Area news site, Shorebeat, reports this week that the former Lavallette home to renowned area boatbuilder Charlie Hankins is likely to be demolished following an application by its current owners. Included in the article was a brief history of the Hankins family’s boatbuilding operations, here.

More can be learned of Mr. Hankins and his legacy through the National Endowment of the Arts biography page here  and a 2003 profile by Don Bennett and Ocean County here.

A program showcasing Mr. Hankins and his work as produced by NJN in 1991 can be watched in its entirety through Folkstreams, here.

SPEEDY BOATS TO CLASH IN THE INQUIRER’S REGATTA

Philadelphia Inquirer
6 Aug. 1910

Largest Fleet of Racing Craft Ever Assembled in Lower Egg Harbor Bay Entered for Today's Races

From a Staff Correspondent

ISLAND HEIGHTS, N.J., Aug. 5.--By 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the greatest fleet of racing and pleasure craft ever assembled in local waters, bearing hundreds of persons, each anxious to see their favorite boat win, will anchor off Cedar Creek, in lower Egg Harbor Bay, to witness the Inquirer Regatta, to be raced under the control of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association.

Tonight, after a strenuous twenty-four hours of final planning for the regatta, the 500 odd yachtsmen represented in the central racing association went off to bed, knowing fully that tomorrow will dawn on the most important racing event ever held along the north Jersey coast. Easily, it will be the premier contest of its kind ever attempted in these waters, and for its success the popularity of The Inquirer Regatta is held responsible.

More entries have been made than for any other races, and that is "going some," for the Barnegat Bay tars are old hands at the racing game and pride themselves in the large number of boats to clash at their race meets. Boat owners simply swamped Chairman John C. McAvoy and the other members of the Racing Committee with entries.

More Entries Than Ever

"Wow!" said Mr. McAvoy to Commodore A.W. Atkinson, of the Island Heights Yacht Club, during the afternoon. "Last year's record of 55 starters in The Inquirer Regatta is beaten now and I have a batch of letters containing entries that stacks up on my desk nearly an inch high."

Meanwhile that portion of Toms River in the vicinity of the club house was dotted with racing craft, waiting for The Inquirer's official measurer to tape them and compute their racing handicaps. It was a continuous procession of boats yesterday, the majority of the boats flying the colors of Island Heights Yacht Club were measured. Today the racers of the other fleets had their inning. From Sea Side Park, Bay Head, Toms River, Mantoloking, Barnegat City, Forked River, Cedar and Lavallette swarmed here.

Tonight the Island Heights anchorage is the rendezvous of a fleet of more than 100 boats, mainly from the other clubs, which will head for the racing field early in the morning. Moreover, by train this afternoon and tonight scores of persons came from Philadelphia and New York for the race, and they will be taken down the bay on the boats of friends to whoop it up for the racers they want to see flash across the line winners.

The race will be the first big test of the value of the Barnegat Bay Racing Association. This organization was formed by Mr. McAvoy, who was last year commodore of the Island Heights Yacht Club, and a few kindred racing enthusiasts. The object is to control all racing on Barnegat Bay, thereby paving the way for better races and equitable rules. On the racing committee of the association, besides Mr. McAvoy, are Herman Muller, of the Sea Side Park Yacht Club; Guy A. Luburg, of the Island Heights Yacht Club; C.A. Horter, of the Cedar Yacht Club; C.C. Eankson of the Lavallette Yacht Club; C.E. Smith, of the Barnegat City Yacht Club, and Edgar P. Earle, of the Mantoloking Yacht Club. By having a representative at each of the clubs the plans for the regatta held under the auspices of the association can be carried on with unison. This has been done in the preparation of The Inquirer Regatta with much success. Besides this, the commodores and officers of the various clubs have been working hand-in-hand with the Racing Committee.

First Race at 11 A.M.
The first race is scheduled to be started at 11 o'clock. Two hours before this time, however, the picturesque resorts that fringe Barnegat Bay and Toms River will be emptied of the summer and yachting contingent, for the exodus to the course will be in keeping with the proportions of the regatta. There will be seven classes, and each event, unless weather conditions should cause the officials to make a shift in the instructions, will be twice over the course from off Cedar Creek to Waretown. Each lap will be ten miles. The classes, together with the time of starting, follow:

Power Boats
11.05 A.M. - Open launches.
11.10 A.M. - Speed boats.
11.15 A.M. - Cruisers, two divisions.

