As we sail into another exciting season of fun on the water and along our shores, we invite you to renew your Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum membership to strengthen and preserve our rich local maritime heritage. Your support maintains our exhibits and important historic watercraft, expands educational outreach, and keeps the culture of river and bay activities alive for generations to come.

Not a member yet? There’s never been a better time to join!

We also welcome volunteers who want to share their time and talents—whether it's helping with boat restoration, leading tours, assisting at events or conducting research into our shared past, there’s a place for everyone at Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum!

Renew or join today by clicking here and be part of a community that values history, craftsmanship, and the beauty of the Toms River and Barnegat Bay.

Thank you to those who have already renewed and our Life members for your continuing support.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas in 2025!

INQUIRER AWARDS HANDSOME PRIZES; THOUSANDS CHEER

Philadelphia Inquirer
7 Aug. 1910

Many Entries - Club Fleet Parade a Unique Feature

From a Staff Correspondent

ISLAND HEIGHTS, N.J., Aug. 6.--If the old-time racing fiends of thirty years ago, when the sandtubbers were in their hey-dey and three boats formed a record-breaking field for a race, could have had a glimpse of Barnegat Bay today while the second annual Philadelphia Inquirer regatta was in progress, they would have realized how little they know about the sport and how wonderful its popularity has become.

Between a line of more than 200 flag-bedecked pleasure boats, bearing a crowd of more than 1000 persons, 53 racing craft, the fleetest power and sailboats combed from Island Heights, Sea Side Park, Toms River, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Bay Head, Corinthian, Barnegat City and Cedar Yacht Clubs, and representing an outlay of many thousand dollars, clashed today for the Inquirer trophies and championships of the North Jersey coast.

Greatest Regatta Ever Held

No regatta equal to that of today from any standpoint has ever been pulled off by the Barnegat Bay tars and knights of the engine. Even last year's premier race, when the yachtsmen whose boats dart over Toms River and the bay made their debut into the big yachting competition held by The Inquirer, was eclipsed. The oldest citizen had to scratch his head in wild despair to think of any previous event that could be magnified a score of times and then be compared favorably to the big yachtfest of today.

"Just corking," jubilantly said John C. McAvoy, president of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, under whose control the regatta was run, to the other members of the organization at the Island Heights Yacht Club tonight, and this is the opinion of everyone along the North Jersey coast.

The regatta is just the kind of stunt that has long been needed to add more zest to racing here. The racing bugs after the race sat late about the clubs, spinning stories about the thrilling finishes of the various events and going over the racing sheet and figuring out what boat would have gone if the engine had not been missing fire or if the wind had been blowing just a little bit harder.

Approximately 500 yachtsmen represented in the Barnegat Bay Yachting Association were interested in the regatta, together with the population of the various places, always good-natured sportsmen, they engaged in heated, though friendly, rivalry over the prowess of the respective racers. "Watch the boats floating the red, white and blue colors," boastingly shouted the enthusiastic onlookers hailing from Island Heights. "We will duplicate last year's string of victories easily." "Nothing to it," hotly retorted the enthusiasts from the other other places. "We will surely lower your colors this time." And so the shouts of defiance continued throughout the regatta.

Island Heights Wins Regatta

But, despite the cheers and the best seamanship on the part of the rival crews, Island Heights again came out first in the matter of capturing first and second places in the various events. However, this is easily explained, the other yachtsmen claim, for the Island Heights Club is the oldest organization and has the largest and most varied fleet of boats.

The number of points won by each club follow:
Island Heights, 6 firsts and 5 seconds.
Bay Head, 1 first and 1 second.
Mantoloking, 1 first.
Corinthian Yacht and Gun Club of Beach Haven, 1 second.
Barnegat City Yacht Club, 1 second.

Mantoloking captured the speed boat event, Murray Earle's Broad Bill winning over the Jersey Devil, owned by S.J. Gaskill, of the Barnegat City Yacht Club. Island Heights made a clean sweep in the class for open launches. F.T. Benjamin's Nautilus flashed across the line first with the Leroy, flying the colors of John Drumm, coming in second.

There were two classes for cruising power boats, those rating above forty and the other rating under that mark. In the higher division there was a thrilling struggle for the first honors. Commodore A.W. Atkinson's Mycelma, flying the burgee of the Island Heights Club, downing the Bettina, the scratch boat, on time allowance. The Bettina is owned by Vice Commodore George S. Hier, of the Corinthian Yacht and Gun Club, of Beach Haven.

