NYCkayaker kayak launching from public beaches

[Steve Blumling]

Chalu,

There are MANY public beaches that kayakers or any boats for that matter are not allowed to launch from. I have been working with the state and city parks departments to open up more beaches to human powered boaters. Last year I was able to secure two launching sites on Staten Island, where I live - Midland Beach and Conference House Park. I am working on several more launch sites there and in other places around the five boro area. My experience with launching has been that I've been run off several beaches around New York City. I was refused landing and re-enforcements were called when trying to talk to NYC park rangers from the water at Coney Island. I was run off South Beach in Staten Island one year in March! I have been working with NYC Parks via the New York City Water Trail Committee of which I am a member to allow launching from NYC Parks beaches NYC Water Trail Info. I have launched from Jones Beach (Beach 6). I called first (several times to
 speak with three different people)and several people there told all different stories. Basically they didn't know so that said, "No!". I went to Beach 6 with my folding Feathercraft Kahuna in a bag and assembled it on the beach far from but still in view of the lifeguard stand - past the red flags. I launch from there into a five foot surf and paddled along the wave line for several miles. I landed in the surf where I launched from and nobody said anything. I have never seen anyone launch from there though. I have been launching from Alice Austen House Beach on Staten Island - about a half mile north of the Verrazano Bridge, the very eastern end of South Beach, very western side of Midland Beach - allowed by $15 annual permit now, from Conference House Park ($15 annual permit) which I secured for launching last year and from Valentino Park, Red Hook Brooklyn. You can also launch from any Gateway National Recreation Area. This is Federal Park land. To my
 understanding boat launching is allowed at any Gateway area as long you don't have a motor. I also launch from Great Kills Beach - Gateway Nat. Rec. Area on Staten Island and Jamaica Bay - Gateway Nat. Rec. Area in Brooklyn/Queens.


I hope that this info is helpful to you.

Steve



----- Original Message ----
From: Chalu Kim <chalu at egenius.com>
To: "nyckayaker at rockandwater.net" <nyckayaker at rockandwater.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 6, 2008 4:46:36 PM
Subject: NYCkayaker kayak launching from public beaches


I have been warned of police harassment and fines when you wish to 
launch from public beaches like Rockaway, Jones or Robert Moses.

Why is that? Is there any change in this over the years?

Having lived in the northwest, Seattle, which is kayak friendly, this 
looks almost like a class struggle.

I remember kayakers surfing big waves off Olympic peninsular.

Does anyone launch and surf waves around here? I have surfed secondary 
waves (not ones close to the beach) off these areas but launching is 
problematic.

-- 

Chalu Kim


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