Meet The Team
Ken Haney
Ken was born and raised in Atlantic City, NJ, where a lifelong connection to the ocean was formed through fishing and crabbing the back bays with his father and brothers and spending his summers at the beach . He spent 7 summers as an ocean lifeguard on the world-famous Atlantic City Beach Patrol, rowing the iconic Van Sant and Van Duyne South Jersey Surf Boats, and was introduced to sailing by a fellow guard with a Hobie Cat. That experience sparked a passion that led to owning his own sailboat and spending countless hours around Gardners Basin, where the tall ships fueled his love of the sea.
Ken dedicated 25 years to public service as a professional firefighter with the Atlantic City Fire Department, 18 years as a Captain.
An inspiring sail aboard the Schooner AJ Meerwald and a story from its Captain Jesse Briggs about the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race ignited his dream to compete in the GCBSR. After retiring from the ACFD, Ken went on to serve six seasons aboard the AJ Meerwald, 1st as a deckhand, then as education coordinator, 2nd Mate and five seasons as engineer. During the Meerwald off-seasons, he has worked on the Brig Niagara for a winter yard period and sails aboard the S/V Denis Sullivan as a relief engineer, including transits to St. Croix and racing in the GCBSR. He also sails as a volunteer on the Schooner North Wind out of Gloucester City, NJ.
Deeply committed to education and community, Ken has actively been involved in youth outreach through afterschool programs, volunteering with the Cub Scouts, and currently serving as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 55, Scouting America (BSA). He is grateful to work for the World Ocean School Organization which reaches so many children with their educational programs. He is married to his wife Andrea and is a proud father of four children and one grandson.