The other division, after a plucky fight that brought the spectators to their feet, was captured by J.W. Wright's Elecktra. She is also an Island Heights boat. The Larkspur, owned by Vice Commodore J.A. Tuceym, of the same club, finished second. In this event the Nally Surprise, owned by W. Mercer Baird, secretary of the Corinthian Club, was the scratch boat, and put up a classy struggle, but was downed on time allowance. The Virginia won the cat boat class by two minutes and 28 seconds over the Lulu, which finished second. Each boat is of the Island Heights fleet.

Island Heights added to the total number of points by the Quakeress and the Yankee coming in first and second, the owners, respectively, are A.D. Edson and Ray M. Vanderherschen.

Bay Head Wins Sneak Box Event

In the sneak box event Bay Headites had their inning, the Arrow, owned by O.G. Dale, coming in first, and the Miss Cat, owned by J.V.A. Cattus, second. The Ashumet, owned by Dr. Charles Ill, of Island Heights, won the cruising sloop race. Gerhard Leiper's Marguerite flashed in second, a loser by a fraction less than six minutes.

No fairer day for races, suitable for both canvas-bearing craft and power boats, could have dawned. The course in the lower part of the bay, below the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge, at Barnegat Bay and stretching off Cedar Creek to off Waretown, was ideally smooth, and this is something of a marvel, for that portion of the bay is almost always dotted with white caps, making the going all right for the sail boats but treacherous for those propelled by motors.

Throughout the places interested in the regatta, there was a bustle of excitement as the boats began to get ready to leave for the racing field, the racing fever had first begun to manifest itself at the beginning of the week. From then on the fever spread, the excitement and enthusiasm becoming keener each day as the time for the regatta neared and the boat owners redoubled their eagerness to get their racers trimmed for the struggles.

All this time Mr. McAvoy, who was commodore of the Island Heights Club last year, and the members of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, were strenuously working to class the entries and get the boats measured and distribute racing instructions.

The river front at all of the places were dotted with scores of persons ready to bundle themselves off for the races. By 1 o'clock the mouth of the bay off Sea Side Park was dotted with boats, sail and power craft, each loaded to the gunwales with crowds of merry makers in the meantime. From the lower part of the bay another bevy of boats was coming, and by 10 o'clock what is declared to have been the greatest fleet of boats of every type ever assembled on the bay was anchored ready for the cannon on board the Elizabeth, the committee boat, to boom out the preparatory signal.

The Elizabeth is Mr. McAvoy's boat. On board it were the officials, composed of Guy A. Lubury and Thellwell R. Coggeshall, of Island Heights; Edgar P. Earle, of Mantoloking; Dr. E.E. Pennington, of Seaside Park; C.C. Eankson, of Lavallette; Charles M. Smith, of Barnegat City, and C.A. Horterm, of Cedar Y.C.

Starting Gun Fired

It was shortly before noon when the preliminary gun was fired. Grouped about the committee boat, forming a long line around the starting line, were the pleasure boats, each a mass of multi-colored bunting. "Now for the race," shouted the onlookers.

Then the rival yachtsmen over their respective boats began. Boom went the cannon again and the speed boats, with automobile engines snorting, were off. Broadbill, the Mantoloking entry, caught the water at the crack of the gun and was off, leaving a creamy trail behind.

Like a streak the Irma followed, the spray leaping high above her black-colored sides. Right after she darted the Jersey Devil, painted a glaring red. Scout, sailed by Joe B. Neville, was unable to flash across the line, the engine breaking down shortly after the preliminary gun was fired.

The Muriel, Black Devil and the Inquirer, other speed boats entered, also were disabled and could not start. The distance for the speed boats was 10 miles. The Broadbill was the scratch boat. She gave the Irma II an allowance of 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and 1 minute and 57 seconds to the Jersey Devil.

On actual time the Broadbill was never threatened, finishing in 44.40 squares ahead of her rivals. The Jersey Devil, while rounding the buoy off Waretown, developed engine trouble and had to stop for five minutes.

Cruisers Started

Five minutes after the speed boats, the cruisers were started. There were seven in the class rating above 40 to speed over the line when the gun sounded at 12:10. The second class cruisers, also seven in number, started at the same time. Mr. Baird's Surprise, after clever maneuvering was within a few minutes of the line when the signal was given and secured a flying start. Closely hanging to her were the Elecktra and the Ernestine.

A half-second later and there was a cheer from the Beach Haven contingent, led by Thomas H. Sherborne, who came from that resort in a tiny mosquito boat, a distance of thirty-five miles, to see the race. As the Bettina crossed the line, at close intervals the distance for the cruisers to travel was twenty miles, which was two laps of the course.

Commodore Atkinson's Mycelma was late in starting. The commodore was host for a big party, including the commodores of the other clubs. Fully five minutes had elapsed when the Mycelma got under way, but the commodore was game.

​Thanks for all who supported us in purchasing this special limited run - we’re almost sold out! Last chance for our limited stock by clicking here.

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