Sail Boats
1.35 P.M. - Sneak-boxes.
1.40 P.M. - Cat-boats.
1.45 P.M. - Cruising sloops.
1.50 P.M. - Auxiliary boats.

"I guess a program like that should satisfy the most exacting yachtsman," said Commodore Atkinson after he had read the list of events.
In fact, there is a class for nearly every type of boat on Barnegat Bay, excepting the open sloops. The boats of this type, the "I.H.Y.C.," of the local club, and the Manhasset, of Sea Side Park, together with the Adventuress, of the Corinthian Yacht and Gun Club, of Beach Haven, the trio that raced last year, are not in commission.

Speedy Craft Entered
In every class there are many entries, the best and speediest boats of the respective types being entered. Yachtsmen, who turned their backs on sail-bearing craft as soon as the motor engine came into vogue, say the best part of the regatta will be in the morning.
One of the most thrilling races of the day is bound to be the struggle of the cat-boats. Two boats, the Virginia, owned by John Norris and sailed by "Doc" Leslie Mulford, and the Lulu, owned by Walter Bell and sailed by Lash Hyres, are expected to furnish the race. The Virginia has been selected to defend Barnegat Bay in the inter-bay catboat races off Narragansett Pier week after next. Lulu was the defender last year. So far the Lulu and the Virginia have not yet met, and the Island Heights bunch is on edge to get a line on the speed of the Virginia.
The sneak-box race will also be a thriller. This is a popular type of boat on the bay. Last year this was a corking race, and it will be better on Saturday, because there are more races.
Reed Kilpatrick, captain of next year's Yale football team, and now training at Pelham Manor to represent the New York Athletic Club at the all-round champion competition at Chicago, arrived here tonight to sail his Billiken.
With the Island Heights members the race for the auxiliary boats will be interesting. There are numerous sail craft here in which engines have or are being installed. Tomorrow, therefore, will show how fast these auxiliaries will scud along under sail and power.

The entries follow:

Open Launches
Boat - Owner

Little Quakeress - Howard Edson
Nautilus - F.T. Benjamin
Atlantic - A.L. Forbes
Leroy - John Drumm
Lloyd S. - Edward Miller
Harrigan - W.R. McGill
Betsy - Maguerite Webster
Ada S. - Joseph Smalley
Hiram - Edward Rowell
Mea II - Harry Lippincott
Fourth of July - S.D. Conwell
Coyote - Dr. G.H. Thatcher
Sylph - J.C. Morton

Speed Boats
Inquirer - Faunce Bros.
Scout - Geo. R. Roden
Black Devil - Edw. Stontenberg
Muriel - W.S. Snyder
Broadbill - Murray Earle
Connie Mack - Thos. E. Shibe

Cruisers
Mycehua - Com. A.W. Atkinson
Vonine - F.A. Nathan
Elizabeth - Jno. C. McAvoy
Bella G - Leon Seifert
Electra - J.W. Wright
Wren - F.R. Welsh
Vinnie II - Edwin Lloyd
Bummer - J.H. Gillingham
Swallow II - Joseph Neville, 3d.
Vesta - F.A. Downes
Dixie - J.A. Wood
Dorothy - F.M. Hoover
Donscha - A.E. Freeman
Alice - Wm. Schoettle
Mary - Ferd Schoettle
Elforene - Wm. Shetzline
Adrea - J.V. Piard
Berbob - George R. Seiffert
Filia - A.E. Buchanan
Josephine - Thos. S. Shibe
Curlew - C. Irving Merrill
Bettina - George S. Hier

Cruising Sloops
Margaret - Gerhard Leiper
Ashumet - Dr. Chas. Ill

Sneak Boxes
Break Down - Douglass B. Murphy
Arrow - O.G. Dale
Mystery - F.F. Bailey
Miss Cat - J.V. Cattus
Snag - Roy Porter
Goodnuff - L.F. Bailey
Frou Frou - B. Gerhardi
Widgeon - T.H. Burchill
Constance - R. Louder
Nerious - Dr. Charles Ill
Wildcat - J. Piard
Water Wagon - H.S. Tissot
Billiken - Reed Kilpatrick
Merry Widow - J.A. Brown
Frolic - J.R. Such
Quickstep - Captain Wilber
Owl - Reed Mills
Lemonade - George Bailey

