Upcoming event: PortSide fundraiser

On July 3, PortSide NewYork will hold a fundraiser “BlueBQ” to support its summer BlueSpace programs. It should be a lot of fun: music, food, an auction, and entertainment. Full details are here. If you can’t attend, please consider making a donation to support the work of this waterfront-based organization.

Here is the Mary A. Whalen, PortSide’s headquarters:

On an unrelated topic: More pictures of Reid Stowe’s return are here.

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Reid Stowe returns!

One thousand, one hundred, fifty-two days after setting sail, Reid Stowe today sailed up to Pier 81 in New York City and stepped ashore. He had just completed the longest non-stop ocean voyage in history.

I took the longest non-stop lunch break in my history to walk over to the Hudson River to watch him arrive. Here are some shots of Reid sailing up the Hudson and approaching Pier 81:

Reid greets the crowd:

While his girlfriend, Soanya Ahmad, patiently waits with their son, Darshen:

Soanya started the voyage with Reid, and stayed with him for more than 300 days before her chronic seasickness turned out to be morning sickness. She got off the boat near Australia, and Reid continued alone.

Soanya addresses the crowd and the press:

In 1985, at the age of 18, Tania Aebi set sail from New York City to become the first American woman and the youngest person ever (at that time) to complete a solo circumnavigation. Here she makes a few remarks:

These are a few pictures of the schooner Anne (built by Reid and named for his mother). This is what happens to a boat during a more-than-three-year voyage with no stops for repairs:

Welcome home, Reid! And congratulations!

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