And now for another installment of 'I didn't know how good I
had it until I didn't have it any more'. This is my old club,
Metedeconk River Yacht Club. I haven't been a member for
thirty-five years, and as always, I wish I realized then how
nice it was to be part of an organization such as this. Every so
often, I go sniffing around Beaton's Boatyard, and about a quarter of
a mile down Mantoloking Road is MRYC. Just take a right
onto Tilton Road (memory lane). I feel very at home on the
grounds, still, and I can envision the keg of Pa. Dutch
birch beer sitting on the patio for the kids on Labor Day.
I always felt grown-up drawing my own cup of that.
This will give you an idea of how good my cousins and I had it:
looking NE from the patio you can see 829 South Drive. Locate
the white water tower in Bay Head and the second house to the
left was where Wagners' was. Almost every original house on
that shoreline is gone and replaced with much larger ones with
much less personality. A trip to the club was a quick hop across
the river; to drive there took at least 20 minutes
The junior sailing center, built a bunch of years back, is a great
place for the 150 or so junior sailing participants to leave their
crap strewn all over the place, not unlike any other yacht club
anywhere on earth. That number is very impressive, and
supposedly the largest group of participants among the 13
BBYRA clubs. I was told that by a member this day of my
visit, so I know this to be the truth.
Nice to see an E scow at the club. Never more than 2 or 3
at one time, I think there's been a pretty long stretch of 0
until recently.
I cannot imagine ever being small enough to sail in an Opti.
It is truly an exceptional boat for instructional purposes
and easy to transport for away regattas. I know a guy who
used to sell them and Lasers too.
Nice shallow water and a sandy bottom make for easy launching.
The main goal of my visit was to pay homage to my Dad's 3
championship banners hanging upstairs in the club. Bad news....
the banners were not there. Good news...Metedeconk sailors have
been successful enough over the years that they actually had to
retire a good deal of the older ones to make room for the more
recent ones.
I'm happy to report that Metedeconk River Yacht Club is alive
and well, and their junior program will ensure future
enthusiasm for the sport of sailing on Barnegat Bay. I felt a
sense of belonging when I walked into this clubhouse, which
may have been an omen. Some day I may be a regular here, again.
