Sailing into River Rats Season: The FYI on Classes & Open House

Rats! It’s something that might be said if taking the plunge into a longtime classic summer ritual of learning to sail and belonging to The Fair Haven River Rats — that 70-year-old non-profit educational sailing organization on the Navesink River — is missed.

So, the Rats are advising all in the area on specifically what’s in store for the summer sailing season. The organization is calling children, adults and families who have ever thought of learning to sail, to take the helm.

The FYI on sailing lessons …

The organization, which is not a traditional yacht club, offers junior as well as adult sailing lessons. It’s something that’s been going on at the foot of Battin Road in Fair Haven for decades — locals learning to navigate the waters of the Navesink River.

David Downie, a Fair Haven resident and trustee of the organization whose children learned to sail at River Rats, noted that it is 100 percent volunteer-run.

“There is a tremendous amount of work involved with operating and maintaining River Rats,” Downie said. “But I am rewarded each summer when I see gleeful youngsters cheerfully riding their bikes past my house to River Rats for their day of sailing instruction.” Downie believes River Rats is unique because multiple generations of families have learned to sail together, and many stay involved. “There is no better place in the area where children and adults can learn to sail in a fun, comfortable and collaborative environment with sweeping views of the Navesink River,” said Downie.

Young students who excel in the program also have opportunities to become instructors when they turn 14.

What to do …

Registration for youth sailing is available at Junior Training Signup – River Rats Inc. There are still a few spots available for the upcoming season.

In 1991, River Rats was notably recognized in the 1991 Fair Haven Master Plan as “a longstanding institution and recreational resource of the Borough of Fair Haven.” With so many benefits to offer, River Rats looks forward to hearing the positive comments submitted by Fair Haven residents on the recent master plan update survey.

River Rats operates on the concept that everyone can benefit from learning to sail. Taught by seasoned sailor J.P. Polubiec, adult sailing classes combine textbook learning with on-the-water practice sessions, allowing students to gain valuable ‘hands on’ experience with River Rats-owned boats.

The first sailing class begins on Saturday, June 13, with subsequent sessions on June 20 and July 13. Orientation is on June 6. More sessions will be scheduled depending on demand. Each class will have a classroom session and an on-the-water session.

The classroom session covers basic sailing theory and nomenclature including parts of a sailboat, rigging, how to make a sailboat sail, and basic knots. The on-the-water sessions provide hands-on experience and includes rigging and unrigging, trimming sails, the different points of sail, time at the helm, and approaching a mooring and a dock. Registration for adult sailing is available at Adult Sailing Program — River Rats, Inc.

For more information on the programs offered by River Rats, visit the website www.riverratssailing.org

The River Rats Open House FYI …

The event Is free & open to the public

The River Rats will host its community open house on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, the event offers a way to familiarize area people with the organization and its mission. Reservations are not needed.

For those interested in sailing, club members will be available to talk about the sailing and membership programs offered by River Rats. The organization offers a junior and adult sailing program. Membership is not needed to take part in the classes, however; members receive substantial discounts and have first priority.

The flagship youth sailing program has trained more than 5,000 children to date, and the adult training program allows entire families to learn to sail together.

River Rats also offers mooring space for members along with berths for kayaks and paddle boards, and seasonal social events including fun sailing races and BBQ nights.

The Fair Haven River Rats is located at 120 Battin Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704. For more information, contact Mary Haynes at 862-591-8709.

— Edited River Rats press releases