Hometown Hero- Not so sure about that one

I received a call yesterday from News 12 telling me that I have been nominated as a "Hometown Hero". Of course I was honored, and a little shocked. I have been fighting for CCB for the last four years with little fanfare and even less income. Not that I started out needing the former or expecting the latter.  But just now, when I have started embarking on other ventures in distant waters to keep myself afloat, having found living aboard in a landfill for the last four years less than romantic, I get a heart warming call from the local news telling me someone has noticed and called me a hero.

I am no hero. Heros save lives, champion lost causes and either die or win, stand on the decks of a rolling battleship and say things like, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead". I just want to make my my home state a better place to live, work and play.

 I've never been shot at, directly (although there were a couple of near misses in the landfill from duck hunters and the occasional target shooter). I have not been successful in my cause, CCB is far from done. And my charging call is "No child left ashore", doesn't have the grit of a seasoned old fighting sailor does it? I don't even have a tatoo!! No sir I am no hero.

But I AM for my home, my state and my waters. And I will not quit until we are successful. And maybe just maybe someday, I'll get paid to do what I love: build docks, teach kids and sail boats. That may not be too heroic and I wasn't sure I would keep flogging this pony much longer having hit the wall too many times. But when one of your neighbors thinks enough to call the local TV station and say "You gotta meet this boating guy" and they come out listen to you opine about how great it could be if we just had few more dollars. That's the good stuff. And it gets even better when one of your kids says, "That's MY Coach" and another person says "Great Job Chris, You deserve it".

For the first time in my life I had over 22 likes and 10 comments on a Facebook Post I wrote. When I saw that number I felt like some kind of rock star tweeting about my breakfast and everybody loving it, only it was my post saying I am Hometown Hero. For that one moment I felt like I could have been Brad Pitt, without money, fame or good looks.

So maybe I am not a hero, but it's nice to be treated like one. And when you can look at yourself in the mirror  and say, I am doing this thing because it needs to be done and my neighbors deserve it, you know your on the right path.

So thank you to whomever nominated me, and thank you to everyone who wished me well, congratulated me and otherwise treated me nice today. Thank you to News 12 for telling my story and giving CCB a leg up. And thank you for taking the time to look at the story- that I think shows one thing if nothing else, I need to lose 10 pounds before next summer. Cheers!

P.S.
Here is the story if you missed it.

The Master Plan- just in time for fall sailing

You may have asked yourself this week on one of these  beautiful pristine summer days, "What happened to CCB?" Well I'll tell you. Despite an apparent summer hiatus, CCB has been going strong this summer with a new board of directors, new programs at Mystic River Yacht Club and at the Shehan Center, the addition of Team Chance and now, after much ado, at the start of the fall season, approval from the City of Bridgeport to begin work on the downtown waterfront so that we may begin to restore public access to the waters of Long Island Sound. 

The Master Plan- It may seem ambitious but this is
master plan for the future of CCB 

There is much to do this season, when we hope to raise the funds to move "Jumbo" downtown, move the Fairfield U Sailing Stags to a new home for the 2011 Fall season, teach hundreds of kids to swim for $1 a lesson and restart the maritime explorers program at the Cardinal Shehan Center, build an open space complete with kayaks, row boats and moorings for public use, have the largest clean up at the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge ever and much much more.

To reach these goals, we're doing something we've never done before- offering two for one memberships- when you support CCB with a individual, discount or family membership this fall. we'll extend you all the benefits it offers until January 2013. That's free sailing aboard any of our boats (still in service and with more to come soon we hope), discounts on classes, and of course the knowledge that you are helping to rebuild the waterfront of Bridgeport, so that everyone gets a chance to enjoy our greatest natural resource.

So for the balance of the year after labor day, open sailing will be serve-yourself at the CCB Boat ramp and with luck, downtown as the facility comes online. We'll be hosting classes aboard our 34' flagship on Thursdays from 530- sunset and Saturdays 9 til Noon. We'll also be running a chase boat for racing in the FJ's for anyone wishing to participate on Saturdays from 12-4.

On Saturday September 10th we will host a rigging day at the CCB Boat Ramp to get the boats in order for a big Fall Season. Please mark the date on your calendar and come on down and lend a hand and put the "community" in Community Boating.

For now that's all- we've got big plans ahead so help us set sail by donating or becoming a member today! Thanks!

