On March 20, 1883, The New York Times announced that the Monmouth Boat Club (MBC) “…have purchased a handsome site on the Shrewsbury River, 30 x 160 feet, adjoining their current club-house, and its members have subscribed money sufficient to build a handsome club-house on the newly acquired property during the upcoming season.”
Founded in 1879, Monmouth Boat Club is located in Red Bank, near the head of the Navesink River. It is an informal and friendly organization whose members are drawn together by a love of sailing and rowing and an appreciation of the charm of our idyllic river. The Club is run and maintained entirely by its members, resulting in a close spirit of cooperation and camaraderie.
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. Today, MBC is on the national and state registers for Historic Landmarks.
The Fleets
Sailing has been the major focus of the Club since World 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 House
The Club has been situated in the same historic clubhouse for more than 100 years. The house, with its three tiers of porches, is an iconic structure long favored as a subject for artists and photographers. The clubhouse provides an ideal spot for relaxing while watching 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 200-foot floating docks, including a low dock for rowers with a kayak launch. Over fifty moorings for the cruising fleet are a short row from the docks.
The Sailing Tradition
Over the years, members of the Club have distinguished themselves in the sailing world at competition levels ranging from regional and national class championships in junior and senior levels to the Olympic. These include the Adam’s Cup, the O’Day Trophy, the USYRU Single-handed and Double handed Women’s Sailing Championships, the Martini & Rossi Trophy for Yachtswoman of the Year, and a Gold Medal at the Pan American Games.
Sources:
Monmouth Boat Club. (1883). The New York Times, March 31, 1883, P. 1.
A New Boat Club House. (1895). Red Bank Register, Red Bank, N.J., April 3, 1885, P. 1.
History. (2024). Monmouth Boat Club, Red Bank, N.J., Available: https://monmouthboatclub.org/History
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