DNAinfo: Brooklyn Boat Club Kicks Off Season with Kayaks, Canoes and Oysters

“The Greenpoint-based North Brooklyn Boat Club launches its spring season this month with an expanded lineup of vessels and environmental work, from water quality testing to the creation of oyster habitats, its leaders said. The club, which will feature rides at least twice a week starting in May, has expanded this year to include two canoe instructors and additional boats, founding member Jens Rasmussen explained. “A big thing is not just getting people on the water, but also teaching skills to the highest levels,” Rasmussen said. “Canoe instruction is available to any club members for free.”

The group — based currently at a space on Ash Street by Newtown Creek — will also start building habitats for filter feeders like oysters and clams, he noted. “Clams and oysters are natural organisms already present in the estuary, and they’re natural water cleaners. We’ve started documenting where they’re living, and we want to encourage more to grow,” Rasmussen said. “We’re seeing more and more dolphins and seals because the water is getting cleaner, and we want to help that.”
This spring members will also have the chance to help restore wooden vessels, and to continue the water quality testing the club began last year with the New York City Water Trail Association, he said.”

DNAinfo: Brooklyn Boat Club Kicks Off Season with Kayaks, Canoes and Oysters (April 2, 2013)

This entry was posted in Press and tagged DNAinfo, Press on April 2, 2013 by admin.

The New Yorker: Goings on About Town

Photograph by Gabriele Stabile/The New Yorker

“According to Jens Rasmussen, a founding member of this organization and its communications coordinator, “The club was born from desires to reclaim, protect, and celebrate one of North Brooklyn’s greatest natural resources—the waterways.” The club, which formed in 2010, is dedicated to getting people out on the waters around Greenpoint and Williamsburg, including the East River and Newtown Creek—“on the water” being different from “in the water,” an important distinction here, given that Newtown Creek is one of the most polluted waterways in the country. To that end, the club trains would-be explorers in safe boating practices, educates them about the environment, and even runs boatbuilding workshops.”
The New Yorker – Goings On About Town (April 8, 2013)

This entry was posted in Press and tagged Press, The New Yorker on April 1, 2013 by admin.

New NBBC Brochure!

In anticipation of the 2013 membership season, we recently produced a new NBBC brochure featuring a ‘Get to Know North Brooklyn Waters’ Map, 2013 currents chart and our beloved NBBC drawing by artist Duke Riley. The currents chart indicates the times of slack water each day, or the point at which the East River shifts direction between the incoming flood and outgoing ebb tides that occur twice a day. Just some fun and handy info for boaters and landlubbers alike! (For more guidance in reading the current chart, consult an NBBC trip leader.) Click on the images below to enlarge or stop by our boatyard to pick up a print copy in person!

This entry was posted in Uncategorized on April 22, 2013 by admin.

Winter Paddle With Harbor Seals

A group of NBBC trip leaders took to the water today, paddling the East River with a photographer from The New Yorker. There weren’t any dolphins to be seen, but a harbor seal was seen patrolling the chilly waters!

Update: We’re excited to see this great photo by photographer Gabriele Stabile published in The New Yorker’s Goings on About Town!