Get your membership here

Fish Stories

Lucky Fisherman wishes to remain mum on world record catch

It's not often that a sea monster is pulled from Long Island Sound. When I was a boy in Stratford,  all the papers were abuzz when a 12-foot shark was pulled in off Milford. Years later, I had fears that my boat killed a 1000-pound leatherback turtle that washed up on Stratford Point. Last year a manatee played for days in Milford Harbor. And just this past winter I tracked a harbor seal that was sighted for weeks playing off the beaches of Fairfield County.

We know there are sea monsters out there in Long Island Sound. But it's not often that one so rare, so important to the local economy, so important to the health of our greatest natural resource and such a success story that heads across the country are turning. That is of course if the lucky fisherman would see it that way. Alas he does not.

Here's what we think we know- Sometime between 9 and 10 PM last night off Westbrook, CT, one Greg Meyerson hooked into a fish that would change the way we look at Connecticut and Long Island Sound. When daylight broke this morning and Jack's Shoreline Bait and Tackle opened, Mr. Myerson walked in with a 81.88 LB Atlantic Striped Bass to register and weigh the leviathan. That's what we think we know. Then things got crazy.

Greg Myerson displays his 81.88 LB Striper after weigh in this morning

The internet became wild with the news that the biggest striped bass since Al McReynolds caught his 77LB Striper off New Jersey in September 1982 was caught in Connecticut of all places. The name "Al Stromski" and photos of a man with a huge striped bass sitting in the bed of his truck began floating around. This was great news.

The local media sparked interest and the search for the fish and the fisherman began.

Now it seems the smoke is clearing and the truth is now coming out. "Al Stromski" is in fact Greg Myerson. The fish, yet to be certified as a world record holder, appears to be the largest ever caught. And Mr. Myerson would rather keep the great news to himself.

But this isn't about a man and his privacy. Or for that matter even the biggest and best fish ever caught. Some might say, if he didn't want the world to know he should have just thrown it back. Well maybe so. But then Connecticut would have been robbed of some of the best news to come out of the Sound in generations.

Long Island Sound is Connecticut's greatest natural resource. It is the reason we flourished as an industrial economy for the last 150 years and it is the reason we will flourish in the next 150 years. Not because of manufacturing or shipping, but because Long Island Sound is becoming one of the best kept environmental secrets in the country. It is a boaters paradise. From sailing to water skiing, paddling to fishing, the Sound abounds with delights for everyone and everyone deserves the right to enjoy it.

This fish shows the amazing return of the striped bass to our local waters- at one time, you were not allowed to keep a striper for fear that the population had collapsed. Now fisheman regularly pull 30 and 40 pound lunkers from the surf. And with the grand daddy of them all coming ashore today, we can be very certain that the population is not just back, but back to levels not seen since the 60's. Lunker bass were once so common, folks didn't even flinch when an 60-pounder came ashore. Now they are back and if it does pull the record into Connecticut's waters, we can be sure that this will get world attention.

Mr. Myerson may not wish to be a fishing celeb and really who could blame him. But the fish is what's important. Connecticut is fast becoming a birder's dream. And with seals returning, we can be sure sea life is on the rebound too. But when the world's largest fish is pulled from our waters that puts us in line with places like the Great Barrier Reef, George's Banks and the Gulf of Mexico. And fisherman and boaters alike will come from the world over to try and land a world record holder at a time when we need people to come to Connecticut in a big way.

So even if the fisherman may not want to be known, the news of the world's largest fish being caught in Long Island Sound must be heralded from the rafters. Because it is a sign that we're doing something right with our waters, have something great to offer the world and proof that Long Island Sound can benefit every Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island resident.

Congrats Greg- thats a heck of a fish!

The Biggest Fish I ever caught- also a potential world record holder that wasn't- a 239 Big Eye Tuna- mishandled and ineligible for the record 

The Summer is in full swing, but soon enough...

Buxton  now enjoys a short wade in her pool 

A small child sits on a dirty curb in 90-degree heat. The smile on their face belies the heat, humidity and dust. All those young eyes see at this moment is the chilly drip slowly making it's way past their tiny fingers before it strikes the dirt below; to be feverishly devoured by the panting pup at their feet who now stares at this child with ultimate commitment to both his safety and that of the strawberry ice cream in his hand.

This is a scene played over and over during these hot dog days of summer. And one that we relish every winter when the drifts of snow build cold against the window. But summer is here now so forget about the cold winds ahead and pour yourself another ice tea and enjoy the heat.

