17 November 2012

2013 Waterfront Calendar Available Now

Help support our Sailors with the Third Annual Waterfront Calendar and see what we've been up to this year.  Available here for orders now.

28 October 2012

KP Storm Preps-

Last year for Hurricane Irene we prepped the Waterfront in three days, hauling boats, docks, etc. and moving them to the highest ground possible- with the help of 100 midshipmen. This year the Waterfront staff has done the same feat with the help of only a few as it is fall break and fortunately our midshipmen are away from Kings Point ( and hopefully safe from the storm.) The dedication and hard
work put in by Richie, Johnny, Rob, Jackie, Chip, Rick and our coaching staff is something you'd have to see to believe. I can't thank them enough for their dedication. And that dedication and hard work does not stop at KP in our prep for Sandy- Liz, Jared, and Joe have SummerWind lashed in tight in Annapolis (thanks Flip Walters, KP alum and Annapolis Harbormaster) and will be riding it out aboard. Ralf and the team had Flying Jenny (our new TP 52) hauled and rig out within hours of winning the IRC East Coast Championship. Further North Joe and Mark had Liberty Star fired up 18 hours after we decided to take her across the river to more secure dockage (thanks CAPT Rick Smith, Master of the TV Empire State and Scott Nicholas from MT, Dave Palmer from ME and Scott McCormick KP'10 for helping out with the shift.) Even further North, Jonathan and I have Liberator and a great midshipmen crew safely tucked into the Port of Albany after a great training voyage up the river with a stop at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston (thanks to Captain John Beebe-Center on Lynx for allowing us to tie up alongside for the night.) And to the East Jessie and the boys in Newport getting the rig on Wizard down and out of the wind. I'm sure I missed a lot -Gerry cheering on from home and Mary holding down the office for starters......

Anyway thank you all for all you do- hunker down and stay safe!

24 August 2012

SummerWind Getting Ready For Racing


SummerWind, Kings Point's 100' 1929 Alden Schooner will be starting her racing season Labor Day Weekend in Gloucester, MA for the Gloucester Schooner Race, followed by the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race starting on October 11th.  SummerWind will also serve as a mother ship for the Academy's participation in the 12m North American Championship Regatta in Newport September 21st-23rd.  KP will be sailing Kiwi Magic with a guest skipper and tactician- both you could say have a pretty good background in 12m Sailing- more details to follow.

14 June 2012

Team Conviction Newport to Bermuda 2012




CDR Chris Gasiorek, USMS
Sailing Master / Director of Waterfront Activities
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Gasiorekc@usmma.edu
Office: 516-726-6034
Mobile: 917-498-3856

05 May 2012

KP Burgee at Sea with USN

From CDR Dennis Jacko '94 CO USS New Orleans -

> I had Will Herrmann, KP94, CO of USS New York, come out and ride me a little while ago as a fam ride for C5F. Attached is a good pic of us with the pennant you sent me. We fly the pennant during every replenishment at sea and it always draws comments from the MSC ships we refuel from. Will and the NY will be relieving me and New Orleans on station in May, and we will be on our way home.

25 April 2012

KP Rowing At Metropolitan Champs



 Metropolitan NY Rowing Championships – April 21, 2012


Team results
Kings Point Rowers established themselves as contenders for top honors this season as they placed well at the Metropolitan Rowing Championships on Saturday. Capturing a gold and placing 4th respectively, the Men’s Freshman and Varsity crews performed superbly despite poor training conditions during the past two weeks. An equally successful performance was realized by the Women’s Varsity Pair.

The Metro Championships began as a local championship amongst metropolitan New York teams and expanded to include sixteen teams from as far away as Albany and included larger teams such as Army, Fairfield University and Iona. 

Rising early is not unusual for the Rowing team but rising early to participate in Recognition activities, put in boat and shuttled across Long Island Sound to attend a regatta by CDR Gasiorek, Director of the Waterfront is rare.  Despite the heavy load, the Men’s Freshman crew captured victory. The crew of Coxswain Joseph Nasta ‘15, Stroke- Ted Sniekus ‘15, 3-Austin Boonyachai ‘15, 2-James Raphael ‘15, and Joseph Gardetto ‘15 rowed easily through their heat and into the final. While favored to at least be in the medals, the crew knew that they would have a real battle with Army and SUNY Maritime.  

