Photos by Patrick Olivero
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – The 20th annual Ms. Race for women captains and crews was held Aug. 17 under windy conditions. But that didn’t stop the 13 vessels from the New Jersey Bayshore area and Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club from racing in two classes, Traditional Non-Spinnaker and Spinnaker, to benefit 180 Turning Lives Around, an organization dedicated to protecting victims of domestic abuse and helping them rebuild their lives.
At the captain’s meeting the morning of the race, Elaine Haher, past AHYC Commodore, seasoned J/24 race captain and four-time winner of the Ms. Race, shared racing tips. Out on the water, the Ms. Race teams started racing the 7 nautical mile course around Sandy Hook Bay at 2 p.m. Winds clocked at 12 knots quickly increased to a steady 16 to 18 knots, gusting to 25 at some points. That didn’t deter friends, families and guests gathered on spectator boats cheering on the racers.
Laura Grodewald and her crew on Eduam out of the Metedeconk River Yacht Club and Raritan Yacht Club won the Traditional Non-Spinnaker event; Skipper Ann Meyer of Magic out of Raritan Yacht Club and Storm Trysail Club won the Spinnaker event. An awards ceremony and party followed at the AHYC clubhouse.
The event raised over $35,000 this year, bringing the total donated over the 20 years to more than $285,000.
Ms. Race organizing committee members included Marion Bartholomew, Jean Evertsen, Elaine Haher, Karen Harris, Lisa King, Janice Miller, LuAnn Rathemacher, Barbara Nevius, Liz Niederberger and Bill Sabanski, and 180 members Caitlin Tamayo and Randi Zamkotowicz.
The article originally appeared in the August 22, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
