White caps on Manhasset Bay, westerly winds blowing 8 - 15 knots, with 18 knots gusts -- weather conditions that provided a challenge for the five teams of frostbiters who sailed eight races on Sunday, April 18. During the first race, one team's shroud snapped sending skipper and crew home for the day. Another team cracked their boom, found a replacement boom, completed the next six races, and came in third for the day. There was no crew race due to the high winds. Top sailors and crew: 1. Steve Moore and Jerry Morea (#510), 2. Philip Mitropoulos and Amelia Amon (#121), and 3. Bob Kirtland and Dave Cornachio (#707).

An interesting report from the frostbite race committee: The three goose eggs that were found on Kraus' Kastle last week have been moved inside for protection from the elements, presumably by their mother-to-be. As the R/C approached the float to set up for the day's races, a very angry goose that was not about to leave her eggs greeted them. With some gentle prodding from one of the R/C regulars, with assurances that he would be very careful and protective of the eggs, the goose decided that the day's races could begin under her watchful eye from the water surrounding the float. Once racing was over, the same R/C regular placed a hamburger roll next to the goose eggs as a peace offering for any distress the R/C presence may have caused the goose. To be continued...

Peter Lorson, a well-known local sailor, was the chief judge for the Admiral's Cup at the Merchant Marine Academy. The Intercollegiate Yacht Racing Association (ICYRA) sponsored this intersectional event, held on Saturday and Sunday, April 17 - 18. Eighteen teams from around the country sailing in 420's, Flying Juniors, and standard-rig Lasers competed in three divisions. The team from Hobart and William Smith College, coached by Scott Ilke, came in first. Scott, from Manhasset, was named the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Developmental Coach of the Year (1998), and has joined US Sailing Coach Skip Whyte to help develop new sources of talent for the US sailing team. Graham Siener, who lives in Manhasset and grew up sailing on Manhasset Bay, represented Brown University. After the finish of the Admiral's Cup, Peter, who has been frostbiting for 50 years, rushed back to our bay to see the last of the frostbite races.

The same weather conditions that challenged the frostbiters on Sunday, April 18, also impacted the Gold Coast Row scheduled to begin at Manorhaven Beach and continue around Sands Point to Hempstead Harbor (seven nautical miles). Organized by Monika Dorman, with able assistance from her husband Neil, and daughter Randi, plans quickly changed because of the white caps on Manhasset Bay. She notified Alan Wofford, who along with Bill Brakman, Don Canfield and Mike Yorke, had planned to man the crash boats for the protection of the rowers. Instead of launching their shells from Manorhaven Beach, the rowers drove to the Village Club of Sands Point and set sail from there. The Hempstead Harbor Marine Police, who were called early Sunday morning, graciously agreed to man the rescue boat for the duration of the day. The altered course took the rowers south from the beach to Roslyn Harbor and back, in time for a delicious buffet lunch in the Guggenheim mansion of the Village Club.

Your reporter was fortunate to be able to spend part of the day with this delightful, diverse group of rowers. Participants were young and "not so young," some had rowed for their high school or college teams, and others were fairly new to the sport. They came from as far away as Boston, Sarasota Springs, and London, Ontario. Some came with children in tow, while others came alone. Local rowers included Alan Hellman, a neighbor of Monika's and a rowing companion for the past 15 years; Amy Hagedorn, another neighbor that Monika introduced to rowing; Ed Clark, who actually lives in Lloyd Neck, but owns the Frame Gallery here in Port; and Frank Baretta, from Manhasset, who owns F. M. Baretta Rowing Boats.

Most of the 13 shells were singles, but a new quad was introduced on Sunday that was built in London, Ontario by the Hudson Boat Company. According to Marilyn Shapiro, an editor with the New York Times who rowed on the quad, this shell is part of a new class of boat called the Can-Nam New World Touring Boat. The exterior of the shell is kevlar and the interior is carbon fiber. After the completion of the tour, the Hudson Boat Company will sell these boats at cost to community rowing organizations that support rowing for handicapped rowers and for underprivileged young adults.

In summing up the day, Amy Hagedorn said, "Sculling is an affordable, accessible water activity. I wish the camaraderie evident today could be shared with more Cow Neck residents. The peninsula is so beautiful from the water with its many different vistas." Monika agrees with her good friend and adds, "I had always hoped to fill the waters of the sound that surround Port Washington with rowers. When I saw 13 shells rowing together in Hempstead Harbor, it was the beginning of my wish coming true. With four sailing clubs and two public ramps available locally, I would hope more people would take up rowing. Rowing is a perfect exercise that uses every muscle in your body -- and the silence of the water, the beauty of the countryside and the sunsets make rowing an addiction." And what a nice addiction. Kudos to Monika.

Thanks are due to Andrea Watson for her contribution to today's column.