Early in the race, the Kings Point rowers had difficulty finding it’s lane as the race course is unmarked. While they avoided collisions, the crew fell back off the pace of the top two crews and only managed to pull even 250 meters from the finish. Kings Point gained the lead with twenty-five strokes to go and seemed to be gaining in speed as it crossed the line first. Second place Army was a mere one and half seconds behind and SUNY was another two seconds back in third. In true rowing tradition, the crew tossed Nasta into the water following the victory.  

Due to poor weather and recent roster changes amongst the Varsity men the Varsity Men’s Four had only two practices prior to the regatta. Undaunted by the challenge, the crew of Coxswain Joseph Nasta ‘15,  Stroke – John Dohring  ‘15, 3- David Rosas ‘15, 2-Sean Welsh ‘15  , and Bow-Malek Byam ’15 easily qualified for the final with a victory in the heat. Having some difficulty in the final with crews jostling for lanes due to high winds, the Kings Pointers fell off the lead and found themselves fighting back throughout the 2000 meter race.  When the crew finally found their stride, it was able to regain some lost distance and nudge themselves into fourth place and nearly into third by the finish.   “I think that our crew had great race considering the conditions. With some good training over the next two weeks, we’ll be ready for the New York State Championships in two weeks.” commented Coach Hartwick.

Despite the odds, varsity rower Brannon Niblock ’15 teamed up with newcomer Cassandra Palma ‘15 to race in the Women’s Pair after only three practices. The impossible task of Palma learning to row on the Wednesday prior to the race and then racing became the possible when the pair rose to the occasion. While the crew was even with the leaders after 500 meters, the inexperience of the crew slowed them over the remainder of the race. “They did fantastic considering the daunting task that challenged them” said Coach Hartwick.  

The team finished 6th amongst 15 teams in the Team Points Challenge.

The team travels to Whitney Point, NY on May 5-6 to compete in the New York Collegiat Rowing Championships.

Men’s Freshman Four – 15 entries
1st USMMA 7:45
2. Army 
3. SUNY Maritime  

Men’s Varsity Four – 15 entries
Winning Time: 7:50
1st Army
2nd Dowling
3rd SUNY Maritime
4th USMMA 8:04 

Women’s Pair – 5 entries
Winning Time 9:22
1st SUNY Maritime
2nd Iona
5th USMMA 11:10


20 April 2012

15 April 2012

2012 Safety At Sea Seminar

Midshipman Will Cook taking the plunge for training at the 2012 Safety At Sea Seminar

12 April 2012

Graduate Accomplishments


As we start up the season for the Mids- we need to point out some of the huge accomplishments that our graduates have made in the sailing world. Stand by for accomplishments in the shipping world-
David Wright '04- David has qualified
to represent Canada in the Laser at the 2012 Olympic Games- looking forward to another KP Medalist!
Bill Hardesty '98- Billy was honored as this years Rolex Sailor of the Year!
I'm sure there are others out there - Let us know!

10 April 2012

Proud of our Staff!

Johnny and Jackie working on a custom wheelchair for Gerry
Gerry, one of our Waterfront maintenance staff, has been battling a serious illness this spring. In addition to donating leave our Waterfront staff members have pitched in to provide rides to treatment, help around the house, and today the creation of a custom wheelchair to help our shipmate get easily and safely up and down the stairs of his house. I couldn't be more proud or our staff.

07 April 2012

Welcome to our 2nd NYYC Swan 42 "Orbit"

Great to have two one-designs for the Offshore Team!

01 April 2012

New Training Ship for Kings Point


Since the departure of the T/V Kings Pointer for Texas Maritime this winter there has been much speculation and searching for a new training ship to serve the needs of Kings Point. Would it be a new ocean-going ship, or something to help cater more training toward the towing industry and growing inland fleet? Or perhaps a dynamic positioning equipped supply boat, to help train our mariners for the growing opportunities in the oil patch? Well the wait is over, and it is an honor to introduce the new T/V Kings Pointer- formerly the Theodore Too. Once the new tug has been re-flagged, and her red ball cap changed to a khaki KP combination cover she will begin her new mission teaching future Kings Pointers the art of towing operations and how to get along with all her friends in the harbor. Join me on this first day of April to give a big Kings Point welcome to our new Flagship!

06 March 2012

Mariner at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum




Mariner exploring Chesapeake Bay History in St. Michaels, MD