Because in the coming weeks, those ice cream cones will vanish and the smell of freshly sharpened pencils mixed with the stale smell of school bus fumes will take the place of that smiling child on the curb. That's at least what I plan to do.

You see this summer for me, was the first one in a very long time, when I got to be that little boy once again, with a dog by my side, eating a strawberry cone on the curb. Thankfully Buxton, who digs Strawberries as much as I do, didn't complain at the meager share she was offered as it seems now that I am grown, I can manage the drips a whole lot better than I could when I was 8.

But back to my point- I got to enjoy summer this year in way I haven't for too many years. I got my beach week at the Atlantic, I got my garden time, I got my swim in the lake and I got my lemonade in the shade in 90-degree heat.

My past years since starting CCB, I have had my fun. Seeing smiling faces at the helm of a boat for their very first time is incredibly rewarding. But the work and effort it took to get them afloat is a seven day a week venture and leaves little time for summer dreaming. Who's gonna pay the staff, how do we get them bussed to the water, where is the next insurance payment and did I return that call to the donor? All that worry left little time to relax under a shade tree- even if we did have a shade tree in the landfill which we really didn't.

Now I am not saying, I didn't love every minute sharing the sport of boating with a whole bunch of wonderful people. I am just saying, all that sharing left little time for me. And while I missed the kids, I missed the water and I missed the fun we all had together last year for Pirate Day, Dead Puppet Theater and Capture the Schroeder, I didnt miss the work and the worry.

Well now it's time to go back to work. There are thousands of  kids across Connecticut who deserve a chance to hit the waves. Thousands of family's who've never had the opportunity to quality family time afloat. And there are beaches everywhere that need a mess of  enthusiastic volunteers.

Now that the summer has reached it's zenith and the powers that be have given us go ahead sign, we're kicking into gear at CCB and starting work on a major plan to build a community facility in Bridgeport, and hopefully Groton and who knows where else in Connecticut. We'll build boating facilities everywhere so that every man, woman and child gets the chance to harness the wind and enjoy our greatest natural resource. I envision public boat fleets across Connecticut, as common as public pools and baseball diamonds. Community boating is the future for waterfront recreation and there is no reason why every community can't enjoy a fleet eliminating the burden of personal ownership and providing the shared enjoyment for all.

I apologize if you missed CCB and boating in the summer of 2011. But I ask for your support for the summers ahead. I ask you to think about the kids who stand on a beach and look out and yearn for exploration and adventure. I ask for you to think about what Long Island Sound means to you the next time your enjoying a frozen treat by the sea. I ask for you to join our effort, help create facilities for children and families everywhere and help share our message. The Cause of Connecticut Community Boating may have been on summer vacation, but now that we're back, we hope you'll join our cause.

Thanks!

PS- Big thanks to the good folks at Higgin's Crab House in OC, Maryland- My first crab feast with the family in over 20 years was wonderful!

Vibes to Offer Boating Access this Year

In a break with tradition and  bold step toward a new chapter for the best waterfront music fest in the Nation, The Gathering of the Vibes has decided to permit an often made request this year- allowing concert goers to camp on their vessel for the four day weekend.

The 90-acre Seaside Park that sits on the shore of Bridgeport, CT and Long Island Sound has for now some ten years called the Park City home much to the delight of wayward hippies and music devotees alike.  And many a summer has been blessed with soulful sounds bellowing from the Bridgeport beach in late July to the enjoyment of power boaters, sailboaters, kayakers  who bely their boats right up the rocky coast at the high tide for the music fest. But when the sun dropped every other year until this one, the water-based boaters picked up anchor and sailed on home as they were not allowed to access the venue from the water.

Not so this year. If you want to bring your vessel, drop your anchor and come ashore to spend four days sloshing through mud pits or baking in dust bowls to enjoy the dozens of acts that will play July 21,22, 23 and 24, such as my personal favs, Jane's Addiction and Toots and the Maytals- then you can do so. And then when you have sang til your throat went silent, used your last fleeting fleck of energy or just simply need a few moments of rack time to pop a few Tylenol and recharge for another go round on the concert field- then you can hop in your dinghy and row out to your vessel at anchor in Bridgeport Harbor or hop a cab to your boat at Captain's Cove and enjoy all the comforts of ship board camping.