Catboats
Virginia - John Norris
Peerless - Edmund Ill
Mary E. - Dr. Leon Gable
Thistle - Dr. D.R. Megreagor
Trolley - C.H. Harter
Martha - Howard Webb
Lou - Lash Hyres
Princess - Walter Haywood

Cabin Sloops
Yankee - R.M. Vanderherchen
Shawara - George Patterson
Quakeress - Allen Edson
Mabel - William Edson

To mark the special occasion of this winter sailing sport returning to the Toms River in 2025, the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum is happy to release a limited run of shirts showing a DN-class iceboat zipping around between Pine Beach, Island Heights and Toms River on January 25th.
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Our online Ship’s Store can be reached by clicking here.

If demand proves greater than this initial limited run, we will restock and reopen ordering as soon as possible.
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If you find your chosen shirt is sold out, please email us at [email protected] with your size and quantity so we may gauge interest in a reorder. Thanks.

Fifty years is a special achievement worthy of review and celebration, and with the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum (originally Toms River Seaport Society) now fast approaching that milestone in 2026, we begin here with the first installment of a new series.

Today we open the archive on ourselves and the many volunteers and friends who answered the call, in that energetic national bicentennial year of 1976, to begin collecting and preserving for future generations the rich maritime heritage of our Toms River and Barnegat Bay.

RELEASE June 23, 1977
349-2506

The Toms River Seaport Museum will be open to the public for the first time at their Open House on June 26th, from 3 to 6 P.M. at their new headquarters at 117 E. Water Street, Toms River.

Nautical artifacts will be exhibited and in water and on land boats will be on exhibit.

Ships models of the Enterprise and the Ranger, two American Cup Yachts owned by Harold S. Vanderbilt, built by John F. Miller of Toms River about 40 years ago, have been loaned to the Museum by his grandsons, Glenn F. Miller of Buffalo, N.Y. and Philip H. Miller of Staunton, Va. These are scale models, 1/32 to an inch and stand about seven feet tall.

The Enterprise won the American Cup race in 1930 against Shamrock the 5th, the last race sailed by Sir Thomas Lipton of England.

The Ranger defeated the Endeavor II, owned by Thomas Sopwith, an Airplane manufacturer of England, in 1937 in four straight races.

Mr. William W. Halliday has donated his father's model of a steamer that Captain J.D. Halliday sailed out of San Francisco to the Orient. He also presented two models of clipper ships and Captain Halliday's Chinese sea chests, a marine sextant and ships logs. These were presented in memory of Captain J.D. Halliday and Mrs. Ellen Halliday.

Mr. Burton Dezendorf of Beachwood has given to the Society the James Rogers Marine Hydrometer which was used for years to measure the salt water in New Jersey and New York waters.

William Brady of Bayonne, N.J. donated a model of Kay Cory, a whaling brig, which was built in 1856 and sailed out of Westport, Mass.

Diane Beckett, of Suburban Drive, Toms River, will be in charge of the Museum.

A 17 foot Atlantic City sneakbox, presented by Henry Althouse of Ocean Gate, will remain an on land outdoor exhibit.

The "Storm Along," a 20 foot sneakbox built in 1921 by Mort Johnson of Bay Head, the first boat given to the Society by David Holland, will be in the water at the dock as well as the F. Slade Dale 25 foot Launch given by John Van Horn, Jr. and restored by Butch Miller. Charles Hankin, of the Hankin Boat Works in Lavallette, did some repair work on the Storm Along.

The "Shell Drake," the 12 foot sneakbox built in 1925 and sailed by F. Slade Dale from the Battery in New York to Miami that year, will also be on exhibit. This boat was also donated by John Van Horn, Jr. of Point Pleasant.

The Society has also been offered the "Anna," the last Pound Boat to sail out of Chadwick Fisheries at Chadwick Beach.

