Winners crowned at Clagett Regatta

Newport, RI (August 29, 2021) – The final day of racing at the 18th C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and the 2021 U.S. Para Sailing Championships has wrapped up for the 23 boats in the 2.4mR, Martin 16 and Sonar classes competing in Newport over the last two days.

Judy Clagett McLennan, Clagett Co-Founder and President remarked at the awards ceremony, “In the words of Stephen Hawking – However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up. We have had a wonderful five days seeing everyone back in Newport for the 19th Clagett Regatta and the 18th on the water.

“I’d like to thank so many people, the coaching team, the yacht clubs who provided support boats, Sail Newport and RI DEM for the venue, all the Clagett sponsors and especially the volunteers who return year after year, they all make it happen. We’ve had 37 sailors here this week and 95 volunteers. I’d also like to announce the dates are set for the 20th year of the Clagett Regatta which will be held June 21-26, 2022, we look forward to seeing you all back here next year.”

US Sailing President Cory Sertl spoke at the awards, “This is a special event and I’d like to thank Judy and Stephanie McLennan along with all the volunteers for helping out. I also want to thank Judy for having the foresight to bring coaching to this regatta it makes it very special.”

The last day for 2021 started out with a light South Easterly breeze that topped at eight knots with the current increasing during the three races for the 2.4mR and Martin 16’s who sailed in an area similar to yesterday between Rose and Goat Islands. The Sonar fleet returned to the race course they used on Saturday North of the Pell Bridge near Coasters Island.

Taking home the gold medal for the largest fleet in the regatta, the 2.4mR fleet is Paralympian Dee Smith, who won this class in 2015 prior to going to the Rio Games in 2016. Taking the silver spot in the class is fellow Floridian Rudy Trejo and rounding out the top three is Julio Reguero from Puerto Rico who is sailing in his new boat from the Clagett Boat Grant Program.

“It was great competition over the two days and a big thank you to the PRO Tom Duggan and his crew for getting racing done in difficult conditions. Thanks to my fellow competitors for some great competition here in Newport,” said Smith after racing.

Sonar winners Sarah Everhart Skeels, Pauline Dowell, Emma Montgomery. Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships. Credit Clagett Regatta / Andes Visual.
In the three boat Sonar fleet, longtime Clagett sailor Sarah Everhart Skeels and her crew of Pauline Dowell and Emma Montgomery who both hale from Massachusetts, won the class after six races.

The all female crew held off the team from Lake George representing the Y-Knot program with skipper Dave Whalen and crew members Spencer Raggio and Dan Kennedy. Completing the class is the team from helmsman from Chicago Patrick LoDuca and his team of Bryan Tabler and Dawn Hart.

Everhart Skeels remarked, “We thoroughly enjoyed all the sailing conditions Newport had to offer, it was challenging but worth the effort. I can only thank my crew for all their effort and for being a amazing strong female crew.”

The doubledhanded class of the Martin 16’s has a return winner with Californian Carwile LeRoy, who raced with a local Newport crew member Doug Horsey, taking his second Martin 16 class win at the Clagett Regatta. In second place is Nick Bryan Brown and his crew Albert Pierce, who is brother to Robie Pierce who was the visionary behind The Clagett. Rounding out the top three for the fleet is Colin Smith and his crew Siobhan Murphy traveling from Vermont for racing in Newport this week.

LeRoy spoke after racing, “It was great to be able to defend my title in the class from 2019. It came down to the last race of the last day, so I’d like to thank the PRO for getting the three races done today! Nick and Al had great boat speed and made it a great challenge on the water. This is the best run regatta around the coaching and volunteers are amazing.”

U.S. Para Sailing Championships trophies:
• The U.S. Para Sailing Singlehanded Championship for the Judd Goldman Trophy for the 2.4mR class – Dee Smith
• The U.S. Para Sailing Inclusive Doublehanded Championship for the Martin 16 class – Carwile LeRoy and Doug Horsey
• The U.S. Para Sailing Inclusive Triplehanded Championship for the Sonar class for the Gene Hinkel Trophy – Sarah Everhart Skeels, Pauline Dowell and Emma Montgomery

Clagett Regatta trophies:
C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy – Sarah Everhart Skeels, Pauline Dowell and Emma Montgomery
Susan B Johnson – Sportsmanship Award – Tony Pocklington
Larry Gadsby – Most Improved Award – Tim Brown
Nick Scandone – Spirit Award – Pauline Dowell
Robie Pierce and Gene Hinkle – Seamanship Award – Sarah Everhart Skeels

Clagett Regatta Details – U.S. Para Sailing Championship Details – Results

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.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

Source: US Sailing