Robie Pierce Regattas return to Long Island Sound

The Robie Pierce Regattas for sailors with disabilities returns to Larchmont Yacht Club this weekend with the Women’s Invitational Regatta on Thursday, May 29, and the Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta running from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1.

Hosted in conjunction with American Yacht Club, this is the sixth Robie and, including the two US Disabled Sailing Championships the Clubs jointly hosted, this will be the eighth time the combined fleet of Ideals will be sailed by these inspiring sailors.

The Robie Pierce Regattas were conceived to be inclusive of people with all manner of disabilities ranging from paraplegics and quadriplegics to amputees and stroke survivors and visually impaired. This year, special efforts were made to include some of the country’s wounded veterans.

Paralympic coach Betsy Alison and Rolex Yachtswoman-of-the-Year held several clinics in St. Petersburg, FL last winter to expose veterans to sailing. Several of them will be sailing in this year’s Robie Pierce, helping the event achieve its mission of growing adaptive sailing.

The Women’s Invitational on Thursday will have 7 teams sailing, and the 3-day One-Design Regatta has 19 specially adapted Ideal 18s on the line. Both are records for the events.

Over 200 hundred LYC and AYC members have been involved with the Robie Pierce Regattas over the years, and each has a special story to tell about having met one of these courageous sailors.

Daily results will be available online at http://larchmontyc.org/Yachting/Regatta_Schedule/Robie-Pierce-Regatta.aspx

The Robie Pierce Regattas would not be possible without the support of Heineken USA, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Mercedes-Benz of New Rochelle, Burke Rehabilitation Center, Lucerne Capital Management, Houlihan Lawrence, Magnum Bars and UK Sailmakers.

Report by William L. Sandberg