| FAQ for sailing |
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Before the Trip How many people can be in our group? How early should I come? Where do I park? What should I do before I come? Parking Notice for Alpine Boat Basin. Parking Notice for West Point Dock. Safety Where can I go when I am on board? Will I get seasick? May I smoke on-board? May I use cell phones on-board? Who will be supervising my children? Is the Clearwater a safe boat? Do I need to bring life jackets? Weather/What do I bring? Will we go sailing if it is raining? What do I wear? What else can I bring? How many people can be in our group? For both the Clearwater and the Mystic Whaler, the maximun group size is 50 People! How early should I come? You should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early, if you are departing from West Point you should allow at least 30 minutes extra time for security clearance click here for more information. Where do I park? Usually areas for parking are easy to find however in some cases(Verplanck, 79th street, Renselear) the parking area is not right next to the dock, in this case you should go to the Dock Directions and look at the maps for the parking areas, or contact the educator or sail leader. What should I do before I come? On the day of your trip, take a good look at the weather and listen to the forecast. Whatever the weather, your child will be out in it! Alpine Boat Basin You need a prior reservation and permit to park at this dock. Call or write General Information Palisades interstate Park Commission P.O. Box 155 Alpine, NJ 07620-0155 Phone#- (201) 768-1360 Make sure to mention that you would like to obtain bus parking clearance to attend a Clearwater Program Bus parking is $20.00 with both prior reservation and permit! This price could be double if not done in advance. There is no fee for passenger drop-off/pick-up only. Also buses are not allowed entrance on Sunday. Feel free to call Clearwaters office (845) 454-7673 with questions. Cars must pay $4.00 parking fee Monday-Friday and $5.00 Saturday and Sunday (excepting pick-up and drop-off). Also you must be accompanied by a crew member when going onto this dock!! West Point Dock For security: -Your bus passes must be submitted Not less than 24 hours before the day of your trip. Please contact West Point Visitor Center at (845) 938-2638 to obtain passes. - ALL ADULTS MUST have a photo I.D. - Students/Youth over the age of 16 Must have I.D. Schools with student I.D.'s must make sure students bring these. - Groups should plan to arrive 30 minutes early, in case security clearance is slow on your sail date. The groups vehicle and bags may be checked. For any questions please call the Clearwater office at (845) 454-7673 Where can I go when I am on board? All passengers boarding Clearwater are given a thorough safety talk by the captain prior to departure. This talk includes the setting of boundaries on the deck, the proper method for climbing the ladders leading below decks, and the location and method for putting on life jackets. Will I get seasick? Very few passengers get seasick on Clearwater: The sloop is very stable, and big swells are unusual on the Hudson and the Long Island Sound. May I smoke on-board? No. There is absolutly no smoking while on-board. Unless your name is Julie Edwards May I use cell phones on-board? No, cell phones may be used on the deck of the boat. If you need to make an emergancy phone call please speak to the crew and they will show you a safe location for cell phone coversations. Who will be supervising my children? Your children are in good hands when on-board! Clearwater’s professional crew has been selected to combine the talents of a competent sailing team with those of a trained education staff. Volunteers and interns augment the work of Clearwater’s licensed captain, crew members, and educators. The ratio of adults to children on any sail is approximately 1:4, which means that your child will be very closely supervised at every point during their time on-board. Is the Clearwater a safe boat? Clearwater complies with all U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Communications Commission regulations. Clearwater is inspected twice annually: One inspection gages the integrity of the vessel itself by examining the hull and other physical features of the vessel; and one inspection examines the ability of the crew to respond properly to an emergency and assesses the appropriateness of the vessel’s safety equipment, including fire extinguishers and personal flotation devices. Do I need to bring life jackets? The Coast Guard does not require Clearwater’s passengers to wear flotation devices during their trip, but Clearwater carries double the number of P.F.Ds than our maximum number of passengers. Will we go sailing if it is raining? While Clearwater will not sail in dangerous conditions (fog, high winds, thunderstorms), light showers will not cause us to cancel. If there is even a small chance of rain, have your child bring rain gear. What do I wear? Cold Weather: · Dress in layers; · Bring a warm coat, sweater, hat, scarf, and gloves; · Proper, flat footwear with rubber soles; · Sun protection: Sunblock and lip balm. Warm weather: · Casual clothes; · Light jacket or windbreaker; · Proper, flat footwear with rubber soles; · Sun protection: Hat with a brim, sunblock, lip balm, and a bottle of water. Wet weather (we WILL sail if its light rain): a rain jacket, rain pants (if you have them), a towel to leave in your car for when you get back. NO umbrellas What else can I bring? Bring a water bottle, a camera, maybe if cold a blanket and a sense of adventure. |