April is always an exciting time for KSA as our members begin prepping their boats to go into the water, and our especially ambitious members get their boats into the water. Let's celebrate those who are working on their boats, or helping others to get ready. Join us to discuss plans for our first flotilla of the year as well as other exciting upcoming events.
Please feel free to bring a guest, all are welcome.
As always, at The Brazen Tavern, 356 W 44th St. (between 8 & 9 Aves.)
Please reach out to the board@ksasailing.org with any questions you may have.
Hello KSA Members!
The 2025 Spring Boat Commissioning has arrived!
Each spring captains spend countless hours loving on their boats and getting them water-ready. As is tradition, this work is made easier, faster and more enjoyable when the larger KSA community volunteers their time to help. For crew it''s a great way to learn about boat maintenance, pick up a few new skills or bring existing expertise to bear and pay-it forward for the reward of future outings.
Sign Up Form: 2025 KSA Spring Commissioning Sign Up
Responses: 2025 KSA Spring Commissioning Responses
To help ensure efficient resources and talent allocation Domenic and Peter ask that you fill out the appropriate simple forms. We'll use the info to help organize dates and member's skill to boat-need assignments.
This is a great opportunity as a club to come together as a community providing support to make sure we all are ready to enjoy the fair winds this summer. Thank you!
Best,
Peter and the KSA Board
It's already May - which means it's sailing season! We hope you are looking forward to our first flotilla this month... but more importantly, join us this month to discuss our Pride plans!
As always at The Brazen Tavern, 356 W 44th St. (between 8 & 9 Aves.)
This sail will be aboard the Michael Leslie a 40 foot Caliber Cutter Rig as well as Proud Mary a J40.
Your Captains are Bill Hellmers and Steve Kelley and Floyd Feather and James Weichert.
We will depart from Manhasset Bay Marina, 10 Matinecock Ave, Port Washington New York 11051. For those taking the LIRR train to Port, we can arrange a pickup at the station.
This sail is designed for new(ER) KSA members who are interested in getting out on the water and learning some of the basics of sailing.
Bring your own sunscreen, and something to eat or share. Please don't make any early Saturday evening plans. The weather in May can be pretty chilly so dress appropriately. NO BLACK SOLE SHOES!
Note: Please, when you registers, be sure you will attend. Since space is limited others may be turned away.
It will be a great day on the water. We look forward to sailing with you.
Exact departure time will be based on tide information. More to follow...
Join us for our first flotilla of 2025!
Here's the plan:
(Each boat should prepare a dish to share with others on the Raft-Up)
(Plans may change due to weather; please coordinate with your captain. LIRR service is frequent to Port Washington with a short walk to the Town Dock and a water taxi to raft-up available - again, please coordinate with your captain.)
There are three registration types. (A) Captains bringing their boats (B) Crew already accepted and made arrangements with a captain to be on board (C) Crew who would like to participate, but not assigned to a boat. [By selecting this option, there is no guarantee we will be able to place you on a boat, however we we make every effort to do so.)
We hope you all are looking forward to Pride, just as we are. Come hear what KSA has planned to celebrate the season with you. From Stonewall Sails to our Rainbow Rally, we want to make sure that each of our members has place to celebrate our love for the water and each other.
Please join us for the Annual Stonewall Sails Regatta, to be held on
Saturday, June 21th
at Hudson River Community Sailing, 207 12th Avenue (at 26th Street)
Here's the schedule:
3:00 PM Skippers Meeting
4:00 PM First boats head out
5:30 - 8:00 PM Racing
8:30 Drinks and Awards at the Frying Pan
In addition to event registration, here's the link to the HRCS donation page:
https://give.classy.org/prideregatta2025
Rainbows on the Hudson 2025
We will gather north of the Statue of Liberty starting at 11am and lunch there. We will then line up and head north up the Hudson River and show our colors.
There are three types of Registration
Please register you boat as Captain
Please advise how many additional guests you are willing to accept.
If you are a Crew member assigned to a boat please register and indicate the boat to which you are assigned.
Guests may register to try and find space on one of our boats. The best option is to reach out directly to one of our participating captains. All participants are required to donate to The Ali Forney Center!
What to expect
Boats will gather north the Statue of Liberty and south of Ellis Island beginning at 11am on Saturday June 28th and plan to lunch there. When entering that area be sure to be well aware of the security markers (white) and stay clear of the area. (Well depicted on the chart) Depending on sea conditions, boats will either anchor up or request to raft up to an anchored vessels. Two important points....if you allow your guest to swim please put out a line as the current could be can be very strong.....also if you are approaching a raft up, do NOT approach if swimmers are in the water.
