Adaptive Sailing – Bayfront Maritime Center

EASE Program Receives Grant from the Autism Society of NW PA

admin — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 18:24:17 +0000

The Autism Society of NW PA presented BMC and the EASE program with a $5000 grant to help purchase a new Hansa Dinghy. The adaptive sailing program has expanded to accommodate a record 63 sailors! The new boat has arrived and will join the fleet in Summer 2019.

Schooner Porcupine Happy Hour – 5 to 7 pm July 14!

Rich — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 18:47:51 +0000

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Schooner Porcupine,

Join us for food and fun at an open house in the BMC boatshop, Thursday the 14th of July from 5 to 7 pm. See the construction progress on Schooner Porcupine. Learn more about the Schoolship for Presque Isle Bay and the other summer programming underway at BMC.

Summer Programs Begin at BMC

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 18:28:18 +0000

Check out our summer newsletter and get all the latest news from the Bayfront Alternative Education Program, Project SAIL after school program, EASE, Bayfront Summer Credit Recovery Program, Schooner Porcupine and the Cardboard Boat Regatta.

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=e1280799d9df918f51a087ac4&id=43014010f6

Rich Eisenberg, BMC Executive Director, Dennis Williams, BAEP Supervisor and Pat Herr of the Erie Community Foundation congratulate our newest graduate, Azlie.

SCHOONER PORCUPINE Kickstarter Campaign

Rich — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 18:07:44 +0000

Porcupine fans, we are underway on Kickstarter! Please check out our campaign, and see all the awesome rewards we are offering to backers! Click here for a short descriptive 1813 Schooner Porcupine video.

EASE Begins 14th SEASON of Adaptive Sailing

Rich — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 19:30:16 +0000

EASE began its 14th season of adaptive sailing on Friday June 20th! BMC started adaptive sailing in 2000, and the EASE program became established in 2001. This is the first and still the only adaptive sailing program in Pennsylvania. It serves the entire tri-state region. THANK YOU to the more than 20 dedicated EASE volunteers who organize, schedule, staff, and sail all day with the sailors, while parents, grandparents,siblings, and caregivers share in their experience while aboard the escort vessel, EASE-Y SPIRIT.

One of BMC’s EASE Hansa dinghies sailing on the best natural harbor in the entire Great Lakes, Presque Isle Bay.

Veteran racing sailor and EASE volunteer, Russ Thompson, underway with a happy young sailor.

All loaded up and ready to sail.

Having a lot of fun out on the water.

A beautiful sailing day in Erie, Pennsylvania

EASE began with fundraising help from the Junior League of Erie to purchase two Access Dinghies. Steadily growing since 2000, EASE now has 5 dinghies, which re-branded to Hansa Dinghy. The 6th vessel is paid for and on its way thanks in part to grants from the Autism Society-Northwest Pennsylvania and other generous donations. This will enable program expansion to include more sailors.

Family members and siblings participate in EASE aboard EASE-Y SPIRIT, the new safety – escort vessel. with Mike Eisert at the helm.

This season EASE has a new escort and safety vessel, EASE-Y SPIRIT.

Thanks to the generous donations from community members who understand the value of BMC’s hands-on programming, BMC purchased a new 24′ pontoon boat this spring. It has over-sized pontoons for additional buoyancy and stability and has all of the other requirements which enabled it to pass the strict United States Coast Guard standards to be an inspected USCG passenger vessel. EASE-Y SPIRIT gets underway in the EASE program, as well as carrying students and scientists in BMC’s environmental and research programs.

USCG inspected passenger vessel #1168495, EASE-Y SPIRIT.

EASE-Y SPIRIT and BMC’s waterfront campus.

The 150 HP 4 stroke Honda outboard engine is clean, efficient, and quiet, while providing all the power needed to safely carry passengers, tow BMC’s side-scan sonar, and haul our students and scientific collection nets and equipment.

Since 1998

BMC’s mission is: to design and implement hands-on, maritime themed, educational, vocational and recreational activities for the community in a universally accessible waterfront facility.