Blue Horizon sets course to bring sailing to Sunset Park

Intrepid voyagers braved the industrial 19th Street corridor near the Gowanus Canal last weekend, making their way to a hidden dock tucked behind Home Depot for a day of free boating hosted by Blue Horizon Sailing.

The nonprofit, on a mission to bring seafaring to Sunset Park, borrowed the dock from the Gowanus Dredgers in hopes of gauging local enthusiasm for sailing on the waters that form the neighborhood’s western boundary.

“For us, this was a test and a demonstration,” said Nelson Garcez, co-founder of Blue Horizon Sailing. “From what we saw today, the community will respond. We’ve had a steady stream of people all day.”

Boaters gathered at the Gowanus Dredgers Bunker to sign in, don life jackets, and socialize while waiting for shuttles to take them to the next available sailboat moored in Gowanus Bay. The wobbly landlubbers then made their way onto 22-foot Pearson Ensign keelboats, manned by veteran volunteer crews who hoisted sails and cast off from temporary moorings set in place just for the day.

Garcez envisions a more permanent spot for the moorings next year in the waters near Bush Terminal Park, where he hopes to run near-daily community sails, after-school and evening programs several times a week, and week-long summer camps throughout the season. The project includes linking classroom lessons to navigation, physics, and workforce training in boat maintenance and maritime careers.

“We are talking to District 15 and we are trying to talk with all the schools here,” Garcez said. “We are in the process of getting as much attention as possible.”

While the details are still being worked out, accessibility is a priority for Blue Horizon. Programs will be free for Sunset Park residents who cannot pay, with low-cost membership fees for those who can, according to Garcez.

The organization is modeling its system after Hudson River Community Sailing in Manhattan and Rocking the Boat in the Bronx, where members can first sail with an experienced skipper, then pass a skills test and eventually skipper one of the five or six boats Blue Horizon hopes to keep as a permanent fleet.

But on this September day, sailors contented themselves with a 45-minute run on the bay, taking in views of the Statue of Liberty, South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and downtown Manhattan. Most found the experience relaxing.

“It was very peaceful,” said Red Hook resident Randy, who heard about the event from a friend. “I really enjoyed myself today.”

For one party, though, there was an anxious moment when the wind died down along with their auxiliary engine. “The motor wasn’t working and a barge was behind us. It was very dramatic, slow-motion drama,” quipped Sunset Park local Courtney, who came with her family. Still, her review was positive: “It was really amazing and we’re really, really thankful.”

About 25 kids in all showed up for the event and at least one was very excited about the possibility of more sailing in Sunset Park.

“I want it!” said 11-year-old Alana, a student at M.S. 936. “Yes, because I want to be a marine biologist when I grow up.”

If Alana’s enthusiasm is any indication, community support for expanded access to the water will continue to grow, an opportunity Garcez sees extending well beyond learning to tie knots and trim sails.

“Sailing is a platform,” he said. “It teaches teamwork, responsibility, and connects young people to the harbor right in front of them.”