Admittedly, as a guy who has slept in the some of  the strangest corners of Seaside Park and the Park City, there are some awesome shoreside spots to cuddle up in an catch 40 winks around, but nothing beats dozing off enjoying the sway of the boat, the coziness of the the cockpit and the echo of 40,000 decibels of the best funk, rock and reggae blasting over the harbors of Bridgeport, CT.

It's my guess that the Vibes will become a floating fiesta, with boats from across the East Coast making passage to the Park City for this one weekend for many years to come. And when there are a thousand   Sabres and Beneteaus  rafted to another thousand Bertram and Sting Rays for the last weekend of July and 50,000 sailors spend the weekend partying like it's 1999. It is my hope to be handing out CCB brochures by zodiac and telling folks for many years to come, CCB made this happen.

See you on the water this weekend at the Gathering of the Vibes 2011!

Click here to download the rules to boating at this years Vibes

Ready about, we're almost there!

Taylor Walker, one of the founders of Team Chance shows a kid the ropes aboard a Big Boat. Walker hopes to show many kids the ropes this season aboard the newest addition to the CCB fleet "Stealth" a 26' Evelyn.

In a move bringing us closer to our goal to reopen Bridgeport waters for all, CCB met with City Officials Monday to discuss plans to create a waterfront facility at 1 Stratford Ave in Bridgeport. With several approvals left at both the City and State level, it is far from a done deal, but big things move slowly and every move forward is a positive move towards a cleaner, healthier and more vibrant waterfront and Long Island Sound. We continue to work with City officials to devise a plan for the Sliver by The River and what we are terming, “The Bridgeport Boat Basin” located at the mouth of the Pequonnock River directly beneath the Bridgeport Transportation Center.

Once approved we will continue to grow our fleet and will offer College and high school sailing opportunities for Fairfield University and with luck the public high schools of the Greater Bridgeport region. We believe this facility will grow the ever-increasing tide of high school sailing in our local waters and continue the fastest growing trend in local high school sports.

 This comes in conjunction with a project we are working on in Eastern Long Island Sound, Team Chance. Tayor Walker and Jay Greenfield, college students, set to work last summer to build a new program in the CCB fleet. Their idea was to provide low income children with a chance to experience big boat racing at the helm of a performance sail boat and mentor the kids as sailors and racers. This weekend, Team Chance launched their little girl, a 26’ Evelyn Sailboat called “Stealth” and are preparing to visit at least a half dozen community boating centers around the region to give the kids of community boating a chance see what it’s like race on a go-fast boat and try to raise funds to support youth sailing and community boating. Team Chance and the crew will sail into Bridgeport aboard Stealth later this summer and hope to provide some local sailors with a chance to win the Park City Regatta.

This is a tack in a new direction for CCB. By intensifying our efforts to promote and participate in what we see as a growing trend for youth racing and sailing, a facet of sailing we have not previously delved into, we hope to further promote waterfront access for all. And with the huge growth this past spring in high school sailing in Fairfield County and the passions of our newest crewmates at Team Chance, we believe the waters of Connecticut have never looked better to provide every child with a chance to enjoy a day on the water.

Laser Radial Sailors from area high schools start with a signal from the Pequod at Pequot Yacht Club this past Saturday for the annual regional sailing competition, The Fairfield Cup. Fairfield Prep, a continual supporter and great friend of CCB, ranked second out of fleet of ten teams who competed in 420's , lasers and laser radials.
Congrats Prep on a strong showing and great season!

CCB to announce course change this week.

We are preparing to begin a new chapter in the life of CCB tomorrow and will post  an announcement about our future plans for Connecticut and Long Island Sound after a day of meetings and discussions with the City, State and CCB Board of Directors. In the announcement we will share our plans to open public access to the waterways of Connecticut for every man, woman and child on both sides of the Connecticut River, east and west. We have discussed plans to modify our efforts to provide even greater public access to the water and will fomerly lay out our mission and plan following these meetings on Tueday morning at 10AM. In the meantime, please take a look at this video to understand a little of our inspiration for this course change and recommittment to our mission.

Annnnnnnnnd........We're back.

After weeks of being down, we decided it was time to renew the old look and work on a new one at the same time. You can see from the old content on this site that it has been down for sometime but we're back and ready to roll.

Our plan to start a whole new season in a new location is on the rocks this weekend, but it's Mother's Day so make sure your Mom has a happy one and we'll have all the details on the new plan to bring CCB to Bridgeport Harbor (hopefully) by Monday.