Photo Courtesy of the Bahrs Family
Highlands has always claimed Trudy Ederle as its own special heroine, and as well it should. Not only is she the first woman to ever swim the English Channel and broke the records of men who had accomplished it earlier, she always told the world she learned to swim in Highlands.
It was true, right off the pier next to Bahr’s Restaurant and into the Shrewsbury near the Highlands Sea Bright Bridge recognized as having the eighth strongest current ion the world.
And while we always admire Trudy’s strength, her ability, her endurance and her determination, we sometimes forget her determination, patience and perseverance.
It was probably shown best on Aug. 7, 1925, the day she was supposed to start her swim from Cape Gris Nez France to England, the 26 mile or so trip across the English Channel. Her intent to accomplish this feat had been put off several times previous to Aug. 7 over the years for a variety of reasons. On this day, her coach, Captain Jabez Wolfe, announced the start would be postponed again. After consulting all his weather maps, his charts, the barometer, and his own incredible knowledge of the whims of the Channel, he said there was too much wind, to much of a shifting current, and his star swimmer would wait another week.
Newspapers, although in love with Trudy, described the relative water “as changeable as a woman’s whims!”
So Trudy waited once again.
Not so Lillian Harrison, an Argentinian young lady who had also been trying to be the first female to swim the channel. She had tried and failed three times previous and this time, she and Trudy were going to start simultaneously.
When Trudy’s coach announced his swimmer was going to wait a week or so, Ms. Harrison’s coach announced she would go in the water a bit later, but certainly by Monday at the latest, ahead of Trudy. There was no doubt Ms. Harrison wanted to claim the title.
In the end, Lillian Harrison slipped into the English Channel that night, confident she could overcome the channel’s changing current. It was her fourth and final attempt and she nearly drowned in the process.
Ms. Harrison had gathered numerous titles on her own before that, however, and was the first person to ever swim the River Plate in Argentina…nine others had attempted and failed before her,. Her record swim was not matched for nearly 100 years. She also held the record for endurance in the water.
Trudy Ederle went on to conquer the English Channel Swim a year later, August 6th, 1926 in 14 hours and 34 minutes, a mark that wouldn’t be broken until 1950.
Two strong, powerful, athletic women it is true. But far more impressive is their ability to accept defeat, get up, and try again.
Our Grandfather Emiel Aufieri (Emiel’s Tavern Bay Avenue) used to swim on a regular basis under the bridge, One day he saw Trudy and said young lady the currents is much too rough for you here-she replied, I am trainging to swim the English Channel and the currents here most replicate those in the channel. Trudy also gave us our swim medals at Sandlass Beach club on Sandy Hook-I have one picture.
My grandfather was also mentioned in the novel Whiskey Sea-for a fine he paid, and he also donated stained glass windows to St Andrews Episcopal Church in town.
My Grandfather, Emiel Aufieri also gave stained glass windows to St Andrews-