Fair Haven Sailing Organization Celebrates End Of 2025 Season

FAIR HAVEN, NJ — A local sailing organization recently celebrated its 2025 sailing season with a long-standing tradition: an end-of-summer lobster dinner.

The Fair Haven River Rats, a 70-year-old non-profit educational sailing club on the Navesink River, recently hosted the outdoor dinner event at their headquarters on Battin Road.

At the event, adult and junior sailors, sailing instructors, volunteers, friends, family and supporters all gathered for one last celebration before the cold weather starts to set in.

During the dinner event, River Rats Skipper Jill Lynch recognized the volunteers and sailing instructors who drive the organization forward, and also praised the strong performances of their junior sailors in the Junior Sweepstakes Regatta (held Aug. 4-7 at the Monmouth Boat Club).

“We are beaming with pride over the victories of our junior sailors,” Lynch said. “River Rats believes that sailing is a great tool for personal development and growth, and seeing these young sailors develop is very rewarding.”

Junior sailors recognized include Alfred John Schiavetti (A.J.), Miles Kolarsick, Jimmy Stigliano, and Logan Demsack.

• Read More: Fair Haven Sailing Organization's Junior Sailors Win At Summer Regatta

At River Rats, organization officials said the club believes that everyone can benefit from learning to sail and even offers an adult sailing program that has attracted people of all ages and backgrounds.

“This is part of our mission,” Lynch said of the classes.

Taught by seasoned sailor J.P. Polubiec, the organization’s classes combine textbook learning with on-the-water practice sessions, allowing students to gain valuable hands-on experience with River Rats-owned boats.

When discussing River Rats classes, student and Rumson Native Vicki Boardman said Polubiec fostered a “friendly, fascinating and truly welcoming environment for students of all abilities and experience levels,” while Sharon Luba, a Bradley Beach resident, said that she learned a lot and felt “very comfortable” in class, despite her initial hesitance to participate since she was the oldest in the course.

"The class was great," Luba said. “I will probably take the course again to gain confidence and experience for the actual sailing part of the class.”

To learn more about River Rats sailing or the programs they offer, you can visit their website.

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• Fair Haven Sailing Organization's Junior Sailors Win At Summer Regatta