Clagett: Giving all sailors the tools to succeed

Five boats sailed in the inaugural C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta. Fifteen years later, twenty one boats took part in the 2017 clinic and competition on June 23 to 25 in Newport, RI. Entry is open to sailors with and without disabilities.

Sailors from Rhode Island, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, Massachusetts and Canada faced a variety of challenging conditions while racing on Narragansett Bay.

The three Sonars and 18 2.4mR’s had three races today after waiting ashore under the postponement flag until the breeze started to build from the South West.

Rhode Islander Ben Hall took home first in all three of the races for the 2.4mR class, moving up to 8th overall after missing the first four races. Hall, from Bristol RI, commented after racing, “This is my first Clagett regatta and learned a lot from sailing the boat (the 2.4mR) in the MetreFest recently. I was sailing in a borrowed boat so I didn’t want to crash so I got out in front to avoid anyone.”

Canadian Paul Tingley won the top prize in the larger of the two fleets, the 2.4mR’s. Tingley, who is no stranger to the Clagett or the 2.4mR boat, won a Bronze medal in Rio at the 2016 Paralympic Games in the Sonar and decided to come to the 15th Clagett and race the 2.4mR this year. In the 2008 Paralympics, he won the Gold medal in the 2.4mR and has represented Canada at five Paralympic Games.

“I love coming to The Clagett and plan on being here racing for many more years to come. It is the tightest racing has ever been and I had to make every race count. I’d like to thank Ben Hall for not being here the first day of racing,” said Tingley after the awards ceremony today.

Racing at her first ever Clagett regatta in the 2.4mR was Barbara Galinska, from Chicago. She started sailing the boat in November, prior to that she has steered a Freedom and Sonar out of the Judd Goldman program. “It was the hardest thing I have ever done and I am hoping to do again very soon,” she remarked after racing wrapped up today.

In the Sonar class, the three teams left everything on the race course with very close racing and finishes for the entire 10 race series. After taking home the gold podium place in the Sonar class, the team from Y-Knot Sailing, from Lake George, NY, couldn’t have been happier with their results.

Spencer Raggio, who is mainsheet trimmer on the Y-Knot Sonar commented, “If it wasn’t for the Clagett and the Clagett Boat Grant Program we wouldn’t be here. The help from everyone to get the Sip and Puff steering system operational has been amazing and to have Dave steer the last two days with the system has been fantastic. We have had great competition from the other Sonars with really close racing and finishes. We’d also like to thank Mike Ingham, for his coaching over the last four days, it really helped raise everyone’s game.”

Closing the regatta for the 15th year, Clagett President and Co-Founder, Judy McLennan commented, “We’ve had another successful year and I am thrilled that we have had the chance to have 18 2.4mR sailors on a Clagett start line. We will be working with the 2.4mR class on expanding the presence through the Clagett Boat Grant Program and we expect to see the 2.4mR as a class at the 2024 Paralympic Games.

“We are looking forward to being back in Oyster Bay at Oakcliff Sailing Center in August with the Clagett/Oakcliff Match Racing Regatta and being able to provide the opportunity for sailors to increase their match racing skills which they can then use in fleet racing. We’ll see you all back in Newport next June for the 16th Clagett.”

The dates for the 2018 Clagett were announced with registration being held on June 20, the clinic June 21 and the regatta June 22-24 and will be held at Sail Newport, located in Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI.

Final Results

Event details – Results – Facebook

About the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and 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 youngster 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 stated mission is “to assist sailors in realizing their potential on the water by providing them both the knowledge and tools to improve their skills and the opportunity to use these skills in competition”. Tom Clagett’s motto was “Reach for Success”, which resonates with every Clagett participant. Clagett competitors have seen medal success at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. Competitors often comment that, The Clagett, has improved their quality of life as they apply what is achieved on the water to everyday situations.

Source: Sam Crichton