SAILING, CANOEING AND BOATING

Summer in upstate New York is lush, relaxing and usually quite warm. There’s nothing more refreshing than turning your face to a cool breeze and perhaps feeling a little spray of water. A beautiful summer day can be made perfect by boating or sailing on the Hudson River. A cruise will take you past most of the “Great Estates,” three colleges, parks, bustling marinas and restaurants. Other stretches of the river are still undeveloped, and a sail today is as awe-inspiring as when Henry Hudson and his crew first saw the waterway and marveled at the magnificent scenery. Dutchess County’s 30 miles of Hudson River frontage, and a multitude of streams, creeks and lakes, provides visitors a myriad of aquatic recreation and sightseeing options from April through October.

Visitors to Dutchess County who tour the Hudson River on their own watercraft will find seven marinas waiting for them to dock. In Southern Dutchess are White’s Hudson River Marina and Chelsea Carthage Landing Marina, which offer marine supplies, electric and water hook-ups as well as rest rooms and showers. White’s and Hyde Park Marina (www.hydeparkmarina.com) in Poughkeepsie have gas, diesel, parts and service available. Hyde Park Marina is adjacent to The Brass Anchor restaurant, with two decks for scenic outdoor dining. Norrie Point Marina is part of the 1000-acre Mills-Norrie State Park, offering camping, hiking trails and the newly renovated Ironwood Grill Restaurant at the adjacent Dinsmore Golf Course. The Poughkeepsie Yacht Club and Roger’s Point Boating Association (www.rogerspoint.org) in Hyde Park are private but offer slips for transient docking. There are four hand launch sites in Dutchess as well.

For those who prefer to leave the sailing to someone else, get aboard the River Rose, a Mississippi style paddle boat. They offer afternoon evening, and dining & dancing cruises. The main deck is fully enclosed and climate controlled. Guests are also invited to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine on the open upper deck. You can also sail the majestic river with Riverboat Tours (www.imcltd.com), choosing from dinner, brunch, and sightseeing cruises. Both paddle wheelers are also available for groups. The Great Hudson Sailing Center (www.greathudsonsailing.com) is another way to navigate the Hudson River. Passengers are picked up at the Rhinecliff Dock for charter and sunset cruises on a 43-foot sailing yacht. Either way, the scenic views are spectacular.

Water sports are possible in part because of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (www.clearwater.com), a non-profit environmental education and action organization dedicated to cleaning up and safeguarding the Hudson River. Since 1969 it has operated a replica of an 18th century 106-foot packet sloop, also called Clearwater. The boat serves as a “Classroom of the Waves,” conducting educational programs and appearing at waterfront festivals. Legendary singer/songwriter Pete Seeger spearheaded the Clearwater’s founding. Each year 12,000 school children plus adult groups board the ship for a tour and a chance to explore the natural history and ecology of the Hudson. Those who volunteer as crew members not only hoist the sails and steer the ship, but also examine fish and water samples reflecting the river’s condition. Two smaller sloops, the Sojourner Truth and the Woody Guthrie, have also joined the fleet.