Edward Beckett, Acquisitions Chairman of the Society, will be glad to accept any other boats representative of Barnegat Bay, especially a Perrine Sneakbox or a Beaton Sneakbox.

The Toms River Seaport Society was founded in 1976 as a result of the study made by the Toms River Seaport Study Commission created by the Dover Township Committee.

Out of cellars and sheds and hideaways they arrived this past weekend: iceboats on the Toms River.

For almost a decade, conditions here proved too warm for this Brigadoon-like sport, making the white winter sails even more special to see from the shores of Pine Beach, Island Heights and Toms River.
​
Among those enjoying the ice and wind were the Hess and Krajewski families and friends, seen in the photos and videos here.

To mark the special occasion of this winter sailing sport returning to the Toms River, the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum is also going to release a limited run of shirts with a graphic created from the photo above, taken this past weekend.

If interested, send an email to [email protected] and let us know sizes and number of shirts to be added to a presale email list. Feel free to please forward this email to anyone else who may be interested as well!

Also on the ice this weekend was local drone videographer, Kevin Doherty, who put together a nice compilation of iceboating in his video found here on Facebook. Thanks, Kevin!

Island Heights resident Ted Nordheimer also snagged a "painterly" view of an iceboat and lone watcher from his perch at the northern river shoreline. Thanks, Ted!

HOLIDAY RUM RUNNING CUT
Matawan Journal
9 January 1925

Less Than 5,000 Cases Got by as Compared With 50,000 in 1923.

Less than 5,000 cases of holiday liquor were smuggled through the Coast Guard cordon along the Jersey coast as against approximately 50,000 cases smuggled during the holiday season of 1923, M.W. Rasmussen, superintendent of the Fifth Coast Guard District, declared at his office in Asbury Park this week. The fifth district embraces the entire Jersey coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May, but does not include the Atlantic City sectional base.

"Efforts to plug holiday leaks were excellent," declared Superintendent Rasmussen. "The ultimate doom of the shore rum-runner is coming very soon," he added.

According to the superintendent two large rum cargo boats succeeded in escaping the cordon near Asbury Park and two in New York Bay. A survey of rum row showed an average of seven ships anchored off shore each day during the holiday season as against forty during the holiday season of 1923, he added.

CHASED BY CUTTER, BATTERED BY GALE, OUT OF GAS, GUARDS SAVE RUM RUNNERS

Asbury Park Press
20 Nov. 1924

Chased thru a driving hail and sleet storm by a revenue cutter, forced to throw overboard a cargo of liquor, then after having eluded capture, lost at sea when his boat ran out of gasoline and oil, and drifting for several hours in the angry water, finally forced to call his arch enemies--the Coast Guard--to rescue him, is the harrowing experience of a local bootlegger whose eventual trip to rum row on Saturday was replete with thrills.

This prominent bootlegger and an unnamed companion, whose activities in the business have made them well known along the Jersey coast, made the trip Saturday afternoon and after the chase by the revenue cutter were buffeted about by the angry waters of a heavy storm for several hours.

​The bootlegger, who prefers to have his occupation classed as "lobster fisherman," in company with another man in the same business, left this vicinity Saturday afternoon in their high-powered auto for a hiding place below Belmar where their 100-horsepower armored speed boat is docked.

The fisherman who generally accompanies the head of the local ring attended the Asbury Park-Chattle football game Saturday and did not make the trip, thus missing the harrowing experience.

The pair pulled out late in the afternoon and made a rapid run to Rum Row. At least this is the story as repeated along the local "whisky curb" where the local "lobster" fishermen congregate at night to swap experiences preparatory to starting out on the business of the night.

While the two were on the supply ship laying a large stock in anticipation of "parking" it for higher holiday prices, a light rain began to fall, during which a low mist hung over the water. Little thinking that one of the coast guard revenue cutters would soon be upon them, the pair bid farewell to the large boat and shoved off.

They were clipping along at a rapid rate when suddenly out of the mist came a booming voice:

"Halt, or we'll fire!"

"Step on it!" was the mumbled command of the leader of the pair.

The steady "put-put" of the revenue boat was heard not many yards in the rear.

