VCB Row Around Manhattan 2021

We’re back on the water! Every year, the Village Community Boathouse mobilizes its fleet of traditional wooden rowing craft for a circumnavigation of the most famous island in the world.


The Row Around Manhattan (RAM) is a challenging and incredibly scenic 30-mile voyage that begins at our boathouse on the south side of Pier 40, circles Manhattan on the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers in a counter-clockwise direction, and ends with a spectacular party back at the boathouse. The RAM is also our biggest fundraiser of the year; we ask each rower to raise or contribute a minimum of $100.


This year’s RAM will take place on Sunday, August 22 (rain date September 11) with a start time of 6:00am (Crews need to be on hand at 5:30 at the latest).


Non-members are welcome to join us provided they have sufficient rowing experience or join us for at least three practice rows between now and the event. Non-rowing friends, family, and colleagues are encouraged to support the effort by volunteering at the event.


You must register in advance! Sign-up is easy:
Go here.


For more information, email Deborah Clearman

at [email protected] or call Deborah at 917-747-6180.


2019 VCB ROW AROUND MANHATTAN

Deborah Clearman

At dawn on Saturday, August 17, forty-four intrepid rowers gathered at Pier 40 to begin VCB’s annual circumnavigation of the most famous island in the world. We were joined by four members of the international press from Australia, Brazil, and Switzerland, and by VCB’s new friend Captain Jack Maggi whose Hospitality Boat carried three passengers who wanted to make the voyage by motor rather than human power. Our Chase Boat, skippered by Ingo Gunther, first mate Dave Clayton, carried one of the journalists. The other three rode along in gigs.

We set out right on schedule in six Whitehall gigs and King Tide. Our crews included six visiting Gloucester Gig Rowers, two members of the Boston Rowing Club, and nine dynamic Dragon Boaters from Morgan Stanley who had decided to spend a relaxing day facing sternward for a change of pace. Commodore Marcel Dejean provided each crew with well-designed map of the route complete with a schedule, designated stopping points, and helpful instructions (where there would be bathrooms! what hazards to avoid!). Marcel’s route and schedule would prove to be just right.

The weather forecast had been unsettled, with a small chance of thunderstorms in the area. Fortunately these held off. Light cloud cover and a gentle northeast breeze provided refreshing rowing conditions as we rode the Hudson ebb south, rounded the Battery, and met the flood tide to sweep us up the East River. At 9:30 AM we reached Anable Basin, where, with the generous permission of Long Island City Community Boathouse, we tied up at their floating dock. After a long break to drink coffee and wait out the tides, we continued up the still flooding East River to cross Hell Gate in a weakening current and enter the Harlem River as it was beginning to ebb. Luckily for human-powered boaters, the Harlem ebbs north, the opposite of the East.

We enjoyed the placid waters of the Harlem River, counting the bridges we rowed under. There are 21 in the whole circumnavigation. Along the Harlem we passed the picturesque Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse, home of Row New York, and several inviting homeless camps tucked along the wooded shoreline.

We entered the Hudson at Spuyten Duvil, where the low rail bridge was open for boats for the first time in several years (so we didn’t have to take down bow flags and duck). The Hudson was beginning to ebb, and we pulled over at the beach under Dyckman Street Pier for a short break. By this time the crews had all become friends and the Gloucester Gig Rowers were inviting us to come row with them in Massachusetts. After a brief chat we jumped into our gigs for the last and hardest leg of the voyage. The boats spread out across the silver river under the magnificent George Washington Bridge. Some foolish person remarked at how flat the water was. Flags up in Washington Heights were still indicating a gentle northeast breeze. Ha! Old man Hudson must have heard, and soon he kicked up a stiff east wind that pushed us over to the Jersey side and set some nice big waves in motion. For the last hour we bounded over waves into the wind, arriving back at Pier 40 in various stages of exhaustion, happy to have tested our mettle after ten hours on the water.

Inside the boathouse Melissa Curtis and her band of elves had transformed our normally cluttered workspace into a festive party room. Tables set with colorful tablecloths, a spread of delicious African food, and a variety of cold beverages welcomed in the tired mariners. We reconnected with friends, family, and volunteers who had helped make the event successful, and we celebrated a great row.

We thank all who came from near and far to pull an oar with us, to share the day with us, and to donate their hard-earned doubloons to Village Community Boathouse.


Photos by Sally Curtis

Row Around Manhattan 2018

 

On Sunday, September 30th, 30 rowers in six gigs circumnavigated the island of Manhattan. The flotilla left Pier 40 at 8:30 AM, made its way down the Hudson, rounded the Battery and caught the flood tide up the East River. Then, approaching The Brooklyn Navy Yard, it got exciting when the fleet encountered headwinds, crazy currents, and sloppy, choppy water before making it to Hallets Cove in Astoria, where rowers stopped to rest and wait for the tide to turn.

While crews were picnicking in Socrates Park, a rogue wave smashed over the beached gigs, filling one gig, Storm Queen, with water and throwing her onto the rocks. The valiant crew bailed her dry and discovered a hole, which was patched with duct tape. Then, a little bruised and battered, the fleet set off through Hell’s Gate and up the Harlem River. After a brief and refreshing stop at Swindler’s Cove in Inwood, we began the last and most arduous leg of the journey—passing Spuyten Duyvil and entering the mighty Hudson where the wind shifted from north to south. The headwind made the 12-mile row down the Hudson a challenging slog.  In addition, wind against current created huge waves, which made the going tough and slow. All boats made it back to Pier 40 with navigation lights lit by 7:00, well past dark. After nearly eleven hours on the water, the rowers were exhausted—but still managed to party!

VCB has raised $5,645 so far, and the money continues to trickle in. We’re particularly proud to have raised $1,000 for our high school rowers—a program that introduces young people to rowing, teamwork, and environmental stewardship at a key point in their lives. Because several people asked me if it was too late to contribute, I’m putting a link HERE to the fundraising page. There’s still time!
 
Once again, a huge thanks to everyone who has donated to Village Community Boathouse Row Around Manhattan 2018.. Free public rowing continues every Sunday at noon at Pier 40 as long as weather permits, usually well into November. Come row with us!
 
Special Thanks to Rob Buchanan & David Shehegian for organizing, Briana for catering, Dave & Marcel for boat wrangling, and Ingo for chase boating.

Row Around Manhattan 2017

By

Sally Curtis

 

 

On Saturday, Forty-two participants in six Whitehall Gigs and a chase boat completed the 27 mile circumnavigation of Manhattan in about nine hours as part of VCB’s annual Row Around Manhattan Fundraiser. The funds were raised to support VCB’s Free Public Rowing programs. The afterparty at the boathouse was the best part.

 

Row Around Manhattan 2016

Seven gigs and a chase boat circumnavigated the island of Manhattan on Saturday making VCB’s annual Row Around Manhattan a great success raising close to our goal of $5K thanks in part to the 20 Danes who joined the flotilla. Sustained  NW head winds of 10 – 15 mph  from Tropical Cyclone Hermine gave rowers a workout on the East River and the Harlem followed by a free ride down the Hudson with the wind at our backs and a following tide.

Sally’s Photos: