By Joanne Kleinle
“On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.” The philosopher Rumi said this in the thirteenth century, but it still holds true today. There is no better way to get away from it all and enjoy New Jersey’s beautiful coast than on a sailboat. Sailing is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities and is something the whole family can do together. If you are looking for a true “staycation” to enjoy with your whole family, look no further than the Raritan Yacht Club. It is family-friendly, affordable, and makes the joy of sailing accessible to everyone.
The second oldest yacht club in the United States, it was founded in 1865 and sits on the Raritan Bay in Perth Amboy. Raritan Bay is only 14 miles from Sandy Hook- a 3-hour sail- but it is quiet with no bridges, locks, or canals to clear, making it the perfect place for beginners to learn to sail or for experienced sailors to race or just enjoy a beautiful day.
The Raritan Yacht Club is proud of its legacy and rich nautical history, but it is in no way stuffy or exclusive. Its beautiful waterfront clubhouse is open year-round with a full-service galley and outdoor seating overlooking the bay. Members get together regularly in the outdoor seating area on the bay or in the clubhouse for live entertainment and game night or for special events like the annual pig roast or shrimp boil.
The members love to sail and want to share their love of the sport with others. It is that simple. To that end, they offer lots of options for members and non-members to learn about the sport. For juniors, they offer a Learn to Sail Program that is open to nonmembers. Classes run in two three-week sessions four days a week from 9:30-3:30 pm for kids, ages 7-18. Classes start the last week in June and run through the first week in August and cost only $775 for a 3-week session. For more information, contact Gary Myer at garyamyer@gmail.com. They also have an Advanced 420 Racing Program for juniors to continue race training serving as a bridge to high school and college racing. The juniors attend three regattas (two away) and have a practice regatta at the Club.
You are never too old to pick up the sport. Raritan Yacht Club offers a training program based on US Sailing’s First Sail Program which is open to members and nonmembers. On any given Wednesday during the season, racing teams are always looking for crew. Going out for a sail and joining in the fun is another great way to learn and to meet great people.
One of the most popular programs the Raritan Yacht Club runs is the Boat Share Program. If you do not want the expense or commitment of owning a boat, you can join the Shared Boat Program where, for an annual fee in addition to the cost of membership, you can have access to one of a fleet of five Colgate 26 or a Catalina 250. It is a perfect program for people looking to build experience on a vessel that is capable and safe in a wide variety of conditions. The rentals are available from early May through late October.
The best way to fully experience the Club is through membership. There is a special level of membership available for people ages 21- 33 called the Corinthian membership. There is no initiation fee or galley/bar minimum spend and the annual fee is reduced, but they have full access to all membership privileges.
If you are curious about what Raritan Yacht Club is all about, email membership@ryc.org. Someone will get back to you and help to arrange an opportunity for you to see the club- maybe come out and join in a race or spend an evening watching the bay.
Although the season is from May through October, the clubhouse is open and there are events and activities all year long. It is definitely worth a look. Check out Raritan Yacht Club and experience for yourself the beauty of New Jersey from the deck of a sailboat!
