Ben Ellcome and Maple Andrews shared the latest news from New London Community Boat Works (NLCB). The non-profit focuses on skills development for young people. NCLB's mission:

"We honor New London's maritime heritage by connecting the community to the sea through education, boat building, and pathways into the marine trades. NLCB is fostering pride, purpose, and a sense of place for future generations."   

Learn more about their activities at: https://www.nlcboatworks.org/

Ledyard Rowin's coach Russell Smith shared a picture of his young rowing team's recent trip to New York City to participate in a rowing regatta (below, left).

We also were able to view a nice plaque created by Cameron Taylor in memory of longtime JGTSCA member Rob Pittaway (below, right).

Arnold Chester describes his experience building the Biscayne 22 at a meeting of the John Gardner Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association. ​

The Biscayne 22 is a classic mahogany runabout. Plans are available from Glen-L: https://www.glen-l.com/Biscayne-22/products/726/​

A description provided on the Glen-L website:

​"The Biscayne 18 & 22 classic mahogany runabout designs capture the look and feel of production runabouts built in the several years either side of 1940, and incorporate similar hull shapes accordingly. That means reverse-curved flaring topsides at the bow blending gracefully aft to a generous tumblehome at the transom. Such attractive contours are impossible to build using sheet plywood alone, yet easily reproduced using our carefully detailed building methods."

In addition to his boat building activities, Arnold had an interesting career as an engineer. One of his projects involved working on the life support systems that the Apollo 11 astronauts used to walk on the moon.

The John Gardner Chapter of the TSCA hosted its annual Small Craft Workshop. The workshop ran in conjunction with the 32nd annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport on June 28-30, 2024.

The JGTSCA quarterly meeting was held at the Avery Point boathouse on April 7, 2024. The meeting was followed by a tool sharpening workshop led by Bill Rutherford and Dan Nelson.

Sadly JGTSCA founding member John Symons passed away this year. John was active in the club for many years and is remembered for his friendly manner, boating knowledge, and generous heart. John took great care in restoring his family's Thompson runabout at the boathouse. John and his wife Patricia were active sailors out of Mystic for many years.

​At a 2012 monthly JGTSCA meeting, long time members John Symons and Peter Vermilya describe how the group got started at Avery Point, Connecticut.