Rocking the Boat’s building’s vibrant blue facade greeted the travelers. After warm hugs came a full tour of the building, grounds, and waterfront, followed by the San Francisco crew rolling up their sleeves to take part in program. Chris made a beeline to the river and got on the water with the sailors. Meanwhile, Eve and Anton picked up hammers and jumped into setting roves and peening nails into rivets on the 17’ Whitehall being constructed by the newest group of boatbuilding students.

Next, the West coast team joined students from Fannie Lou Hamer Middle School for an environmental science lesson, presented in Spanish, and a row on the Bronx River. Anton couldn’t help but think ahead to the day his own students launch the boats they have built.  “Nothing says ‘I trust and believe in your ability’ more than providing young teens with the responsibility of rowing a boat in a swift current or navigating open water.”

The San Francisco program plans to add a sailing component in two years, and we hope the local adage comes to bear, “If you learn to sail here, you’ll be able to sail anywhere!” Rocking the Boat is incredibly fortunate to have Chris leading Bayview-Hunters Point’s next generation of sailors. As a US Sailing Instructor Trainer with qualifications across multiple disciplines of sailing, he is one of only three instructors in the country certified to instruct adaptive sailing techniques for sailors with disabilities.

The San Francisco team’s visit coincided with a need to administer a crucial assessment of powerboat skills as the final step for US Sailing Level I certification of four Rocking the Boat apprentices; a test Chris is eminently qualified to give. The very low tide and unseasonably cold and windy weather were far from ideal on the afternoon of the test.  Given the rough conditions, there was a risk the test would have to be cancelled, even if it meant missing this golden opportunity for these apprentices to complete their certification. But reflecting on his observations over the previous day, Chris believed these apprentices had the necessary skills to negotiate the winds and waves and proceeded with the test. All four apprentices passed and are now US Sailing Level I certified! Chris remarked, “It is clear these apprentices have received excellent training at Rocking the Boat. The skills these kids have demonstrated places them above the average graduate of Level 1.”

Back in San Francisco, there is now an extra charge of inspiration in the boatshop. Anton whistles while he works and the team is invigorated by the synergy created with Rocking the Boat East during their trip to the Bronx, inspired to mix what they learned with what they already bring to this blooming new undertaking.