather Hospital team, contact Cindy Court at 631-476-2723 or [email protected]

To sign up as a crew member for the Port Jefferson Village team, contact Sylvia at 631-473-4724, ext. 219 or email [email protected].

For more information and to purchase tickets to the reception ($50 per person includes food, wine, beer and raffles), please visit www.portjeffersonyachtclub.com or www.facebook.com/villagecupregatta.

For further questions, please call 631-512-1068.

The Golden Rule, a peace ship manned by Veterans for Peace, enters Port Jefferson Harbor. Photo by Aidan Johnson
By Aidan Johnson

The Golden Rule, a peace ship operated by Veterans for Peace, docked in Port Jeff on Friday, May 26, encouraging conversations about ending wars, raising environmental consciousness and promoting nuclear disarmament.

Over a dozen people welcomed the vessel into Port Jeff Harbor. As it arrived, crew members, led by Captain Steve Buck, symbolically asked permission to dock and come ashore from members of the Setalcott Nation. This Native American tribe had initially inhabited the land. 

Myrna Gordon, a member of the North Country Peace Group and coordinator of the docking ceremony, said plans for the event were in the works for over four months. NCPG had also collaborated with the South Country Peace Group and the Conscience Bay Quakers, among other local peace groups.

Veterans for Peace were looking for a North Shore harbor to dock their ship. When their original plans to bring their boat to Northport didn’t work out, Port Jefferson was suggested. 

“I jumped on board and said this is the most beautiful harbor on the North Shore,” Gordon said. “We have a park. We have all the facilities. We have an agreeable government who will willingly accept the boat for a few days.” 

After docking, Catherine Green, a representative of Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket), read a proclamation in which the Suffolk County Legislature recognized the efforts of the crew of the Golden Rule in the cause of peace on earth. Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) also presented a proclamation on behalf of Brookhaven, establishing the date as Veterans for Peace Day.