By Shore Local News
New Jersey’s official tall ship, the A.J. Meerwald, will return to Atlantic City for four days of public sails from Thursday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Oct. 11.
The restored 1928 oyster schooner will depart from the Atlantic City Aquarium at Gardner’s Basin, 800 N. New Hampshire Ave. Each two-hour trip will travel from the basin toward the ocean, giving passengers views of the Atlantic City skyline. Weather conditions could alter the sailing route.
The visit marks the first time the A.J. Meerwald has sailed from Atlantic City since 2018. The ship will arrive after completing a summer sailing season in Cape May.
“Sailing aboard New Jersey’s official tall ship, A.J. Meerwald, is the perfect way to celebrate our local history, oystering and working our local waterways for 98 years,” said Jessica Yorke, executive director of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. “We are excited to work with the Atlantic City Aquarium and provide historic sails to residents and visitors to Atlantic County.”
A portion of ticket proceeds will support the Atlantic City Aquarium. Tickets are available through the aquarium and online at bayshorecenter.org.
Public sail schedule
- Thursday, Oct. 8: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 9: 9-11 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. The morning sail is available for field trips.
- Saturday, Oct. 10: 10 a.m.-noon and 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 11: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.
A private charter is also scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
About the A.J. Meerwald
Launched in 1928, the A.J. Meerwald is a restored oyster-dredging schooner from Bivalve in Cumberland County. It was one of nearly 500 schooners built along the Delaware Bay before the region’s shipbuilding industry declined in the 1930s.
The 115-foot vessel is owned and operated by the nonprofit Bayshore Center at Bivalve as a traveling classroom. Passengers can help the crew haul lines and set sails while learning about New Jersey’s maritime history and aquatic environment.
The Bayshore Center also operates the Delaware Bay Museum and offers shore-based educational programs at its Bivalve campus on the Maurice River.
For tickets or more information, visit bayshorecenter.org, call 856-785-2060 or email info@bayshorecenter.org.
