Syers Family Takes First in Atlantic Highlands Regatta

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Radiant competes in the ninth annual Ms. Race regatta on Saturday, Aug. 17. Donna Syers in Overlap won for the second consecutive year with her four daughters serving as crew. Photo courtesy of Jeff Smith, NJ Photo
Radiant competes in the ninth annual Ms. Race regatta on Saturday, Aug. 17. Donna Syers in Overlap won for the second consecutive year with her four daughters serving as crew.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Smith, NJ Photo

By Brian Deakyne
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – The ninth annual Ms. Race regatta took place Saturday, Aug. 17, under near-perfect conditions at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.
With a slight breeze and temperatures hovering around 80 degrees, the boats made quick work of the course.
Manning Overlap, Donna Syers, with a crew composed of her four daughters, won the regatta for the second straight year. Eileen Campbell, riding Coda, finished in second place and Emily Smith, captaining Radiant, completed the race in third place.
This year’s event had a smaller number of boats than previously because many were damaged by the impact of Super Storm Sandy, according to a press release from the yacht club.
The race, which is a women-only event, included sailors from the Atlantic Highlands Sailing Education Program. Girls from the program joined several crews to help out throughout the regatta.
The event raised money for the 180 Turning Lives Around Foundation.
The regatta featured an awards ceremony and a buffet-style dinner for the sailors and their families following the race.
Other activities throughout the day included a breakfast for the sailors, and a prerace sailing seminar.