Author: Chris Szepessy

Prescott Littlefield, Waterfront Programs Manager at the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point Regional Campus in Groton, loves his work. “I grew up in Old Greenwich and started sailing at Riverside Yacht Club at age nine in Sunfish before moving into Blue Jays, then briefly a full-rig Laser (the 4.7 and Radial didn’t exist yet) and finally I420s, which replaced Fireballs,” says Prescott. “The first sailboat I owned was a JY15 that my life partner, Anne, gave me…

By Todd Vorenkamp, NESS Director of Communications As NESS – the New England Science & Sailing Foundation – approaches its 20th year serving the community, it continues to expand its reach through the region as well as broaden its educational, adaptive sailing, and adult ocean adventure programs from its base in Stonington, CT. Personal Growth “Sailing Summer Camp” brings to mind a stereotype of kids messing around on boats and avoiding sunburns. NESS’s summer camp program certainly…

By Amanda Hawkins, HRMM PR & Marketing Coordinator One of the most lively areas in the mid-Hudson is the charming Rondout waterfront in Kingston, NY. Sitting next to the water at one of the many restaurants, watching boats go by, and catching up with the newest exhibits at the Hudson River Maritime Museum (HRMM) are some activities this area has to offer. The museum has recently grown to a three-building campus that includes the Clearwater Barn, the…

By Don Sullivan Photos by the author Attending The WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut in June of 2018, I spotted a beautiful yet hearty double-ended yawl tied up to one of the in-water exhibits. I walked by a few times, never spoke to anyone, but never forgot the boat either. The following year, I returned to the show and there she was again! I introduced myself to Geoff Kerr, the builder of this…

By Ger Tysk, Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island Mate/ Marine Operations Associate Traditional rigging for sailing vessels is not a job for the fainthearted. Besides having to commit hundreds of knots, splices and leather- and woodworking skills to mind and muscle memory, rigging involves fine detail work and intricate knowledge of traditional techniques passed down through generations. The safety of crew and the structural integrity of the ship are literally in the hands of the rigger. Among…

By Michael Graca, Buzzards Bay Coalition Communications Director The historic, seaside village of Onset, MA will be teeming with sails this summer with the opening of the Onset Bay Center, a hub for on-the-water exploration for children and adults that is operated by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, a membership-supported non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and sustainable use and enjoyment of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. Sailing, kayaking and paddling, swimming and coastal exploration will be…

By Carol Newman Cronin Published by She Writes Press   357 pages   paperback   $16.95 A new book from our friend Carol Newman Cronin, an award-winning writer and editor as well as an Olympian, is always a treat. Scheduled for release in June, Carol’s newest novel might be her best yet. Fired from his job ferrying passengers from imaginary Brenton Island to Newport, Rhode Island after being caught with a small amount of contraband in his possession, Captain James…

By Jon L. Ten Haagen, CFP® Published by Xlibris 83 pages paperback $15.99 “It is never too early or too late to start investing!” says Certified Financial Planner Jon Ten Haagen, who has written a very useful book about retirement planning. Topics covered – thoughtfully presented in terms that even this reviewer was able to understand! – include how to choose a qualified financial planner, creating a retirement budget, eradicating debt, the basics of investing, estate planning,…

Your first offshore race is a rite of passage that will provide wonderful memories for a sailing lifetime. Our friends at Sail Black Rock, Oakcliff Sailing, the Storm Trysail Foundation, and Gill have partnered with WindCheck to present our second annual youth essay contest, featuring a truly amazing prize! The winning essay will appear in an upcoming issue of WindCheck (No, that’s not the prize!). The author will receive a very nice set of Gill foul weather…

The organizers of The Atlantic Cup, our friends at Manuka Sports Event Management in Newport, RI, are once again presenting their popular Atlantic Cup Kids Program in conjunction with this year’s edition of the race, which is scheduled (tentatively as this issue went to press!) to start in Charleston, SC on June 5. With sailing events all over the world being cancelled, they’ve shifted the focus of this year’s Atlantic Cup Kids Program from hands-on learning at the docks…