River Rats 1961 Brochure

7/30/2019 River Rats 1961 Brochure

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- on the NavesinkFair Haven, Ne w Jersey


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OUR AIMS . . .A. "T o promote interest in aquatic

activities among children and to encourage family participation;

B. To provide training for safe andpleasurable par t ic ipa t ion in such

activities; and

c. To provide, wherever possible,suitable facilities for the attainment ofthese purposes."

- The Cons ti tu tion

RIVER RATS, INC.

A Community Project

A Non-Profit Organization

Approved by the

National Safety Council

THE H IS T

HOW WE BEGAN . .

River Rats was set up by Dads, Inc.of Fair Haven as a family activity, toprovide greater safety through training,to develop knowledge of and respect forthe elements, and to make possible a

greater enjoyment of the Navesink Riverby the families of our area.

In October, 1954, twenty-eight families began classes to teach their childrensafety and seamanship.

NEXT WE BUILT BOATS . . .

In 1955, tw nty-one Indian Scoutsailboats built from kits were launched.


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O R Y O F R I V E R

Swimming and sailing lessons were givenand races were held every week end.

In 1956 Blue Jay Class sloops joinedou r fleet. The larger boat increased thesailing and crewing opportunities fornon-boatowning members. Then followed more Blue Jays and the eight footfiberglass "Porpoise" sailing prams. Atthe same time our instruction was expanded to include advanced and adulttraining. Mothers were dubbed "RiverLassies."

FINDING A HOME . . .

As a result of the kindness ofGardner Stout and Captain Ed Little's

RATS

devotion to children, the Battin Roadproperty was opened to us in 1 9 : : .After three happy years, River Rat ha

to move out when the property was sold.This emergency was temporarily m t .'

the house boat "Pied Piper," presentedto the organization in its hour of needby generous friends who wished to lenda hand. After one exciting summerafloat, the River Rats came ashore againas guests of the new owner of the BattinRoad property.

Early in 1961 the dream of a permanent home was realized when River Ratsbought this land. River Rats can nowoffer to all interested families a permanent base of operations.


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SAFETY FIRST!

Ho w to treat barnacle cuts, jellyfishstings, shock, rope burns, drownings, etc . . . .

Ho w to deal with quicksand and quickmud, seaweed, currents ...

Ho w to sUfYive powerboat explosions,strandings, capsizing . . .

. . . AND HO W TO SWIM!

TRAINING

FOR BEGINNERS

This is a how-to course for every childwho uses the river. It teaches ...

SEAMANSHIP!

Ho w to speak the nautical language;ship, sailboat and row boat terms

and descriptions.

Ho w to handle small boats - rowing,paddling, etc.

How to navigate using the magneticcompass, channel marker buoys,rules and regulations of inlandwaters.

Ho w to tie the basic knots and splices.

How to cope with the action of wind,weather and tides.

LEARNING BY D O I N G !

Diagrams, pictures, movies, modelsand properties planned to make alltheory practical. Comprehensive writtenand oral examinations are given, sowhen warm weather comes, all handsare ready to take full advantage of theriver.

Individual sailing lessons for thechildren who successfully complete thebasic course of instruction are given byqualified sailors from the advancedgroups.


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ADULT TRAINING

River Rats urges fathers and/ or the river with your children. Sharemothers to attend the instruction courses their joy in knowing how. Individualwith the children. We wish to enlarge sailing instruction is also available foryour family pleasure in boating. Share the adults.

I.

ADVANCED INSTRUCTION

Fo r those who have mastered basic Theory of sailingcourses there is a program in: Techniques, rules and tactics

of racing Boat construction and maintenance

Fitting out and tuning up sailboats Using the spinnaker

River Rat boats may be skippered or crewed by memberswho have passed instruction courses.

YOU

DON'T

HAVE TO

OWN

A BOAT

TO BE A

RIVER RAT!


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R 4 C I N G

The River Rats sailboat racing sea-son covers a full 6 months from Maythrough October.

In the Spring Series we sail tworaces on Sunday afternoons, weatherpermitting. These are open to all agegroups.

During the summer we sail on bothSaturday and Sunday afternoons. Eventsare held for the 8 foot Porpoise Prams,as well as for the 12 foot Indian Scoutsand the 13-112 foot Blue Jays.

We have a separate competitiveseries for each of our four categories:

Novices, Juniors, Ladies, and Open.

Novice skippers (under 14 yrs. old)may be assisted by an adult crew.

Juniors (skippers under 19 yrs. old)must recruit crews from their own agegroup.

There are no age limits for theLadies or the Open races but in BlueJays the boat and crew must meet classweight requirements.

In the fall we again hold open raceson Sunday afternoons.

INTERNATIONAL RACING CLASS COMPETITION

In addition to the regular River Ratracing series, our Blue Jays have sailedin several invitation regattas:

The Red Grant Regatta, run by theRar i t an Yach t C lub at Per th

Amboy, N. J.;

The Annual Atlantic Highlands YachtClub Regatta;

The Monmouth Boat Club Sweepstakesat Red Bank, N. J.

In 1960, several of our boats sailedin the Blue Jay Nationals held at theRaritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy.


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AWA R D S

CAPTAIN EDWARD L1nLE AWARD TROPHIES .. to child or family most embody-ing spirit of helpfullness, coopera-

tion and enthusiasm which weredepicted by Capt. Little, 1875 to1955, skipper of one of the last

steamers that used to put in atthe port of Fair Hav n.

THE COMMODORE'S AWARD

. . to child or family doing mo tfor the advancement and dev lop-ment of River Rats during the y ar.

THE MAYOR'S AWARD . . for the greate ta l l -roundachievement and improvement forthe year.

Trophies and pennants are awardedin each racing category; Novices,

Juniors, Ladie and Open.

EMBLEMS

River Ra t emblems are given to allwho successfully complete the basiccourse of in truction.

STARS

Seniority star are given for eachyear of member hip.

THE FUTURE

Plans are being made for the ex-

pansion and improvement of facilitiesand equipment. Construction and main-

tenance of iceboats is being con id red.

MEMBERSHIP

RE9UIREMENTS

Everybody welcome who has a child16 or under . . . or who is willing to

sponsor a child in River Rat activities.

Dues:

$ 5.00 per 9uarter

with lessons in the sport and in water

kiing, duck hunting and fishing. These

are some of the projects envi ioned forthe future.


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1961

Sketches by Emily Richardson

Documents

River Rats 1961 Brochure