See, Tour NJ's Historic Tall Ship As It Sails Up The Toms River For A Visit

ISLAND HEIGHTS, NJ — A historic New Jersey tall ship will be sailing up the Toms River on Wednesday to kick off a week that will celebrate the state's sailing and maritime history, officials announced.

The A.J. Meerwald, a 1928 oyster schooner, will make a port visit to the Island Heights Yacht Club starting with a parade of sail at noon, with arrival at the yacht club at 1 p.m., officials said.

Local boaters are invited to meet the boat around noon and help guide her up the river, officials said.

There will be a dockside reception at 5 p.m. and tours of the boat at the Island Heights Yacht Club that will be open to the public, and the port visit will continue

The port visit is packed with education events for youth and adults celebrating NJ’s long history of sailing and oystering.

The A.J. Meerwald was built in Dorchester, New Jersey, and launched in 1928 as an oyster dredging schooner, adapted to efficiently fulfill the prevailing conditions and specific demands of her native waters. It was one of nearly 500 schooners built along the Delaware Bay before the decline of the local shipbuilding industry in the 1930s. Today, there are only a handful of converted schooners still harvesting oysters, according to Jessica Yorke, executive director of Bayshore Center at Bivalve, which owns and operates New Jersey's Tall Ship and the Delaware Bay Museum located in Port Norris, along the Delaware Bay.

Now the AJ Meerwald is operated by the Bayshore Center at Bivalve as a traveling classroom and vehicle to enjoy the area’s waterways. Passengers can enjoy the excitement and wonder of sailing aboard a 115-foot schooner.

"If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even join the crew in hauling lines and setting sails! Enjoy the great outdoors as you breathe in the fresh air and marvel at the scenery that surrounds you," the center said.

"Generations of New Jerseyans have built boats, raced boats and worked the waters for fish and shellfish," Yorke said. "A strong and healthy waterway is vital to many people and industries in the community. We are excited to celebrate our local maritime history with passionate watermen and women connected to Barnegat Bay."

After the visit along the Toms River, the A.J. Meerwald will head to Atlantic Highlands for a week of public sails departing from Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club from July 16-20. Then she will sail from Liberty State Park in Jersey City from July 23-27 before heading south to Cape May with public sails departing from the Cape May Ferry Terminal.

The Toms River port visit is sponsored by the members of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, and assisted by members of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, Save Barnegat Bay, and the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum, who are partnering with the Bayshore Center for programs for more than 500 kids during the port visits.

Also supporting the Toms River port visit are Silent Maid, Coastal Queen, Mission Spirits, Ward Wight | Sotheby’s International Realty, Bivalve Packing, and de Rouville’s Boat Shop.

Here is the schedule for the Toms River port visit:

Wednesday

• Noon: Parade of Sail from Toms River to Island Heights Yacht Club
• 1 p.m.: A.J. Meerwald arrives at Island Heights Yacht Club
• 5 p.m.: Dockside Reception and Open Boat Tours at Island Heights Yacht Club

Thursday

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Youth Education Programs at Island Heights Yacht Club
• 7 p.m.: Maritime Career & Leadership Pathways Panel at Island Heights Yacht Club, second floor. Open to the public. Panelists: Jane Millman, Magenta Project; Capt. Fern Hoffmann, AJM; Billy de Rouville, de Rouville's Boat Shop; James "Buzz" Renolds, Olympian

Friday

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Youth Education Programming at Island Heights Yacht Club

Saturday

• A.J. Meerwald “Challenge Cup” Finish Boat & watch party Toms River Yacht Club

Sunday

• 10 a.m.-noon: Coffee with Captain Fern Hoffmann & Open Boat at Island Heights Yacht Club, open to the public
• 4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Private A.J. Meerwald Farewell Beach Party for members of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve on the beaches of Save Barnegat Bay. "Bayshore Center at Bivalve invites members at the Bosun level ($100) or higher to join us for the ultimate afternoon beach party. Live music, oysters on the ½ shell, appetizers and beverages. Youth are invited to sail their small boats over. You can join the Bayshore Center as a Barnegat Bay Society member to participate.

For more information, go to www.bayshorecenter.org or contact the Bayshore Center at Bivalve at 856-785-2060 or info@BayshoreCenter.org.