TOMS RIVER – New Jersey’s official tall ship, the historic A.J. Meerwald, is set to sail into Barnegat Bay for a port visit, launching a series of maritime events celebrating the region’s nautical heritage.
The 1928 oyster schooner will arrive July 9, with a midday “parade of sail” up the Toms River. Local boaters are encouraged to join the welcoming flotilla around noon and escort the vessel upriver. The visit will feature educational programs and public tours highlighting New Jersey’s boatbuilding and oystering history, as well as the importance of preserving the health of Barnegat Bay.
Open boat tours aboard the Meerwald are scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Island Heights Yacht Club. The weeklong stop will include programming for more than 500 youth and adults, thanks to partnerships with local organizations including the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, Save Barnegat Bay, and the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum.
“This visit is a celebration of New Jersey’s rich maritime traditions and the people who have worked its waters for generations,” said Jessica Yorke, executive director of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, which owns and operates the Meerwald. “A strong and healthy waterway is vital to our communities and industries.”
After departing Toms River, the Meerwald will offer public sails from Atlantic Highlands July 16–20, Liberty State Park in Jersey City July 23–27, and Cape May beginning July 30 from the Cape May Ferry Terminal.
The ship’s 2025 tour is supported by local sponsors including Silent Maid, Coastal Queen, Mission Spirits, Ward Wight | Sotheby’s International Realty, Bivalve Packing, and de Rouville’s Boat Shop.
