56 HOLIDAY 2013 boatingonthehudson.com
of the Clubhouse.
What are some of the issues re-
lating to the Hudson River that are a
concern to the club?
Enjoyable boating depends
upon clean water. Fortunately, the
water quality has improved greatly
in the last half-century. The Club
must ensure that we follow best
practices to keep the river clean.
How will the bridge construction
affect the club?
The Coast Guard has declared
a stand-off zone around the con-
struction.We respect that and don’t
expect much impact outside of
that zone. The New NY Bridge staff
has been consistently positive and
open to input.
Are there any improvements that
the village could make to better ac-
commodate the boating public?
There’s excellent access for boat-
ers in Nyack: the Village marina,
boat launching ramp, a strong
summer program for young sailors
at Nyack Boat Club, and two boat
clubs which provide low cost boat-
ing opportunities.
Transient boaters visiting Nyack
currently have significant econom-
ic impact and great potential for
growth. Each year Nyack Boat Club
welcomes hundreds of visiting
boaters, who frequent our stores
and restaurants. If the Village of
Nyack could take advantage of
Clean Vessel Act (CVA) to pump
out and reduce the overboard sew-
age, the number of visits by tran-
sient boaters would explode.
What benefits accrue to the Village
from more recreational boating?
Currently, the village and surround-
ing area enjoys positive economic
impact from the many who come to
Nyack to boat. For example, re-
cently 300 people from across the
country and Canada participated
in a three day regatta at Nyack Boat
Club. This was only one of more
than a dozen events in Nyack this
summer. But the biggest economic
impact comes from the people who
use the marina, boat ramp, and
clubs week in and week out.
I understand this is your final year
as Commodore.What is your fond-
est memory of your term in office?
I’ve enjoyed watching the young
sailors learning responsibility,
confidence, and independence
through sailing, setting goals, and
working to achieve them. It’s grati-
fying to see families having fun
together and to see our older sail-
ors competing effectively against
athletes one third their age.
To quote TheWind in theWil-
lows,“Believe me, my young friend,
there is NOTHING–absolute noth-
ing–half so much worth doing as
simply messing about in boats.”
Special thanks to Curtis Koster,
Editor-in-Chief of the Nyack Boat
Club Centennial Book and Nyack
Boat Club member David e. Bell for
lending me his copy of the impres-
sive historic document.
My sketch of the clubhouse was
based on a photo by past Commo-
dore Elaine Hinsch.
Bill Batson is an activist, artist and
writer who lives and sketches in
Nyack, NY. Nyack Sketch Log:
”Nyack Boat Club“ © 2013 Bill
Batson. To see more, visit billbat-
sonarts.com
Junior Sailors Under Tow photo: David e. Bell
HOLIDAY 2013.indd 63
11/7/13 7:50 AM
