By Mary Ann Bourbeau
SHREWSBURY – Hillary C. Toledo-Madriz learned how to sail when she was about 8 years old. Her parents, who hailed from Boston, both enjoyed sailing and wanted their son and daughter to learn the sport. Upon moving to Middletown, the Clauss family joined the Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club (SSYC). But Hillary didn’t take to the sport as they had hoped.
“I hated sailing,” she said. “I was a tall kid, and it just wasn’t for me.”
That all changed in high school, however, when she realized she had a skill not many other kids had.
“I like that it’s a really cool sport and not something commonplace,” said Toledo-Madriz, who today serves as the club’s communications and social media officer. “On a Sunday morning, after you work all week, you can just grab a few friends, pack a cooler and go hang out on the water. The Shrewsbury River is a beautiful location. There are even dolphins there now.”
Her skills have grown to the point where she enjoys racing larger boats, as she has done in places like Newport, Rhode Island. But she still enjoys quiet days on the Shrewsbury with her dad, Paul Clauss.
“It’s a bonding experience,” she said.
Toledo-Madriz is one of 200-plus members celebrating the Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club’s 90th anniversary this year.
Frank Seggio discovered sailing much later in life. He joined the club in 2009 at the age of 55, when his daughter was attending college in upstate New York.
“I thought it would be cool to buy her a little boat and have her sail in the lakes near Rensselaer,” he said. “I thought, ‘How hard can it be?’ ”
He soon found out there’s much more to the sport than he had imagined.
“I signed up for adult sailing lessons at Shrewsbury Sailing Club and started sailing after work until sunset,” the Ocean Township resident said. “It was the first time I was ever in a sailboat, and I loved it. I bought a boat, then another one, and then another. Since then, I’ve been all over the world, in international competitions and I’ve sailed against Olympians.”
Seggio, now 72, is currently serving a one-year stint as Commodore at SSYC. He helped ring in the 90th anniversary season in March with a through-the-years slide show at the Commodore’s Ball, where members honored the club’s history on the Shrewsbury River and recognized past commodores and members’ achievements.
“This club has always been about people coming together around a shared love of sailing,” said Seggio, who enjoys taking to the water with his wife Michele. “Ninety years later, that feeling of community is still what keeps it going.”
The Oceanport-based club was founded in 1936 and has served generations of sailors through instruction, water safety, racing and community events. The member-funded waterfront clubhouse was dedicated July 4, 1949. Its warm, wood-paneled walls are covered with plaques honoring the club’s championship winners through the decades, along with historical maps, pictures of past members and mementos from the club. A stone fireplace is the centerpiece of the room where members gather to share stories of their sailing adventures. “God Bless America” is played at the club every night as the sun sets.
“That’s probably one of our nicest traditions,” Seggio said.
From docks in (late March to early April) to docks out (late October), there are numerous events throughout the season, including Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day Regattas, as well as Dockside Family Burger and Movie Night, Flower Arranging and a Mah Jong Meetup.
Between the panoramic water view and the breathtaking sunsets, it’s a place to gather with friends who share a common interest. Seggio describes the club as casual, not pretentious, with a diverse group of people from all walks of life. It’s an all-volunteer organization – when something is needed, they all pitch in – and members have a key to come and go as they please.
“It’s a very comfortable environment,” he said.
Seggio enjoys watching the next generation take to the water. When young members begin lessons, they gain confidence, learn teamwork and develop a lifelong love of sailing. Many have gone on to sail at universities, military academies and in the Olympics and participate in regional, national and international regattas.
“Thursday night is fun racing night,” Seggio said. “It’s a busy night; the deck is full of people eating and opening kegs after the races. Sunday is regatta day where we have competitive racing.”
To the members, SSYC is more than just a club – it’s a second home where they gather to enjoy a piece of paradise.
“The camaraderie is great,” Seggio said. “Especially when you get older and friends move away or pass away, your social network shrinks. Here, the social side is absolutely phenomenal. And having young kids around keeps you young. Sailing bridges the age gap – there’s no difference when you’re on the water.”
The Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club is located at 512 Seawaneka Ave., Oceanport. For more information, visit ssyc.us.
The article originally appeared in the June 25 – July 1, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
