You Sail in Brooklyn?

I'm surprised with the amount of people who ask me this question.

Brooklyn has more than 30 miles of coastline, with some of the most breathtaking views on the planet. Its waterways, running from from the East River, under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and into the Atlantic Ocean are filled with snappers, bluefish, bass and fluke.

As for the sailing, I think Brooklyn offers some of the best conditions around, and I'm not alone. As part of New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympics, the proposal included a "sailing center" in Breezy Point, with competition to take place off the Brooklyn coastline in Jamaica Bay. On a typically breezy June afternoon, you'll find kiteboarders and windsurfers, sailing alongside a variety of sailboats, ranging from daysailors and sportboats to ocean cruisers. While today's sailboat racing scene may not be Olympic caliber, the burgeoning fleet of racers from the Miaramar (www.miramaryc.com), Sheepshead, Rockaway Point Yacht and Deep Creek Yacht Clubs can be seen fighting around the marks. Last year's racing season in Brooklyn was highlighted by the first Brooklyn Cup Regatta, which attracted more than 100 sailors from Brooklyn, Long Island, Connecticut and New Jersey.