In 1901, the Long Branch Ice Boat and Yacht Club  was founded in the Princes Hotel in Long Branch.  At the time it was known as “The Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club.  As was the custom in those days, the marshes were not claimed by anyone, so that all you did was “stake out your claim” and build on it...so did our founders.

    A place known as “Shallow Point” saw the beginning of the club’s original clubhouse for the year 1902.

    At this time, the club burgee was a swallow tail type, with the red on the bottom.  Shortly thereafter, it was changed to the pennant type, with the red on top, as we know it today.

A few years later in 1908, it was decided that the clubhouse would

be better if located in Long Branch.  Then in the dead of winter, a team

of horses could be seen pulling the clubhouse across the ice to Prices

property, at the foot of the Port Au Peck Bridge.  During its reign, Prices

Hotel was host to many dignitaries, such as Diamond Jim Brady and

Presidents of the United States.  It was at this time that the hotel owner

tendered many affairs that led to the funding of the new building.

    In 1910, the members purchased a large house near the hotel and the original clubhouse became the boathouse.  In the same year, the name was changed to the Long Branch Ice Boat & Yacht Club.  This building was fully equipped with all utilities.  At this time a steward was employed and paid $30.00 per month.  The club has always been unique, as it is the only club that is and has been open for twelve months a year.

    The club was very active and prosperous until the year of 1929, when the shadow of gloom hung over our country.  The membership dropped to twelve members.  The new clubhouse was lost and the members that remained loyal to the club, once more moved back to the old original clubhouse that was called the boathouse.  Most of the members at this time were Ice Boaters.  Somehow they managed to hold the club together.  The only expenses then were electric and coal for the stove, when they had it.  The coal was $10.00 a ton.

    To save expenses, the members would gather together before the meetings and comb the beach, cleaning it of what wood they could find, to keep some heat in the clubhouse.

    In 1933, an effort was put forth to gain new members.  Tickets were sold at $1.00 each for chowder parties and offered “all you can eat” for a dollar.  This way the members managed to raise funds and gain new members, something that was needed at that time.

    At this time, a good neighbor presented a steak dinner at his own expense to raise funds for the club.  The club dues then were one dollar.

    In 1931, Dr. Campbell was the Commodore and he brought power boating into the club, although no docks or slips were available.  To help raise funds for the club, the Long Branch Board of Trade donated prizes for races, along with the club’s regular fund raising activities, so that a new clubhouse could be built.

    When Commodore Gillam took the helm in 1939, the club had a total of 89 members.  The members worked hard, at times having 12 to 14 races a day, and much revenue was raised by preparing and selling programs.  The publicity gained from these races was outstanding by such mediums as The Herald Tribune and Movietone News.

    By the year 1956, work was started on our present building where it stands today.  All the labor was supplied by the members, and the only outside help came from a crane that was used to hoist the roof trusses into place.  To the present time, it has always been traditional for the members to perform all the work that is done by the club.  With the help of the membership and good guidance, the club has grown to what it is today.

Did You Know?

The Shrewsbury Sailing Club is an offshoot of our club ...

In 1908 the Clarel sailed 140 mph (on ice) and it’s still in the almanac ...

There were two gold medal Olympic winners in the club ...

In 1912, a member was the Captain of the U.S. Trapshooting Team ...

The club had a whiskey named after it, “Shrewsbury Club” ...

Jersey speed skiff races started here ...

An English Nobleman was a club member and he lived in London ...

The 220 yd dash National Skating Championship was won by a club member.  The     world’s record of 17 sec still stands ...

The L.B.I.B.Y.C. is listed in Lloyds Register of American Yachting ...

One of our members was a N.J. Senator ...

We hosted the Portuguese ship SAGRES during “Operation Sail” in 1976.  And the U.S. Army band played at the ceremonies here ...

The club built a replica of the “Fox,” the original of which was rowed across the ocean by two men.  And on the way back to the U.S. the steamer that was carrying it ran out of coal and the “Fox” was used to row back here for help ...

The U.S. Nationals was won by a 91 cu inch in the 1950’s ...

A formal ball was always held by the club ...

And finally, in 1920, the club won the 3 rd class challenge pennant of American and the City of Long Branch held a gigantic parade.  The pennant was held until 1930, when it was lost to the Red Bank club.  Then in 1971, it was recaptured by the “Rainbow” and hangs in our club with pride today ...

Docks were rebuilt and slips were reconfigured.  A travel lift was purchased for the storage and launching of boats.  The general membership was significantly expanded.

We look forward to our second century of club activities and expansion.