MBC was originally founded as a rowing club at the time when paddle wheel steamboats and packet sailing ships maintained an active trade between Red Bank and New York City, and commercial fishing and the oyster industry flourished on the Navesink. Though much has changed along the waterfront over the years, Monmouth Boat Club has remained a constant force promoting recreation on the river. Sailing has been the major focus of the Club since Word War I. Currently, there are five active one-design classes, an enthusiastic cruising fleet and a variety of small craft used for day-sailing and gunk-holing. The one-design classes include Lightnings, Albacores, Flying Scots, Wood-Pussys, and Sanderlings.

Fleets are formed based on the interests of the members. Throughout the history of the Club, many fleets have been represented. And now, MBC has come full circle - it once again includes rowers. In November 2000, a rowing fleet was formed.

The Club has been situated in the same historic clubhouse for nearly 100 years. The house, with its three tiers of porches, provides an ideal spot for relaxing while viewing the activities on the river, socializing, or watching the sun set over the hills of the northwest shore of the river on a balmy summer evening. The house is surrounded by a boat yard where members' boats of under twenty feet in length are stored on racks or trailers. The Club maintains three hoists for launching and has three two-hundred foot floating docks, including a low dock for rowers. Over fifty moorings for the cruising fleet are a short row from the docks.

The Sailing Tradition

 The Club also has a tradition of an active junior training program that currently uses Club-owned Optimist Prams, Blue Jays and 420s. In addition to instilling a love of the water and sailing in generations of young people, the program has produced graduates that have gone on to win the Sears Cup and to participate in regional and national championships, and in Olympic campaigns.

The many top-flight sailors at the Club provide a real spirit of support and helpfulness for new members just getting started in the sport. This includes personal assistance, advice, and more formal training opportunities. Adult sailing courses are offered for both members and the public. Throughout the year, there are also sailing seminars and on-the-water clinics, complete with video tapes of the action so that you can learn from your own bloopers while enjoying lunch! The sailing seminars are given by outside speakers, such as sailmakers, or by one of the many national champions class sailors who are members of the Club. The Club also maintains a sailing video library for the use of the members.

A Year-Round Calendar of Activities

The Sailing Season begins in March with frostbiting. At the end of March, the Cruising Fleet gathers to place their moorings. A week later the membership works together in the traditional "Floats-In" activity. During "Floats-in" the twenty-foot sections of the floating docks are moved back to the water from their winter storage in the yard using a number of arcane devices similar to those used to construct the pyramids!.. The morning's work party is followed by a hearty member-prepared lunch.

Between April and October, rowers are on the River whenever the wind is not too strong (and the water not too cold) - usually near dawn or dusk. They hold bridge races every two weeks, June through September, as well as other special Events.

Fleet and andicap sailing races are held every Sunday from mid-April through mid-October. These include Spring, Summer, and Fall Series class races, and up to six Bridge Races.  A Bridge Race is a fun event where all classes participate on a handicap basis over a six-mile course down the river and back. These races are followed by a porch party featuring good food and good times. In addition, on Saturdays throughout the season there are perhaps nine class and holiday regattas. During the summer months there is a Tuesday night series of informal handicap races -- round the buoys or a Bridge Race -- followed by a bring-your -own food family cookout.

The summer also features the eight-week junior sailing program - open to both member and non-member families. The classes range from beginner to advanced sailing and racing. There is also Junior Race Week in which friendly competition is fostered in conjunction with other clubs in the area. A parent-child weekend of pram sailing adds some more water fun possibilities for the young sailors.

In October, the floats are again removed and several new floats are constructed for the next year as part of the "Floats-Out" festivities. For the stout of heart, sailing continues beyond October with frostbiting during November and December!

The Social Scene

Monmouth Boat Club on the Navesink: a Place to Enjoy!

 The Navesink River provides a beautiful and challenging environment to both learn and practice sailing skills in an ever changing range of wind speeds and directions. Learning to read and react to the wind shifts so prevalent on the river really provides the opportunity to sharpen skills. The diverse scenes on the banks of the river also help to make each sail a novel and enjoyable experience. The scenery ranges from the urban skyline of Red Bank, with hotels and condominiums, to the steep banks and hills of the north shore of the river culminating near Sandy Hook in the highest point on the Atlantic coast. There are also underdeveloped park lands, homes with the appearance of summer cottages, boat houses on the stately lawns of large estates, and residences dating from the nineteenth century.

We of the Monmouth Boat Club are proud of our beautiful river and our historic Club. For over one hundred years, MBC has promoted the appreciation and preservation of the river environment and the enjoyment of the art of sailing. A vibrant membership and active program to enhance the Club's facilities ensure that Monmouth Boat Club is well positioned for its next hundred years.