Jersey City – The Perfect Place to Sail
The world of sailing – yachts, private clubs, etc. - conjures an air of rarefied exclusivity. Right? Not so fast, explains Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh of the Manhattan Yacht Club which is based right here in Jersey City and open to all; “Everyone has salt water in their blood. We all have a connection to it, and when you sail in the harbor with your fellow JC residents, you are building this incredible community.” Not only that, but it is much more accessible than we thought. Read on to learn more about learning to sail, joining the Yacht Club and all its’ local and international perks, options for kids and a one-off party experience on their floating clubhouse, the William Wall.
Sailing 101
Perhaps you’ve walked by the Manhattan Yacht Club at Liberty Harbor Marina, 140 Dudley St. and seen folks hanging out post-sail, enjoying cold drinks and living the fabulous life. Did they inherit membership? Bring their own boat to the party? Wrong and wrong. The one common denominator for all Yacht Club members is that they completed the Introduction to Sailing Course offered through their instructional arm, the Manhattan Sailing School. Lessons run from April to October and the two-day course is $590.
And what a place to discover the sport. “New York Harbor is an undiscovered recreational mecca. We have the best access in all of New York and New Jersey right here in the Morris Canal”, explains Fortenbaugh. “Sailing is a really addicting sport. It’s very athletic and active while also being therapeutic and a shared experience.”
Join the Club and Set Sail
OK, so now you have completed the course and are ready to join the yacht club. Membership includes the shared use of a fleet of J/24s. New members will get sailing immediately through the Fleet Captain Program which pairs experienced skippers with the newer crew members. There is also a Mentor Program and ongoing education for sailors looking to advance their skill set. For those who advance to become competitive sailors, the Club organizes races right in New York Harbor as well as sending teams around the world for various regattas.
Another fantastic aspect of the Manhattan Yacht Club is the beautiful clubhouse facilities which is the social hub for members to hang out and relax before and after sailing.
Just Hop on the Party Boat, No Strings Attached
OK, maybe you are drawn by the social aspect, the incredible Harbor views and the idea of a sunset cruise around the Statue of Liberty and that’s it. No problem. Enter the Honorable William Wall, the Yacht Club’s floating clubhouse in the harbor. For a ticket price of $20-30, you can motor out to the “Willy Wall” to watch the sailboat races and enjoy your picnic lunch or dinner (there is a cash bar on board, no outside drinks permitted). Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged. The boat sails out Tuesday through Friday evenings and all Saturday.
There is also a Junior Sailing Program for kids aged 8-13 and a program for teens aged 13-18. For more information - https://nyharborsailing.com/
This is a crown jewel of an experience here in Jersey City, and it’s here for us all.
For more information on learning to Sail - https://sailmanhattan.com/
For more information on joining the Manhattan Yacht Club - https://myc.org/