By BRIAN DONOHUE
SATURDAY UPDATE: No races Saturday due to extremely high winds. Right now, NSIBYC Fleet Captain Bob Sodon tells us, the plan is for the club to try and run the intramural qualifier (The Commodore Weaver Trophy) around 9 am Sunday with the Van Nostrand Cup after that.
A new temporary path designed to allow access to the river and keep people off the construction site at Marine Park. (Photo by Brian Donohue)
Things got particularly gnarly last weekend, as hordes of visitors trampled over temporary construction fencing and sauntered willy-nilly through the construction site to reach the boat ramp.
So, over the past few days, contractors have been repairing the torn-away fencing and creating a temporary gravel path from the park’s parking lot to the marine park.
redbankgreen saw Monarch Excavation principal Kyle King out there doing the work even as walkers were squeezing through gaps in the orange mesh barrier Wednesday morning. King called the whole thing “an issue of liability.” 
Kyle King of borough contractor Monarch Excavation talks with an ice skater who had wanted to access the Navesink River through the path cut by visitors over the weekend through the Marine Park construction site. King had just closed the path by replace the orange netting someone had torn away. (Photo by Brian Donohue)
In an email to redbankgreen, Thursday, Borough Manager Jim Gant said, “We do have real concerns about the continued disregard for an active construction site despite clear fencing and posted notices. That said, we’re also trying to be practical and responsive to the interest people have in enjoying the river during these conditions, while keeping safety front and center.”
Besides the path, the borough has installed additional signs in Spanish and English warning that entering the construction site would be considered trespassing.
Oh, one more thing: if you fall on or through the ice, or get run over by an ice boat, that’s on you.
“It’s important to note that the river remains unguarded and unmonitored by the Borough,” Gant wrote in his email. “Anyone entering the river or ice assumes the inherent risks associated with river activity. That said, entry into the active construction site is not permitted, and individuals who disregard fencing and signage may be subject to trespassing violations under state statute.”
Gant continued: “I absolutely recognize the deep history and tradition of enjoying the Navesink River in the winter, but my focus right now has to be on balancing that appreciation with clear safety measures and respect for an active work site.”
As for that tradition, it will be on full display for all to enjoy this weekend. But that comes with a warning, too.
The North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club will be hosting the Van Nostrand Cup, the oldest cup in the history of ice boating and a contest not held since 2003 – and only four times since 1889. 
The cup features larger class A-boats racing around a mile-long track, with NSHBYC sailors racing against the rival Hudson River Ice Yacht Club. With the winner claiming a silver cup produced by Tiffany Company in 1886, it is considered the most prestigious trophy in American ice yachting.
Depending on conditions, the races will be run either Saturday or Sunday when the wind and conditions are right. On Thursday, as members of the Hudson River club were arriving and setting up their three boats for the races, NSIBYC leadership were also asking for the public’s cooperation to keep everyone safe.
The boats are huge, heavy, fast and have no brakes. And this club has been doing this longer than you’ve been on the planet. As such, the club issued the following statement in a press release Thursday:
“Iceboating has been part of life on the Navesink River for well over a century, and whenever conditions allow, our club continues this tradition with great care and respect for the river and the community. As activity resumes, we want to ensure that everyone—on and off the ice—remains safe and informed.
No Public Access From Club or Marina Properties
To protect both visitors and sailors, the following locations are not open for public access to the ice:
- Irwin Marine
- North Shrewsbury Iceboat & Yacht Club
- Monmouth Boat Club
These areas serve as active launch and work zones for historic and modern iceboats. For safety reasons, anyone attempting to enter the ice from these properties will be redirected.
If You Choose to Go Out on the Ice
Those accessing the ice from public areas should keep the following in mind:
- Stay close to shore. The center of the river is where boats operate at speed, just as they did in the early days of the sport.
- Respect boundaries. Please respect the boundaries set by our club and members during the historic races being sailed.
- Iceboats are fast, heavy, and wind‑driven. They cannot stop the way many people expect, and they require open space to maneuver safely.
- If a boat approaches, remain still. Sudden movement makes avoidance more difficult. Standing in place allows the sailor to steer around you, just as generations of river‑goers have done during past iceboating seasons.
Honoring Tradition Through Safety
Iceboating on the Navesink is a rare and remarkable part of Red Bank’s history. Preserving that tradition depends on everyone using caution and respecting the boundaries that keep the river safe for sailors and spectators alike. Your cooperation helps ensure that this longstanding winter pastime can continue safely whenever conditions allow.
“Our goal is simple: keep the tradition alive and keep everyone safe. With a little awareness and respect for the boundaries, we can do both,” said Bob Sodon, Fleet Captain NSIBYC.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
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