Decades ago when Baymen were done clamming for the day on Barnegat Bay they raced their wooden boats back to the docks, spawning what has become the sport of Garvey Boat Racing today.

Members of the Jersey Shore Boat Racing Club, (left to right) Nick Altmeyer, Nick Magee and Jim Crimmins/Photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media News
Members of the Jersey Shore Boat Racing Club (left to right) Nick Altmeyer, Nick Magee and Jim Crimmins/Photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media News
loading...

The vessels have been transformed to fiberglass rockets that can go as fast as 80 miles per hour.

Members of the newly formed Jersey Shore Boat Racing Club discussed their hobby this week on "Townsquare Tonight" with host Tom Mongelli on News Talk WOBM 1160 & 1310 AM.

Photo from http://clubwebsecbrcnj.tripod.com/
Photo from http://clubwebsecbrcnj.tripod.com
loading...

The Jersey Outlaws and the East Coast Boat Racing team that organize the annual events decided to combine forces this year because they didn't have enough boats to have two separate clubs.

The races consist of four different classes of Garvey boats based on the engine size and are about three-quarters of a mile long.

Competitions are free to the public. Spectators can watch the Garvey Races twice a month, June through July, on the bay in Barnegat, Parkertown and Tuckerton.

All races approved by the United States Coast Guard, which issues permits for the race courses. Individual townships also must sign off on the races and emergency personnel.

The first race kicks off on June 12 in Barnegat and the season will wrap up with a championship race on September 11 in Tuckerton.

Jersey Shore Boat Racing members Nick Altmeyer, Nick Magee and Jim Crimmins said they race for fun and for the thrill fans get watching.

It's not a cheap hobby. The trio said they save up all winter with money from their regular jobs to be able to race all summer. Fuel and registration fees can tally upwards of $1,000.

More information about the Jersey Shore Boat Racing Club can be found here: http://clubwebsecbrcnj.tripod.com

 

 

More From 92.7 WOBM