Clagett response to the IPC sailing decision at 2020 Paralympic Games

Newport, RI (April 22, 2015) – The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta shares in US Sailing’s disappointment that “the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed their decision not to include sailing at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo” as spoken by Tom Hubbell, President of US Sailing in a Press release on April 21, 2015.

“The Clagett will continue to support the athletes who strive to be amongst the world’s elite adaptive sailors by fulfilling our mission to enable sailors with disabilities to reach their personal levels of achievement”, said Judy McLennan, President of The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta.

Along with US Sailing and other national bodies, as well as organizations with similar missions, The Clagett will continue to work collaboratively to try and find ways to help the IPC reverse their decision to exclude Paralympic sailing from the 2020 Paralympics.

The Clagett continues to grow and develop with the best interests of disabled sailors in mind. The Clagett’s aim is to,”assist sailors in realizing their potential on the water by providing them the knowledge and tools to improve their skills as well as the opportunity to utilize these talents in competition. Tom Clagett’s motto was “Reach for Success.”

The Clagett clinic and regatta appeals to sailors at all levels and continues to build on the reputation of the event, which enables disabled sailors to train toward individual goals. Whether their goal is to return to sailing or represent their country on an international level at a world championship, sailors who take part in The Clagett have a vast amount of life skills they can take away from being involved.

The Clagett would like to thank and recognize the efforts of John Twomey, former President of IFDS to expand Paralympic sailing and thank Dr. Bernard Destrube who has agreed to take over the Disabled Sailing Committee at ISAF. We also look forward to working with ISAF President Carlo Croce in expanding the role of Paralympic sailing.

About the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic & Regatta: Founded in 2003, the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta honors the late Tom Clagett (1916-2001), a U.S. Navy World War II veteran who learned to sail on Chesapeake Bay. As a young man he suffered temporary paralysis as the result of a bout of meningitis; an experience that left him with a deep respect for the accomplishments of people with disabilities. The Clagett’s mission is to assist sailors in realizing their potential on the water by providing them the knowledge and tools to improve their skills as well as the opportunity to utilize these talents in competition. Tom Clagett’s motto was “Reach for Success,” and it is these words The Clagett strives towards every year. The event includes all three classes that have been chosen as the equipment of Paralympic Sailing: the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD-18 and the singlehanded 2.4 Metre (mR). Clagett competitors have seen medal success at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games. Competitors often comment that The Clagett has improved their quality of life as they apply what is achieved on the water to every day situations.

Additional information can be found online at www.clagettregatta.org