Fair Haven Sailing Organization Gets Surprise Donation From Former Student

FAIR HAVEN, NJ — A Fair Haven sailing organization recently received a surprise donation from a former student who learned how to sail with them.

River Rats Sailing, which offers both junior and adult sailing programs, helped teach Shawn Tumulty, previously of Fair Haven, to learn to sail as a child.

Now a resident of Monmouth Beach, Tumulty thought his old Sunfish sailboat would help others enjoy the water just as he once did, and donated the boat to the organization.

“I’m very happy to help,” Tumulty said. “There are a lot of memories here.”

River Rats Skipper Jill Lynch, who was on hand to receive the sailboat, noted that it will be put to good use as both youth and adult summer sailing programs are in full swing.

“We are thrilled, of course,” Lynch said. “As a non-profit, a donation like this can really make an impact and help us provide the best experiences for our students and members.”

At River Rats Sailing, membership is not needed to take part in classes; however, members do receive substantial discounts and have first priority.

The flagship youth sailing program has trained over 5,000 children to date, and the adult training program allows entire families to learn to sail together.

In addition to their classes, the organization also offers mooring space for members along with berths for kayaks and paddle boards, plus popular seasonal social events such as sailing races and BBQ nights.

To learn more about River Rats Sailing, you can visit their website.

River Rats Sailing is located at 120 Battin Road, Fair Haven.