At approximately 1pm, we will depart the statue and head to the Battery. Once there we will head north up the Hudson river. We will then turn around and to return to the Battery, round the corner to South Street Seaport before heading to One 15 Brooklyn Marina.
We hope all of you will be able to join us at BROOKLYN BRIDGE MARINA
on Saturday for a Cocktail Party and Potluck Dinner (BYOE) at the docks.
CONTACTS
STEVE KELLEY @ Skelley1252@gmail.COM
BRIAN SAMULESON @ RAINBOWLANDINGS@CS.COM
If you are looking for color for your vessel try these sites
RAINBOW DEPOT
or
PRIDE PALACE
Dockage Available at Brooklyn Bridge Marina
(formerly known as Pier One 15 Brooklyn Marina)
Make your reservation on DOCWA - S/V Michael Leslie staying on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Our Rainbows on the Hudson is in support of the Ali Forney Center which supports homeless LGBT@Q youth.
Please remember your donation to the Ali Forney Center - all participants must donate using this link:
Ali Forney
Please don't make donations as anonymous as we track them for participation for this event!
NOTE: Many companies provide matching donations so check with your employer.
2025 July 4th Fireworks
Major's Harbor, Shelter Island, NY
TBD.
So much to discuss. Let's celebrate an amazing month of Pride!
Please join us at The Brazen Tavern, 356 W 44th St. (between 8 & 9 Aves.) with great drinks, food à la carte, and an amazing upstairs.
2025 Founder's Ball
New London, CT
Kicking off this year's Eastern Long Island flotilla we are graciously invited to Braden's home in New London, CT. Starting at 5:00PM on Saturday, July 26th - with transportation available by land and by sea.
There'll be grilling stuff (burgers, dogs, chicken, italian sausage, veggies), salads (potato salad, mixed green) and dessert (pies, whipped cream), coffee. Please byob and/or bring a dish to pass and register for the event to receive address and directions.
Moorings are available at Thames Yacht Club. Please reserve at thamesyc.org
Sunday, July 27th – Monday July 28th
This year, we will start in New London the day after the Founder's Ball and sail the short distance to Mystic, CT.
Schedule:
Sunday 7/27: Sail to Mystic Harbor. Reservations are required and must be organized well in advance for captains.
Monday 7/28: Boats will leave for points East.
Thursday 7/31: For those boats who make it to Provincetown, MA we are having a barbecue on Flyer's Dock in the evening. Flyer's is offering preferred rates for those boats mooring with them
Maine: For those boats continuing on to Maine additional information with be TBD.
Please contact Braden Toan for more information.
The season is in full swing! Two more flotillas to go and so many stories from midsummer.
Please join us at The Brazen Tavern, 356 W 44th St. (between 8 & 9 Aves.)with great drinks, food à la carte, and an amazing upstairs.
Looking forward to seeing you all there.
2025 Labor Day Flotilla
Oyster Bay, NY
Saturday night potluck and overnight raftup in Oyster Bay Cove (roughly where the red circle on the chart is).
Moorings are available at Oyster Bay Marine Center (https://www.obmc.com/) via Dockwa and there is good holding for anchoring in the Cove (note that you must be on a mooring for launch service). Launch service runs until 11pm. Sagamore Yacht Club also has transient moorings if you're a member of another yacht club with reciprocal privileges. There's also a dinghy dock just inside the town marina basin. .
Look forward to seeing you!
For questions or more info please contact Matt Kapp at matt@mattkapp.com.
What a great Labor Day Flotilla! Can't wait to hear all about it, and to plan for our next flotilla, the Columbus Day armada up the Hudson River for fall foliage.
After such a busy and exciting sailing season it might be a good idea to sit back, possibly with a cocktail in hand and reflect on what made 2024 so great. We've also still got a busy winter season to plan, including Captains and Crew, a Holiday Party and an Annual Meeting.
Native Peoples’ Day Flotilla
This year up the Hudson for Fall foliage.
Join us by boat, by train, or by car - we'll be rafting up in Croton Bay, with weather-dependent day sailing.
If you're coming out for the day, please let us know so that we can coordinate getting you out on the boats.
Please join us for our "Captains and Crew" meeting to plan next year's season. Let's make 2025 a great one.
As always at The Brazen Tavern, 356 W 44th St. (between 8 & 9 Aves.)with great drinks, food à la carte, and an amazing upstairs.
Happy Holidays and warm wishes to each of you. Please join us to celebrate!
This year at The Brazen Tavern, 356 W 44th St. (between 8 & 9 Aves.) with great drinks, passed hors d'oeuvre and food à la carte.
Knickerbocker Sailing Association
New York, NY
