Great fun for all ages! Boats are built using only cardboard, tape, paint and glue and compete in races, two by two, and vie for the Fastest Time trophy in four divisions – Children (under 12), Teen (13-17), Adult (18 and up), and Mixed Ages. There are also judge’s awards for Most Creative and Most Dramatic Sinking! The Crowd Favorite trophy goes to the boat that collects the most donations in their can over the course of the day.

It’s the perfect activity for families, clubs, school groups, scout troops and for anyone who just wants to have fun on the water while supporting a great cause! Entry fee is only $35 per boat.

For more information: info@bayfrontcenter.org
To see photos from last year’s event visit:
https://bayfrontcenter.org/events/cardboard-boat-regatta/
814-456-4077

Any on-line donation made to BMC via the Erie Gives website
https://www.eriegives.org/organizations/bayfront-maritime-center
will receive a pro-rated match from the Erie Community Foundation and other community partners.
Your donation will help fund boat building, sailing, and maritime career exploration for Erie County residents. Donations may be earmarked for the Erie High School Maritime Program which serves students on a daily basis throughout the school year. You may also donate to the EASE program, Erie Adaptive Sailing Experience, which provides barrier-free sailing to individuals with physical and mental challenges. If you are interested in supporting the construction of the Schooner Porcupine~Schoolship for Presque Isle Bay, just send an email to amy.eisenberg@bayfrontcenter.org and we will see that your donation is applied to a specific program.
Thank you in advance for your generous support. If you have any questions or would like assistance with your on-line donation please call the Erie Community Foundation at 814) 454-0843, or BMC at 814-456-4077.

Film screening on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at BMC from 4 – 7 pm, $20 ticket includes light refreshments, boat launching and christening of Tinkerbelle’s sister ship. and presentation by Howard Rice who plans to sail this vessel around the world! https://www.eventbrite.com/o/bayfront-maritime-center-88932…

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the Cardboard Boat Regatta yesterday! The boats were tremendous! Congratulations to all!

Trophy Winners for 2018:

“Buddy” – Fastest Time Youth
“USS Brookside” – Fastest Time Teen
“Lono” – Fastest Time Adult

“Wally the Narwhal” – Fastest Time Mixed Ages
“Pink Panther” – Most Creative
“Jurassic Park” – Most Dramatic Sinking
“Wally the Narwhal” – Crowd Favorite

Registration form and a list of guidelines are available on our website.

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.

This hands-on and scenario based course earns attendees a 2 year certificate from the American Safety Health Institute.              Space is limited    –     Sign Up Today.

FIRST AID COURSE FOR BOATERS!

At roughly 42 by 15 feet, Porcupine inhabits a rather large section of both the BMC boatshop and our current organizational focus. She is by no means, however, the only vessel our students and staff are working on. In fact, BMC’s 92nd boat — our second St. Ayles Skiff — will launch this afternoon. Students from the Bayfront Alternative Education Program, apprentices from Project Sail and Project Voyage, and BMC volunteers all contributed to the skiff’s construction under the watchful instruction of our aptly named boatbuilder, Jodi Carpenter. Their labors will come to fruition as the sleek, double-ended hull of Blue Pike floats center stage later today.

Boatbuilder Jodi Carpenter standing alongside Blue Pike. In the background, Porcupine, eagerly awaits her launch exactly 11 months from today.

Created in 2009 to replicate the Scottish Fair Isle Skiff, over 65 St. Ayles Skiffs have been launched worldwide. Once afloat, Blue Pike will join her twin, Mighty Oak, to double the capacity of BMC’s Community Rowing Program. As evidenced by their worldwide popularity, the St. Ayles are nearly perfect for such a public program—lap-straked elegance makes them both eye catching and easy to maintain, high swept sheer lifts both bow and stern over choppy seas, four cross-banked rowers and a coxswain sit in beamy comfort, but can make the hull seem to fly.

Did I mention they’re sleek?

Jodi Carpenter and students rowing BMC’s first St. Ayles skiff

The 1904 Manual for Seamanship for Boys and Seamen of the Royal Navy claims “a ship is known by her boats,” and those boats “carry the credit of your ship.” Perhaps it is the credit of not just your ship, but your whole institution, that goes with the boats. If so, we at BMC can be quite proud—gorgeous and seaworthy to behold, these twin skiffs were built by many hands, with much sweat and teamwork. This summer, those diverse hands will toil together at the sweeps, and the boats will respond merrily, carrying our credit across Presque Isle Bay.

All best,

Jamie Trost, Team Porcupine, and the BMC Staff