Robie Pierce Regattas Achieve Mission

The sixth annual Robie Pierce One Design Regatta for sailors with disabilities was held at Larchmont (NY) Yacht Club with the help of American YC. Nineteen teams competed on May 30-June 1, with six boats competing in the Robie Pierce Women’s Invitational on May 29.

Race Committee PRO Cynthia Parthemos faced challenging conditions all weekend with winds from 0 to 26 knots greeting the sailors, but managed to provide excellent racing.

The mission of the Robie Pierce Regattas is to increase the number of people involved with adaptive sailing—both sailing and as volunteers. Thanks to the participation of the Burke Rehabilitation Center and the Nyack Boat Club’s adaptive sailing clinic, this year’s Robie Regattas included ten new sailors, most of whom had never sailed before. The words of first-time Robie participant Tim Tynan (New Hyde Park, NY) summed up the feeling of many: “For a few days, I NEVER thought about being paralyzed from the chest down. I was a guy out sailing with some great people.”

The Robie Women’s Invitational Regatta was held in 8-14 knots, and four very competitive races were run. When the smoke cleared, US Sailing team member Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, RI) with crew JoAnn Stenk (White Plains, NY) was third; in second was Team Paradise’s Tracy Schmitt (Toronto, ON) sailing with Siobhan Murphy (Yonkers, NY). Last year, Judy Kowaleski, who traveled from San Diego, announced that the Robie Women’s brought her the first bullet of her career. This year, sailing with Karrell Reginer (Gatineau, QC), she scored three firsts and a second to win by 5 points.

At the One-Design Regatta’s competitors meeting Friday morning, the competitors received a surprise guest, America’s Cup Hall of Fame member and the designer of the Ideal 18, Canada’s Bruce Kirby. He was clearly proud of the joy his design was bringing to so many sailors with disabilities.

Good conditions held all Friday, with four competitive races held. Unfortunately the wind gods got a little overanxious the next day. With morning winds of 12-18 and gusts to 26 knots, racing was postponed; but never let it be said that sailors waste time. A competitive game of bocce was quickly organized and a number of sailors participated. Try playing this sport with you eyes closed if you want a challenge. The winds finally abated around noon but then died yielding only two more races.

The highlight of the Saturday night party was the appearance of the Regattas’ namesake, Robie Pierce. Robie commented that he was happy to see so many new sailors, as that is what the Robie is all about—introducing new sailors to the sport.

After a delicious dinner, the crowd was treated to some great bluegrass music by homegrown, led my banjo player and event Co-Chair Buttons Padin.

Sunday was once again light and variable, but the RC was able to squeeze out a seventh race before going ashore for prizes.

In fifth place was the Annapolis, MD pair of Lance Hinrichs and John Tarrant, winning a tiebreaker with Rusty Sargent (Mystic, CT) and Charles McClure (Brookline, MA); in fourth was former LYC member Paul Garcia (Hyannis, MA) and Chris Livesay (Ft. Worth, TX); and in third was Charlie Rosenberg (Woodstock, CT) with alternating crew Bill Blanchard (LYC’s Rear Commodore) and Nancy Jodoin (Boston, MA).

For the second year in a row, the regatta finished in a two-way tie for first. In second were US Sailing Team member Gerry Tiernan (Falmouth, ME) from Sail Maine and Dennis Moran (Framingham, MA).

While still suffering from his beloved Bruins loss in the Stanly Cup playoffs and the Red Sox 10 game losing streak, Hyannis Yacht Club’s Mike Hersey, sailing with 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist Maureen McKinnon (Marblehead, MA), sailed away with the title. Mike was quick to credit his son Matt, who was their on-board able-bodied sailor (AB).

As always, this regatta could never have happened without the support of so many generous sponsors including Heineken USA., Mercedes-Benz of New Rochelle, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Lucerne Capital Management, LLC; UK Sailmakers and Magnum Bars. New sponsors this year were the Burke Rehabilitation Center, UK Sailmakers, and area realtor Houlihan Lawrence. In addition, the Bob Woodruff Foundation stepped-up to provide travel funding for the wounded veterans who sailed in the regatta.

Event details – One design results – Women’s results – Video

Next year’s regatta will be held at American YC (Rye, NY) May 28-31 2015.

Report by William L. Sandberg