Traffic was heavy in Maple Cove Sunday as rowers came and went during a morning of races. Below, scullers heading out to the start line. (Click to enlarge)
The Navesink River Rowing club marked the end of its summer youth program with an in-house and invitational regatta that turned Red Bank’s Maple Cove into a busy depot for skinny boats Sunday.
The Sprints on the ‘Sink series of races for quads, doubles and singles drew dozens of racers, including a sculling contingent from Westfield.
Though the event featured races for rowers of all experience levels, including masters, the day was all about celebrating the annual end of the summer youth program, said club president Kay Vilardi. “It gets everyone in the fall racing mode,” she said.
The club will participate next month in Paddle the Navesink Day on Saturday, September 18, when it joins the Monmouth Boat Club, the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club and other watercraft users for a day of celebrating the river as a playground and environmental education resource.
The event is being organized by Maple Cove activist and kayaker Cindy Burnham, who led an effort to preserve the cove against development.
In addition to kayak and other vessel demonstrations, the day will showcase seining techniques, tours of an oysterman’s boat and walks along the river.