​Then began the chase. Riding in elusive circles, first far out to sea, then back to shore, the chase kept up for several hours, but always the runners could hear the steady humming of the motor of the government craft. Then their engine suddenly started to miss.

A quick look in the tank, to find that only a small quantity of gasoline remained.

"Dump the stuff, quick!" cried one.

Splash, splash, splash, over into the water went case after case.

Finally the sound of the revenue cutter was heard to grow fainter and fainter. Just when it seemed that the bootleg craft was about to fall into the hands of the revenue boat, the latter had apparently given up the chase.

Then with the pouring rain, driving sleet and howling wind, tossing them about the angry waters like a chip, the light craft was anchored. Worried by a dragging anchor, a torch was made, soaked in the remaining gasoline, and burned in the stern of the ship.

​The lookout at the Toms River station of the Coast Guard saw the light flickering thru the rain and hail and reported it. A boat was launched and a crew rowed out to ascertain the trouble.

The motorboat was about a half mile off shore and about four miles from the station. When the guards reached the side of the disabled boat and heard of the lack of gas, they again put off, rowing this time to Lavallette, where cans of oil and gas [were brought] back to the anchored motorboat. The gas was placed in the tank and the rowboat was towed to the guard station at Toms River by the bootleggers.

Fatigued from the strenuous trip, they beached their boat at the station for the night. They were chilled and cold from their long exposure to the elements and had nothing to warm them up. That is, the Coast Guards said that when they pulled up beside the disabled craft there wasn't any liquor on board.

In the meantime the "wire" had gone out to another bootlegger or "lobster fisherman" of Bradley Beach, who hastened to Toms River to bring his two friends back.

Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays - 10 am to 2 pm
78 East Water Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
Guided Tours By Request - New Members Always Welcome
(732) 349-9209 - [email protected]

​Noses Out Tamwock in Classic Event on Barnegat Bay; Mary Ann, Inquirer Regatta Winner, Is Third

by Levi Wilcox

SEASIDE PARK, N.J., Aug. 9.
Battling a stiff breeze from the southward The Spy, owned by Commodore Thatcher, of the Seaside Park Yacht Club, captured the historic Sewell Cup here today in one of the greatest races ever conducted on Barnegat Bay.
So close and interesting was the race that The Spy only nosed out Tamwock, of the same club mate, by the scant margin of seventeen seconds. That was not all, however, for these two boats kept so close together during the entire course of thirteen miles that at no stage of the race was there more than half a minute separating the two boats.

Although it was conceded that the famous Mary Ann, winner of the Sewell Cup race last year and which has done some tall winning this season over identically the same course, was the outstanding favorite prior to the race, all that the noted Island Heights entry could accomplish was third position.

The breeze kept increasing from the southward throughout the entire race and on the second lap it was very doubtful if the boats could carry their large Marconi rigs to windward. All the boats had to lug sail and the three leaders proved not only that they had the speed, but that they were able to stand up under a stiff blow and face a heavy sea.

So stiff was the breeze under which the yachtsmen battled that five of the smaller boats capsized and, of course, were out of the running in their respective races. The Bat, which was fourth in the Sewell Cup race, the feature event of the day, almost went over on the last leg.

The Bat made quite a showing on the first leg of her journey, but when she started to poke her nose on the second round she couldn't stand the wind. In fact, she was almost overturned gibing around one of the buoys and one of the crew very nearly fell into the water. He managed to hold to the craft and regained his stance. This was a mighty close shave for the Bat, which sports the colors of the Toms River Yacht Club, for had he fallen overboard she would have been put out of the race.

​Big Crowd on Hand
Never before in the history of this historic event has there been such unusual interest in the result. With ten of the most highly developed catboats in the world facing the starter, all of which are considered the acme of perfection insofar as craftsmanship and rigging are concerned, the Sewell Cup race brought together not only the great racing craft, but also the greatest crowd in the history of the race for the last twenty-five years, a crowd which witnessed every inch of the course with a fond hope of catching a glimpse of the various entries as they poked their noses into the home stretch.

Excitement was intense when the Spy and Tamwock first came into view on the last leg of the race. The boats were not more than half a length apart on the last half mile. They kept together for several seconds before the expert maneuvering of the sheet tender on The Spy, together with the splendid judgement of Commodore Thatcher, who sailed the boat with remarkable skill, just about decided the issue.

