Stow your gear, unfurl the sails, set the GPS and fill the ice chest -- cruise with Raritan Yacht Club.   Throughout the sailing season, from late May through September, RYC offers its members a variety of cruises.   Some are short overnight sails to local yacht clubs in Keyport, Atlantic Highlands and Great Kills.   Others are longer sails over several days.   RYC's premiere event each season is the Long Island Sound Rendezous with destinations such as Block Island, Shelter Island, Mystic Seaport, and Essex, CT.   Mix fabulous food, a peaceful mooring and a sky full of stars and you’ll never want to go home!

4 July 2007 - Sailing down the East River, returning from Western Long Island

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Signing on for a Weekend Cruise

Each cruise is organized and led by a volunteer cruise captain.  The cruise captain selects the dates, destination and arranges reservations at local yacht clubs, marinas and restaurants.   Any member may sign up for a cruise by notifying the cruise captain.   Participants are asked to sign up no later than a week before the cruise so the captain has time to make all the necessary reservations.   Last minute reservations can usually be accommodated.

Signing up for a cruise is easy.  You can sign up on-line or use the sign up sheets posted on the yard bulletin board near the heads.   Please provide your name, boat name, number in your group, phone number and e-mail address.  Check the bulletin board often!  Some cruises may be cancelled or rescheduled at the skippers discretion (lack of participants, foul weather, etc.)

Each cruise usually begins with a skipper’s meeting.  Topics covered include destination, sail plan, social activities, emergency contact information, VHF channel for communicating among the boats, and other information related to the cruise.

Once we have reached our destination, there is usually a cocktail party on one of the boats.  The cruise captain will designate the host boat.  Each member boat attending the party brings an hors d'oeuvre to share.  Beverages are the responsibility of each boater.  The cocktail party usually lasts about an hour, followed by dinner on shore.

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For New Cruisers

If you are unfamiliar with cruising you are most welcome to join us on the club’s cruises.  The goal is to make boating a pleasure and provide an opportunity to socialize with other members.  The committee recognizes that most of us didn't "learn the ropes" without the advice and help from someone else.   The cruising group includes people who have extensive racing experience, have sailed to exotic places, and who know the harbors of the Long Island Sound and Raritan Bay intimately.   Getting advice on local waters and discussing boating issues with other cruisers is a great way to develop and improve your general boating skills through advice and discussion with other cruisers.   Don't miss the opportunity to cruise with friends, enjoy the great outdoors, participate in stimulating conversation and have a wonderful learning experience with all the members of your family.

If you are fairly new to sailing, you may be a little anxious about sailing out of Raritan Bay for a weekend.   Members who feel the need of a bit more of a support system should contact the cruise captain and ask to be assigned a "cruising buddy."   The cruise captain will assign a more experienced member to help you by reviewing navigation and safety issues, keeping in close radio contact and sailing in company with you to the destination.  We want to encourage cruise participation and will do all we can to make it fun.

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Destinations - The 2009 RYC Cruising Program

We have a great cruising program planned for this year -- and it's already underway! The best thing about RYC Cruising is that you can participate at any time, on any activity, simply by signing up and showing up.  It's really pretty easy.

For this coming summer, we've planned some fun cruises to some great locations:

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Inter-Bay Cruiser's Association

RYC also cruises with other yacht clubs.  The Inter-Bay Cruisers Association is comprised of seven yacht clubs on Raritan and Sheepshead Bays that extend privileges to each other and plan joint cruising activities.  The member clubs are Atlantic Highlands, Keyport and RYC in New Jersey, Miramar and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, and Richmond County and Staten Island on Great Kills Harbor.  The clubs will normally provide complementary mooring or anchorage, launch service and showers.  All have good restaurants nearby.  RYC members are welcome to join these cruises.

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During the off-season, the Cruiser's get together each month for dinner at the club (including a potluck in January when the galley is closed).  This year's dates are at the top of page.  We typically have a speaker or some planned activity before or after dinner. At our February 2009 Dinner we had an excellent speaker, lecturing on the U.S.S. Passaic, a Civil War ironclad monitor.  Prior to the dinner, we hosted a well-run seminar called "Skipper-Saver", given by the local chapter of the U.S. Power Squadron, covering how to plan for, and handle, shipboard emergencies when they arise.

We also have some "land-cruises", while our boats are on-the-hard.  In March, RYC members visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Nautical Collection, which was on display at the South Street Seaport.  Republican and democrat alike had a good time viewing the former-president's artifacts.

Almost any off-season Saturday you will find a work party busy in the house or yard.  You can verify specific days with the Vice or Rear Commodores.  Work begins at 0830.  Lunch is usually provided.

For more information regarding RYC’s cruising program contact any of the following individuals.  They will more than happy to help you.

Ed Levinson (ed xison.com), Cruising Chair
Tim Fletcher (forthink netzero.com), Cruising Co-chair

Prepared by Richard Codd April 5, 2009
Updated by Ed Levinson November 20, 2009