Gung Hay Fat Choy: Year of the Golden Pig

Yesterday marked the start of the new year according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Year of the Dog concluded and and yesterday we celebrated the Year of the Golden Pig, which occurs every 60 or 600 years (depending on who you ask). Apparently, the pig is celebrated in China and some people believe that children born this year will be blessed with good luck and wealth. This fact, hasn't gone unnoticed in China, where they expect a 10 percent boom in births during the Year of the Golden Pig.

From a sailor's perspective, perhaps the Year of the Golden Pig will bring good fortune to the Chinese America's Cup Syndicate, who's CHN 95 has the coolest paint scheme of all the syndicates, but face a tough battle in the Louis Vuitton Cup to challenge the right to challenge the America's Cup winner to battle.

Yesterday, we decided to get in the spirit of Gung Hay Fat Choy and headed to New York City's Chinatown to join in the festivities. We loved the bands, the lucky red lanterns and, of course, the many dragons.

More photos are available at Sail Brooklyn's Flickr Page.

Iceboating in the Bronx

Last month, we were celebrating global warming while we sailed off the shores of Coney Island in 72-degree weather. Today, up in the Bronx, ice boating would have been more appropriate.

While Shackleton may not have found the conditions daunting, the frozen water and biting winds off City Island made for a less than hospitable environment, particularly for the few boats that are stored in the water during the winter months. Ice wreaks havoc on a boat: it can burst pipes and cause structural cracks in the hull. For that reason, most boaters in the Northeast store their boats out of the water during the winter months.

While the weather was nasty, City Island was eerily beautiful in her winter desolation and well worth the visit.

More images are available at the Sail Brooklyn Flickr Page.

Spring Sailing Classes in Brooklyn: Only $50

For much less than the cost of lunch for two at Union Square Cafe, you could learn to sail.

Beginning Friday, March 16 at 7:30 Miramar Yacht Club will begin its annual sailing class. This four-part class teaches the basics: from knots and sail trim to basic rules of the road. Instructed by MYC sailors with decades of sailing experience (and patience), these classes take place on Friday evenings, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Informative and informal, this class has and have given many of Kings County's sailors their first on the water experience.

The entire course costs $50 per-person or $75 per-couple (for non MYC members). All class participants will also be invited to Miramar's Seek & Sail to get some additional time on the water. Classes take place on March 16, 23, 30 and April 16.

To register or for further information, contact: sail@miramaryc.com or (718) 743-5823.
Space is limited.