The recent very well attended Jersey Speed Skiff races in Highlands gathered the enthusiasm of a crowd few of whom remember or were around for the actual first Jersey Speed Skiffs, the ones much larger and made of wood and popular along the Bayshore beginning in the 1920s.
One of those was the Lasting Impression built of mahogany and white oak back in 1967.
As reported in the Asbury Park Press in July, 1990, the skiff was so named because that’s what speed boat races did for its owner, Nat Garratano, who loved the history of the original skiff that was used during Prohibition powered by World War I airplane engines, plenty fast enough to outrun federal authorities as men who clammed or fished but other nights went out to the three mile limit and brought in illegal alcohol for others who trucked it up to willing buyers north of the shore.
In 1990, Garratano sat near the Navesink River watching his son Rob, the world record holder in the straight-away at over 82 mph and the five mile-four lap record at over 70 mph at the National Sweepstakes Regatta in Red Bank. Rob, a veteran of 15 seasons on skiff racing, finished fifth in the race heat and had to sit out the finals. But he didn’t stop him from talking about the rush of driving a Jersey Speed Skiff.
“It’s just a rush. It’s like people driving race cars or parachutists. It’s just that rush and thrill of going that fast and having boats around you going that fast. Once you drive you never want to go back to being a mechanic,” this mechanic said.
But he admits “I was obsessed to go out and race and be the best there was. It became a job and as much as I love it, I had to get away from it,” explaining his semi-retirement from racing.
The Lasting Impression was built by Rob Garratano’ s mentor, his father-in-law, George Wolcott. It took first place in the special class of classic boats in Lake Hopocatong Boat Show as well as best in show in the 1990 competition.
