Junior Sailors Showcase Sailing Skills At Popular Regatta On The Navesink
With overcast skies, fair winds, and choppy water, youth sailors from the Fair Haven Sailing Organization, fondly known as the River Rats, took to the waters recently to participate in the long-standing and beloved maritime tradition, the Fair Haven Mayor’s Cup. The popular regatta is hosted in conjunction with several local yacht clubs, including the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club (SRYC), which hosted the awards ceremony, the Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club (SSYC), and Monmouth Boat Club.
The event features both youth and adult races. Representing River Rats, Winston Fils, 8, Fair Haven, and Isabella Schiavetti, also of Fair Haven, placed 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the youth division. “These young sailors really made us proud and show great promise,” noted Youth Division Race Director Joe Malik. He added that sailing is an excellent way to develop leadership and problem-solving skills. River Rats Skipper Jill Lynch said she observed some great sailing and believes that the competition helps sailors to build confidence and gain valuable experience on the water.
The event was also a River Rats reunion of sorts, igniting memories of summers past for several graduates and former head instructors from the junior sailing program. Growing up in Fair Haven but now residing in different parts of the country, long-time friends Daniel Raphael and Marcus Gasperini returned to visit old friends, to share memories and to participate in the regatta.
They placed second overall, sailing a Harpoon for River Rats. More so than the race itself, they returned to pay tribute to an organization that they credit with helping them to grow, develop and find direction in life. “Now I work on boats full time as a first mate,” stated Raphael, who sailed as a teen and then became an instructor. “I was mentored and then became a mentor myself,” he noted, adding, “All the kids I mentored and taught to sail are now instructors themselves. It’s great to see.”
For Gasperini, learning to sail at age 7 was terrifying for a time. “I remember the first week. I really hated it,” he recalled with a laugh. That all changed, and by age 16, he was an instructor himself, serving for 7 years in that role, including 3 years as co-head instructor with Raphael. “I visit River Rats every summer and have great memories of helping kids who were scared like me,” Gasperini said.
At present, Gasperini is studying environmental science, citing River Rats as the impetus for that interest and his journey of stewardship.
For more information on the adult and youth sailing programs offered by River Rats, visit the website www.riverratssailing.org
About River Rats
River Rats, Inc. is a 71-year-old non-profit educational sailing club on the Navesink River which is fully operated and maintained by volunteers. The organization provides both a junior sailing program and an adult sailing program.
Membership is not needed to take part in the classes; however, members receive substantial discounts and have first priority. In addition to the sailing programs, River Rats provides social events and a racing series for members, in addition to opportunities to join invitational regattas with other sailing clubs and special social events. River Rats is a member of U.S. Sailing and the North Jersey Yacht Racing Association.
The flagship youth sailing program has trained thousands of children to date, and the adult training program allows entire families to learn to sail together. River Rats is an affordable, friendly and welcoming organization whose members are drawn together by a love of sailing.
The address is 120 Battin Road, Fair Haven, N.J. 07704. Mooring space is available for members along with berths for kayaks and paddle boards with a full schedule of seasonal social events including fun sailing races, regattas and barbecues on Wednesday evenings and other special events throughout the season.
The 3 primary goals of River Rats are to promote aquatic activities amongst children and their families; to offer training that emphasizes and prioritizes safety; and to provide facilities to accomplish these goals which also include social events for both members and the greater community.
PHOTO: Members of River Rats pose proudly with youth sailors, Winston Fils,
who is holding his 3 rd place trophy, and Isabella Schiavetti. Standing in the back
row, left to right, are Frank Munn, Joe Malik, Jeff Siegal, and Christine Schiavetti.
In the front row, left to right, are Winston Schiavetti, Isabella Schiavetti, and River
Rats Skipper, Jill Lynch. PHOTO: Left to Right are Daniel Rafael, River Rats
Skipper Jill Lynch and Marcus Gasperini