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Kids chart new adventures at Sail Away Day

Teddie vom Eigen, 5, looks to have a future as a sailor as he takes the helm of the Bellatrix. TED PFIRRMANN PHOTOS
Ted Pfirrmann
July 27, 2025

The Overfalls Foundation hosted the second of its children’s events July 16, with its Sail Away Day for Children. This event was held at Canalfront Park in downtown Lewes.

Heath Gehrke, director of operations at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, introduced the group of children to the art of knot tying and their use. The children next met Steve Nieblas of the Lewes Yacht Club Sailing Committee, who brought a sailing school Sunfish sailboat with him. Children were taught about the boat and all the opportunities to learn, enjoy and compete in sailboat races each weekend. Children then had the chance to board the Bellatrix, a 38-foot sailboat owned and raced by local sailor Hattie Warwick-Smith, who related the joys and challenges of open-ocean racing.

More than 35 children and their parents attended the event. The next program, Why Knot, is set for Wednesday, Aug. 13.

For more information on the Overfalls Foundation, including upcoming events, go to overfalls.org.

The Bellatrix is a beautiful 38-foot racing sailboat.
Jamie Doughty, 6, works on his knot-tying skills.
Dave Shook, president of the Overfalls Foundation, welcomes kids to the Sail Away Day event.
Heath Gehrke, director of operations for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, tells a story of how he most likely rowed the historic Monomoy lifesaving boat that the foundation has on display when it was used to train cadets at the Merchant Marine Academy.
Patty Jackson, Overfalls Foundation secretary, and Cindy Castellana, Overfalls Foundation treasurer, sign kids in at the beginning of the day.
The Bellatrix has quite a crowd gathered around it as Hattie Warwick-Smith speaks of her adventures.

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