After many days of sub-freezing weather, it is not surprising that Manhasset Bay is frozen from Plum Point over to the Great Neck shore. Last weekend, January 25-26 found children and families skating on the western end of the Mill Pond. On Sunday, there was even a family with small children, a dog, and a baby in a pram (wheeled, not on skates) enjoying the not-so-sunny afternoon. Hockey enthusiasts, both young and old were having a great time on the ice - even what looked like a 3-to-4 year old was out there with his hockey stick skating around with the "big guys." The scene reminded one of the days of long ago, when families regularly planned to go skating on the Mill Pond. We haven't seen a winter like this in a long time, and while commuters and others complain about the cold, most of us take advantage of the change in seasons, and have some fun with what Mother Nature provides. With daylight getting a little longer each day, it won't be long until we are back in the boat yard getting ready for another season of sailing on Manhasset Bay, Long Island Sound and in harbors, near and far.

Speaking of harbors near and far... it seems that Rich du Moulin just can't wait for the warm weather to grace our shores. He has to go to Hong Kong to do his sailing, for he has teamed up with skipper Rich Wilson, founder of sitesALIVE! to try to break the Hong Kong to New York City record set by the clipper Sea Witch in 1849, as she delivered a cargo of Chinese tea to New York Harbor in a record-shattering 74 days, 14 hours. If the two are successful, this will be the third time that Wilson will have toppled a sailing record established during the halcyon sailing era of the great Yankee clipper.

The two sailors will leave Hong Kong on board the 53-foot trimaran Great Adventure II on St. Patrick's Day, to embark on the 15,000-mile long adventure to New York City. According to skipper Wilson, "I've had my eye on these three historic records for years, and it's a great thrill to finally be looking forward to challenging this last one." But this trip is not just for two expert sailors trying to break a record. "It's also another great opportunity to connect with youngsters all over the world through the sitesAlive! Program, this one to be known as Ocean Challenge Live! Hong Kong to New York." Through sitesALIVE! Internet educational program, thousands of youngsters (estimated at 200,000) in schools across the nation will be able to link up with Great America II as she traces Sea Witch's historic westward voyage through the South China Seas, west across the Indian Ocean, rounding the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of Africa, then north into the Atlantic Ocean and on to New York Harbor. Ocean Challenge Live! is an interactive learning adventure online - what a great way to learn about geography, world history, science, math, communications, sea-life, nutrition, meteorology, teamwork, perseverance and decision-making.

For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. du Moulin, he grew up sailing out of Knickerbocker YC, has crewed on several America's Cup boats from 1967 to 1977 (Constellation, Mariner, Intrepid and Enterprise), is the vice commodore of the Storm Trysail Club, and most recently won the Bermuda race in the double handed spinnaker division, with Peter Rugg as his crew. "This is a whole new experience for me, like racing a ghost ship commanded by a ghost skipper," said du Moulin. "The ideas of going after a clipper ship sailing record set more than a century and a half ago is irresistible, just a remarkable adventure. And the ideas of having thousands of school kids 'aboard' with us throughout the journey is going to be fantastic." This adventure, combining sailing and kids interested in sailing, is a perfect opportunity for Rich. His sailing background is impeccable and he has spent a good part of his adult life working with kids who love the sport of sailing. For the past seven years he has run Junior Safety at Seas Seminar, with over 1,000 junior sailors trained in safety. And he is very active in the Junior Sailing Program at the Larchmont YC. For more information, visit: www.sitesalive.com.

Stay tuned for further updates....

The Mystic Seaport is planning a new exhibit opening in May called Sea Dogs! which will tell the stories of valiant explorer dogs, brave Coast Guard dogs, canny fishing dogs, and loyal companions on working and pleasure vessels. In conjunction with this exhibit, Mystic Seaport is asking for photos and/or tales of your dogs "nautical" side. If you have photos of your dog on a boat, at the beach or in the water, you can submit your photo (one per family) to their panel of judges and prizes will be awarded in several categories. Just choose your favorite 4" by 6" black and white or color photo, print your name, address and phone number on the back and your photo will be included in a photo album in the exhibit. If you prefer to submit a digital image that will be displayed online, visit the Seaport's newly designed website at www.mysticseaport.org. for instructions. In addition, if you have a nautical tale that involves your best friend, and would like your short tale included in a notebook of stories that will be part of the Sea Dogs! exhibit, send the museum your short tale (no longer than 500 words) and include your name, address and phone number. Again, only one per family. Neither photos nor stories can be returned. Send to: Mystic Seaport, Sea Dogs!, 75 Greenmanville Avenue, P.O. Box 6000, Mystic, CT 06355.