Classroom of the Waves
Sailing on Clearwater
Ready on the throat? Ready on the peak? The gaff swings gently back and forth.
Quieted passengers eagerly await the captain’s words, Haul away the throat!
Haul away the peak! The hauling lines surge into action; urging voices join
the chantey; arms pull in unison. Overhead the mainsail curls and snaps in the
wind. Slowly the sail rises as the weight of the spar and canvas wears away the
strength of many arms. Lifting the mighty boom is all that remains; with a few
good heaves, and then a few more, it’s hauled up into position. The
halyards are made fast and coiled, the motor shut off and
Clearwater
becomes a white wing on the water.
Program Overview
All sails on the Clearwater—whether for groups of adults or school children,
for Clearwater members of the public—share similar elements. On a typical
day, the passengers assemble at the dock for a brief orientation to the boat
and crew. Once underway, an otter trawl is set to gather specimens for the fish
tank. Then it’s all hands to the halyards to help hoist the sails.
Following sail raising, different learning stations can include fish, plankton,
invertebrates, sediments, water chemistry, steering and sailing the vessel,
navigation and a variety of other topics. Time is set aside during the sail for
the entire group to come together to learn about Clearwater’s history and
mission. A highlight of nearly all sails is a period of silence allowing
everyone to reflect on aspects of the boat, river, and life they have seen
while under sail. Music by the crew may follow the silence, and passengers join
in songs about sailing and environmental concerns helping to bring a sense of
community to the day.
Individuals and Families
With the idea in mind that if you brought a beautiful boat to a river suffering
from neglect, Clearwater was built to remind people along the shore of what a
remarkable and invaluable resource the Hudson could be. The sloop continues to
bring the people to the river to see the progress we’ve made as well as
the work that still needs to be done.
Public Sails:
Often scheduled in conjunction with waterfront events, these
sails are listed in Clearwater’s publication, The Navigator, and the local
press.
Member Sails and Volunteer Crew:
In addition to the benefit of knowing that
their support enables Clearwater to continue its education and advocacy work,
members of the organization are offered unique sailing opportunities.
Member sails are scheduled throughout the season.
More information will be available here.
Sail information is also published
in flyers as well as in the Clearwater Navigator.
Clearwater’s crew is made up of both professionals and volunteers. Members
interested in volunteering for a week aboard the sloop should visit our
Volunteer page.
Group Sails
Groups wishing to sail on Clearwater can take advantage of our program of
chartered sails. The program’s flexibility makes it an enjoyable and
memorable experience for groups of many different ages, backgrounds, and
interests. Since 1969, Clearwater’s on-board education program has become
an integral part of the curricula of numerous schools, education centers, and
youth groups. A field trip on the sloop is often the centerpiece of units
covering history, biology, general science, or environmental science. Teachers
and group leaders are aided in the development of such units with resource
materials provided by the Clearwater staff.
A variety of adult groups ranging from non-profit environmental centers and
outing clubs to professional associations come aboard Clearwater each season.
The adaptability of the ‘Classroom of the Waves’ allows the education
staff to tailor programs to suit a wide range of needs.
Bringing a group for a sail with Clearwater begins with filling out an
application. If you don’t already have an application, please contact the
office.
 |
Haul on the Bowline
Traditional - 97K |
Scheduling
Clearwater sails from April through November in the Hudson River, New York
Harbor and Long Island Sound. She is able to pick up and discharge passengers
at many docks in the region.
The bulk of scheduling is done approximately five months in advance through
Clearwater’s on-shore headquarters. Further information on scheduling and
fees as well as sail applications are available from:
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.
112 Market Street · Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 · USA
Tel: (845) 454-7673 · Fax: (845) 454-7953
ClassWaves@Clearwater.Org
Clearwater’s itinerary is determined by the policies of her Board of
Directors, by the number and types of requests received and by the anticipated
needs of the sloop and her crew. Because Clearwater receives many more
applications than can be accommodated, submission of a group sail application
should not be regarded as assurance of obtaining a sail. Once scheduling is
complete, contracts are written and a non-refundable deposit is required. If a
contracted group cancels a sail and gives Clearwater less than two weeks
notice, the full fee will not be refunded. Canceling sails due to dangerously
inclement weather is done at the discretion of the captain, and refunds will be
provided.
|
I can’t believe it’s time to reapply for this fantastic program. We
have not stopped talking about our last sail and all of the special events that
took place. |
|
Irwin Zaretsky, Shoreham Wading River Middle School |
Safety on Board:
Clearwater and vessels conducting Classroom of the Waves programs for The
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. are licensed to carry passengers for hire,
are inspected annually, carry all required safety equipment and operate in full
cooperation with the US Coast Guard. Life Jackets and ‘buoyant apparatus’
are stored on deck as required by the Coast Guard. The Hudson River Sloop
Clearwater, Inc. has full liability coverage for all programs. |
