Covid-19 in Stirling Harbor
In mid-march of 2020 Stirling Harbor Marina shutdown due to the COVID-19 virus sweeping the North Fork of Long Island. But there is light at the end of every tunnel. Due to the need to isolate in their homes, many people looked to the outdoors as an escape and a place they could safely socialize. Boating skyrocketed in popularity as people found a perfect outlet to discover freedom. This discovery attracted many new enthusiasts onto the waters of Long Island and throughout the country. Nationwide, as the boating community grew in numbers so did the industry.
In order to financially survive the pandemic, all the employees were furloughed except for three essential workers at the marina. For about a month and a half, these men worked together to keep the marina running for the commercial fishing and work boats. It was not until Andrew Cuomo made an official announcement to reopen marinas across the state saying, "Aligning our policies in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or 'state shopping' when it comes to marinas and boatyards.” It was his attempt to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all New Yorkers.
Although Stirling Harbor was able to prosper during the Coronavirus Pandemic as recreational boating increased in popularity, they were not immune to infection and followed strict CDC guidelines. Masks were mandatory for all employees roaming the docks and the offices at all times. Unfortunately, a handful of employees throughout the season contracted the virus leaving them unable to work for two weeks and requiring quarantine for people that were in close contact. A dockhand commented how strong the requirements for sanitation were this year, having to disinfect common areas such as well as any shared equipment like the fuel pumps. At the fuel dock, some customers were extra cautious and in one instance it was noted that a woman came to the fuel dock in 90-degree weather with a full n95 respirator and latex gloves. When I handed her the gas pump, she immediately wiped it down with a Clorox wipe and then made sure to remain at least 10 feet away from me. Eventually, when I handed her the receipt she refused to sign it with the pen I provided, even though we wiped it down, and left it unsigned.
I interviewed the Dock Master, Mr. Degregorio, who noticed the significant increase in boaters, slip sales, and people wanting to be on the water. He sold more slips over the phone during quarantine than ever in his career at the marina. He noted that with gasoline and diesel prices at an all-time lows, people felt incentivized to take boats on the water to try and escape. Since people were not traveling by plane and driving less, the demand for petroleum products was at an all-time low allowing the marina to be able to lower the prices of fuel and opening boating to many who could not previously afford the high costs. Low fuel prices combined with the government stimulus checks, allowed many people the ability to afford boats for the first time leading to many complications on the water.
People unfamiliar with boats picked up the hobby without learning the rules of boating or conducting research about proper boat maintenance. On one summer day in July, Stirling Harbor and their sister marina, Safe Harbor Greenport had to rescue a sinking boat out of the bay. During the captain’s trip, the exhaust hose malfunctioned causing the boat to take on water. The frightened captain immediately called the marina seeking help. Fortunately, the marina was able to salvage the boat and fix the problem allowing the captain to return on his boat during the 2021 season. This type of call, unfortunately was more common as uneducated boaters took to the waters.
Despite the fact that Stirling harbor endured its first pandemic, it was able to flourish with its given situation. Nick Carr also noticed it was harder to interact with the customers saying “Because of social distancing and wearing a mask, being able to connect with customers was definitely a challenge.” The boating season of 2020 was unlike anything the marina has seen before, but the staff was able to function at full capacity and put smiles behind the masks of many boaters.