Mary Ann kept plugging along, but not once during the whole race did she look like repeating last year's triumph and also that of July 4, when this same boat won the Inquirer Regatta. Mary Ann was also handled remarkably well by Judge McKeehan, but she did not exhibit the same speed over the heavy going as she has done heretofore when the sailing has not been so rough as it was today.

The Seaside Park Yacht Club entries conclusively proved that they are built and were properly handled for such heavy sailing.

Tamwock, let it be noted, was the only catboat competing in the big event today, which previously had won three legs on the $1000 trophy. This trio of victories all happening in three consecutive years, 1911, 12 and 13, constitutes a record that her owner, F.B. Larkin, who has sailed the seven seas, is mighty proud of.

​Many Clubs Represented
Mr. Larkin, however, after the race today, even though he finished second and, as stated was so jubilant over the result that he informed the writer after the grueling battle that even second place against such boats was far more noteworthy in his estimation than the three previous races in which he piloted his boat to victory.

With every yacht club along the North Jersey coast participating in today's regatta, the many victories captured by the Seaside yachtsmen today were most convincing. The sloop races brought together the Barnegat entries against the Beach Haven sloops, with the former sweeping the bay by taking first, second and third prizes, although the Beach Haven boys were anxious prior to the races for a good stiff breeze.

For the first time in Ardo First and Ardo Second meetings during the last two years, the sloop sporting the title Ardo First turned the tables, the latter winning the race with such remarkable ease that she crossed the line approximately four minutes ahead of her rival. Both boats represented the Seaside Park Yacht Club.

The first of the Beach Haven one design boats to finish was the Cesco, sailed by Mr. Johnson. Cesco had the satisfaction today of defeating her sister ship over the line by eleven seconds.

This was one of the closest races of the afternoon, with the exception of the Sewell Cup event.

Seagull Shows Speed
One of the most popular victories was that of Captain Pennock, sporting the home club's colors, with his sneak box Seagull. Ten boats faced the starter in this event, but four of the entries capsized through trying to accomplish the almost impossible in such heavy going by carrying too much sail. Second place in this race went to the Allure, of Lavallette.

In the Class B catboats, which are the old type racers, the winner turned up in the Stepper, property of Herk Atkin, representing the Seaside Park Yacht Club. She was closely followed by the Vim, a scant fifteen seconds behind. The Stepper, however, was never headed, maintaining a steady speed, and was also splendidly handled over the entire course.

Twenty-two boats crossed the starting line in the fifteen-foot one design, this race being won by C.U. Later, owned by Mr. Dale, of Bay Head, N.J

At the conclusion of the regatta the Sewell Cup was presented to Commodore Thatcher by ex-Senator William T. Read, of New Jersey. The presentation which was made before a huge gathering in the well-adapted club rooms of the Seaside Park Yacht Club proved a fitting conclusion to such a noteworthy event.
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Those who so successfully managed the regatta today were the following: George B. Ferrier, Henry Coles and Hon. William T. Read, Seaside Park Yacht Club; Benjamin Adams and Frank Henry, of Island Heights Yacht Club.

Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays - 10 am to 2 pm
78 East Water Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
Guided Tours By Request - New Members Always Welcome
(732) 349-9209 - [email protected]

OGYC/BBMM Members: $10

BBMM Members ONLY - RSVP with the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum no later than Wednesday, Aug. 14th via email: [email protected] with number of attendees (payment made upon arrival at club on day of event with cash or check).
OGYC Members ONLY - RSVP directly with your club account on the club website.

DOORS OPEN 5 PM for Skipper's Meeting and Cash Bar (no credit/debit cards accepted)
RACE BEGINS 6 PM
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Entry includes club view of the A-Cat races plus dinner of sausage, pepper and onion sandwich, pesto pasta salad and dessert plus the opportunity to meet and talk to the skippers and sailors of these majestic sailing craft.

Want to attend but not yet a Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum member? Join today!

