By Avery Gershwin
While most of Rye is still asleep, a dedicated group of Rye residents is already cruising along the Long Island Sound on paddleboards, seeking calm waters and community connections.
Formed during the early days of COVID, Mermaids and Dolphins, the paddle boarding group, now draws around 10 people most mornings. Part workout, part socializing, the group is all about shared belonging.
Joie Cooney, a founding member, began paddleboarding in 2020. What started as a few Rye moms searching for others who shared their love of the sport soon grew into a committed group of 45 locals. When a friend of Cooney’s posted on Facebook asking if anyone had a board, the response was overwhelming.
“All of these people came out of the woodwork,” Cooney said. Sensing a spark in the community, she created a WhatsApp group, and the Mermaids and Dolphins came to be.
The group is intentionally informal, something Cooney considers one of its strengths. With everyone in the group having busy and structured lives, they have found that a more informal organization works best. Whenever someone is interested in paddling, they simply send out a text asking, “Does anyone want to paddle today?”
Most outings launch from the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, which is accessible through Playland’s parking lot. Sometimes, they set out from a public dock in Milton Point, and other times they travel up to Westport, Conn. But the group usually tends to stay local, drawn to the beauty of Rye’s coast.
All skill levels are welcome, and the veteran paddlers are quick to guide the newcomers through the process, helping them choose boards, apparel, and how to read the tides. They often lend each other equipment and help transport boards.
Though paddleboarding brought them together, it is the sense of community that keeps them coming back.
“We have met people that we absolutely would not have met if it wasn’t for this group,” Cooney said. Whether it’s sharing their favorite local resources with one another or informing each other about exciting upcoming events in Rye, the Mermaids and Dolphins build bonds on the water.
“It’s less a club than a way to come together with people in this community who are like-minded,” said Cooney. “They’re doers, they’re outdoorsy, they’re active. And they have an appreciation for being out on the water and being out in nature.”
Amanda Hamilton, who joined the group when she moved to Rye two years ago, said, “It’s been wonderful to have a group of people who know the rules of the Sound and who can show me all the cool sights around Rye.”
Nicole Ball, a Rye paddleboarder of 10 years, agrees.
“It’s always been a nice group, but since Joie organized this WhatsApp group, it’s been more consistent,” she said. She appreciates the group’s attentiveness to the weather and tides and especially loves that nobody is ever out there alone. She added that Cooney is knowledgeable about Rye history and adds a fun historian’s perspective to their paddling adventures.
Looking forward, Cooney hopes to expand the group. She wants to continue to welcome new members and support those who are interested in paddling or learning how to paddle.
“Being out on the Sound is so freeing and beautiful,” Cooney said. “And it helps you appreciate what a beautiful community we live in.”
Paddlers Raise $8K to Benefit Sound
Clean-water advocates came together recently for the 10th annual Paddle for the Sound. The event, organized by Save the Sound, brought together athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and environmental advocates to raise money and awareness for the protection of Long Island Sound and its surrounding lands and rivers, raising more than $8,000.
Participants paddled from locations across the region, logging their miles and securing donations from friends, family, and supporters. More than 500 miles of shoreline and open water were explored by kayak, paddleboard, and canoe as part of the event.
Save the Sound awarded participants who paddled the most miles and raised the most dollars. Ruth Hayduk, of the Bronx, took first place for total distance, paddling 100.52 miles. Two Westchester paddlers, Beatrice Weinberger, of Larchmont, and Jean Kostelich, of New Rochelle, took second and third place, paddling 86.62 miles and 81.99 miles, respectively. The top fundraiser title went to Wendy Fish, of Deep River, Conn., who raised $1,930.
Proceeds support Save the Sound’s work to fight climate change, preserve endangered lands, protect the Sound and its tributaries, and restore vital ecosystems.
