SEA GIRT, NJ — What began as a simple journey for a Florida man sailing home on his newly purchased sailboat turned into an unexpected saga of struggle, hope, and community spirit along the Sea Girt shoreline. In the early morning hours of September 20th, Larry Kaehler’s sailboat ran aground on the beach after a steering failure — but what followed was a remarkable display of local kindness and determination as residents, volunteers, and even a recovery company rallied to help him get back to sea.
We’ve been following the situation daily and spoke with Mr. Kaehler (“Larry”) on Thursday, October 9 — a critical night to get the boat back in the water before the Nor’easter hit. “There’s a possibility the boat gets back in the water tonight or tomorrow,” Larry said, eyeing the high tide. “My goal is to get into the Manasquan Inlet. It might take one more tide before I can turn and right myself, but hopefully I’ll be in the water tonight.”
Despite days of uncertainty, twenty-two and counting, Larry was optimistic. “This company that came down here today is doing an amazing job — and they’re doing it for free,” he said. “Everyone here has been so supportive. Dan [Meyers of Sea Girt] helped me tighten up all the sails. I wouldn’t have been this ready without so much help.”
Dan Meyers, a local boater and sailor, had been helping from the start. “The sail lines were really messed up,” he said. “He’s had so much support from people showing up every day — residents, volunteers, even folks from out of town. Earlier this week, we were digging by hand, but now that Certified Auto Mall brought in tractors, we might finally move the needle.”
Meyers said the steering line failed during Larry’s trip, and in the confusion, he mistook a blinking red light from a nearby pipe for the Manasquan Inlet. “I told him not to focus on how he got here, but how he’s going to get out,” Meyers said. “If he’d launched the boat with the sails set the way they were, he would’ve had a big problem.”
Among those helping daily was Charlie Newman, a longtime Sea Girt resident. “I’ve been bringing him sandwiches — dropped off a pork roll, egg and cheese this morning and some coffee,” he said. “It’s the Christian way. I worked in the maritime trade for 37 years, and you always help people on the water. He’s a pleasant guy, but he should’ve called for a tow the day he hit shore.”
By Saturday, October 11, as the Nor’easter loomed, Larry remained determined. “The storm’s coming,” he said. “These guys are digging a trench to the ocean. I just have to be floating — then there’s a call to the Coast Guard. I thought I’d be out last night. I’m doing everything I can to hold on and make sure the boat doesn’t damage anything.”
When asked to rate himself as a sailor, Larry laughed. “I’ve got to give myself a six — because I’m on the beach,” he joked. “If I make it to the Manasquan Inlet, I move up to a seven. If I make it to Florida, I’m a nine.”
To help move things along, Certified Auto Mall — a heavy-duty recovery company — volunteered its crew, equipment, and two full days to dig a trench leading from the boat to the ocean. “I heard about it from the rescue squad president,” said company president Art Staehnten. “His mother met Larry earlier in the week and reached out to me. I said I’d take a look. With that storm coming, if he was still here by Saturday, he’d have a big problem.”
The Sea Girt Administration has been monitoring the situation closely since the grounding. Business Administrator Justin Macko said, “Borough officials have been in contact with Mr. Kaehler on a regular basis and have offered assistance. To date, he’s declined direct help. The Borough cannot touch the vessel without assuming liability, as it’s private property. We continue to monitor the situation.”
In connecting Saturday (10/11) morning, with the boat still on the sand but having moved closer to the water from the prior night's high tide, Larry remained hopeful and thankful. “You don't usually get love for your mistakes, and I'm getting a huge amount of love and support from the Sea Girt community.”
By Sunday, as the first waves of the storm rolled in, Larry and his boat were closer to the surf, showing signs that they might still make it. But the surf was overwhelming and a sailboat, or any boat, would have an enormous obstacle trying to maneuver the roaring waves and tide.
As of 1:15 p.m. Sunday, with the storm bearing down, the boat — now anchored in the surf — had begun taking on water. Given the force and ferocity of the waves, it appeared unlikely the vessel would make it through the day without significant damage. According to town officials, Larry was not on board at the time; he had loosened the anchor lines and taken shelter in a nearby home.
A community Rooted in Kindness: As the storm set in, so did the reality that sometimes it takes more than tides and machinery to move something — it takes people. For Larry, what started as a misfortune on the water became a reminder of humanity on the shore. And for Sea Girt, it was another moment that proved the strength of a small town with a big heart.