The Nautical Advisory Council (NAC) of the Port Washington Public Library (PWPL) will present three multimedia presentations about Long Island Sound during the months of January through March. The Sound is arguably Long Island’s greatest natural resource, and is an essential part of what makes Long Island a unique and favored place to live. This series will focus on three topics: environment, nautical history and recreation on the Sound. Presentations start at 7:30 p.m. at the library. The presentation is free.
The first of the series is on Thursday, Jan. 28, and is titled “Environmental Issues and Long Island Sound.” Amy Mandelbaum, Long Island Sound Outreach coordinator at NY Seas Grant, will join Joel Ziev, a Long Island Sound Citizens Advisory member, in exploring the latest conservation efforts to protect and preserve the health of the Sound’s ecosystem. They will focus on the 2015 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, which addresses environmental challenges including sustainability, climate change resilience and environmental justice.
Next in the series is “Nautical History of Long Island Sound: Exploring Long Island Shipwrecks.” Eco-photo explorers will present a multimedia program examining shipwrecks from throughout Long Island’s history, from the Revolutionary War through modern times, including photos of what the wrecks look like today and what types of marine life inhabit them.
Lastly, on Thursday, March 31, “Recreation on Long Island Sound” will bring members of Port Rowing to the library to introduce their organization. Their participants range from juniors to adults, including rowers with special needs. Learn more about the group and hear exciting stories about how their team, while training on the Sound, came within 100 yards of a humpback whale.
Other Seminars:
There are several upcoming US Sailing seminars: (title, date, location, instructor): Club Judge, Jan. 30, Oakcliff Sailing Center, Eric Johnson; Basic Umpire, Feb. 6, Storm Trysail, Peter Wilson; Judges Roundtable, Feb. 13, Oakcliff Sailing Center, Bruce Cook; Advanced Umpire, Feb. 20, Oakcliff, Bruce Cook; Club Race Officer, Feb. 27, Larchmont YC, Hank Stuart and Cynthia Parthemos; Club Judge, Feb. 28, Larchmont YC, Hank Stuart; Advanced Race Officer, March 5-6, Larchmont YC, Hank Stuart, Cynthia Parthemos; Advanced Race Officer, April 2-3, Oakcliff, Sailing Center, Tom Duggan and Peter Reggio. For more information go to www.ussailing.org/race-officials/become-a-race-official.
Oakcliff Sailing Center has a new program: The Onboard Report/Media Acorn Program, which will run from May 23 to 28 and will focus on bringing the story from offshore to the living room. The program, taught by Oakcliff staff and Volvo Ocean Race experts, will culminate in a true, offshore experience with the Block Island Race or the Atlantic Cup (Charleston to NYC, NYC to Portland, ME). With sponsors and spectators now demanding media content in real time, students will learn to fill this integral media role through video, story writing, photography, blogging and more. The program cost is $750, which includes room and board. Need-based scholarships are also available. Call Oakcliff at 516-802-0368 with questions.
Speaking of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR), two years ago, Americans Charlie Enright and Mark Towill were just 29 and 26 years old, respectively, when they launched their 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race campaign. The duo has announced the formation of their new racing team, 55 South. Enright and Towill will train, race and work toward their goal of returning to the Volvo Ocean Race in 2017-18. On Wed., Jan. 27, at the Darien Community Center, 274 Middlesex Rd., Darien, CT, Enright and Towill will present “An Insider’s View of Alvimedica and the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race.” Get the inside scoop on what it’s like to race a 65-footer for 39,000 miles around the world. Cost is $15 per person. Sponsored by Noroton YC.