INQUIRER'S REGATTA EPOCH IN YACHTING
Events on Barnegat Bay Were Brimful of Keen Competition and Most Enjoyable to Devotees of Sail and Water
​
From a Staff Correspondent.
SEASIDE PARK, N.J., July 5.
All Barnegat Bay is now pondering over the results of the various races in the Philadelphia Inquirer's regatta staged yesterday on the bay before the Seaside Park Yacht Club here. The yachtsmen of this section are also joining in a unanimous vote of thanks to The Inquirer for the impetus which its regatta has given to the sail boat racing game here. The stirring victory of Judge Charles L. McKeehan's Mary Ann, over Commodore Thatcher's Helen, of Seaside Park, a boat which in past seasons was never a match for the faster boats of the bay in the cat boat class, is one of the prize topics of conversation, not only among the populace generally who follow the doings of their sailors on Barnegat as their pets and know their every move.

The other results also come in for a word. Bay Head's sweep of the sneak box races largely through the doings of the Dale family in which the father, Orton G. Dale, triumphed in the 20-foot sneak box class with the Scotia and his son, F. Slade Dale, landed the triumph in the 15-foot sneak box battle with the C.U. Later.

The third Bay Head victory in the sneak boxes was one for the fair sex as well as for pretty young Miss Elizabeth Cox scampered away with the honors in the junior 15-foot sneak box class race yesterday morning over a group of sixteen other masculine and feminine skippers of the younger generation with her Betsy Bobbit. And now she is the queen of Barnegat.

Skipper Ritner Walling is Hero
That the Ardo 2d, owned by Ritner Walling, of the Seaside Park Club, did the expected and gained the victory in the sloop class in which she won the championship last year, saved the day for the local club is admitted, and now he is the hero of Seaside Park for his yacht was its only winner.

The committee is still very busy inventing new mathematical systems and further methods of solving Chinese puzzles in its effort to solve the class B cat boats tangle. But still it is very much in the dark as to just what the new rule in this connection means. Yesterday's race was the second for class B cats, and therein lies the trouble. The first race a week ago was solved after a fashion, but when it came to sort in several boats which did not appear in that race and properly handicap them it became almost impossible.

The sponsor of the new rule was one of the contestants in the race and he could not be called upon to enlighten the committee as to what the rule means. And nobody else knows. So it looks as if the Bequet, owned by T.F. Brooks, of Island Heights, which was awarded the trophy on the preliminary figures, might continue as the winner, simply because nobody is able to check up the figures.

Class B is for cat boats which do not meet the strict requirements of Class A, and consequently quite a few different types of "cats" appear in the group and it is very difficult to so handicap them that they all have a fair chance.

The yachtsmen of Seaside Park are all overjoyed with the exceptional success of the regatta in every way from Commodore Frank Thatcher down to the youngest of the boy skippers. The banner entry list, the splendid weather conditions and the series of stirring races are all that any one could ask for, and now all hands are feeling fine after having slept off the celebration which followed the races at the club house last night.

Barnegat Bay In For Big Year
Barnegat Bay is in for a big season. The point races for the season's championships in the various classes were opened with the various events in The Inquirer regatta and the winners are now on their way to their respective crowns with an edge which their rivals must overcome. These point races are held virtually every week all year with the seven member clubs of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association taking turns as the hosts for the events.

Next Saturday Mantoloking Yacht Club entertains the Barnegat Bay fleet. A series of leading events then follow. On July 19 the famous Morgan Cup will be races for from the Island Heights Yacht Club. On July 26 there will be races for the Wanamaker trophies. August 1 and 2, the Barnegat Bay fleet will cruise to Beach Haven for the open races by the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club.

The following week is the season's headliner on Barnegat when the Seaside Park Yacht Club will be the host for the staging of the annual Sewell Cup race which every year is the foremost contest of the season. Thereafter, Lavallette, Bay Head, Toms River, Seaside Park, and Island Heights take their turns with regattas.
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The success of sailing on Barnegat Bay is one of the features of American yachting. No other place in the country has the real true sporting rivalry which exists among the various clubs lying around the famous bay. And in no other spot do the sailing craft turn out in such numbers and do such wonderful races result as here. They are all real sailormen from boyhood to old age. And the girls must not be forgotten, either. And even the clubs scattered about Long Island Sound, which have for so long specialized in the windjamming games, will have to keep mighty awake if they are not to be left behind.