Barnegat Bay, especially the stretch South of the Rt 37 Bridge, offers some of the best sailing on the East Coast of the US. It is scenic, protected, breezy, and clean.
SCENIC
Barnegat has an abundance of wildlife, beaches, rivers, lagoons, and coves, as well as nature preservation areas, and no high-rise development (except, of course, for "Old Barney").
PROTECTED
While the full length of the bay extends to around 30 miles, the maximum width of the bay is only around 2 miles. This is enough to give a feeling of space, but not enough to allow large waves to build up. It provides easy access to the sea, for those who are qualified and adventurous, but it is free of commercial traffic, and it has gentle currents (except near the inlet). And the tidal range is a mere 4 inches. There are many rivers feeding into the bay which provide shelter and places to anchor and explore. The rivers and creeks are home to dozens of marinas and water-side attractions, including several "dock and dine" restaurants.
BREEZY
Barnegat Bay has been described in sailing magazines as one of the most reliable wind areas on the East Coast. There is a good reason for that. The Island Beach peninsula is very narrow, so the sea breeze blows right across. On the other hand, the LI Sound, for example (often jokingly referred to as the "Dead Sea") is blocked from the Atlantic sea breezes by many miles of land. On Barnegat Bay, the typical afternoon breeze comes up around lunch time and blows from the SE at 10 to 18 miles per hour. This is perfect. If you want to have a blast, head out into the open water of the bay, where the wind is often strongest. If you want to have gentler breezes, try sailing in the Toms River.
CLEAN
Barnegat Bay is clean. The waters support marine vegetation, fish and shellfish of all sorts. There are public and private beaches all up and down the bay. People swim in it by the thousands each year. One of the great pleasures of sailing on the bay is a stop at a quiet cove or at Tices Shoal for a refreshing swim. Unlike other popular sailing areas, the conditions below the surface at Barnegat Bay are not scary. Thankfully, Barnegat is still unpolluted. Let's keep it that way. Respect the environment.
Call Us: 
