Team Rosenfeld wins Match Race Clinegatta

The 2023 Clagett/Oakcliff Match Race Clinegatta for sailors with disabilities was hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club over the weekend of August 25-27, with twelve sailors from across the US traveling to Oyster Bay, NY to participate.

The first day of the clinic had great conditions for the sailors to work on the water. They were coached by the duo of Daves: America’s Cup helmsman, Dave Dellenbaugh (Easton, CT), and five-time US Match Racing Champion, Dave Perry (Southport, CT). The two coaches worked with the sailors for all three days of the event.

Day one of racing contrasted the beautiful conditions of the previous day and the sailors didn’t manage to get on the water due to lack of wind. However, this allowed more classroom time and swapping of stories onshore.

On the third day of the event, the northerly breeze filled in early so the teams headed out to Cold Spring Harbor where they managed to complete a full round robin before the breeze died.

Coach Dave Perry commented after the three days in Oyster Bay, “We managed to get a full round robin in, great match racing, passes, penalties, penalties killed and no contact with spirited competition.”

First place went to Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, CT) who has sailed at all six Clagett/Oakcliff regattas. His crew Stu Caplan (Larchmont, NY) has sailed five of those regattas with Charlie and for this regatta they were joined by Dan Andrews (Wethersfield, CT) for his first ever Clagett.

“This is such a great event which I’ve been to every year it’s been held. It would be great to see more teams sign up next year and I will definitely be back in 2024,” said Rosenfield after awards were presented.

Duane Farrar (Watertown, MA) sailed with fellow visually impaired sailor Kris Scheppe (Naples, FL) and sighted sailor Dana Robinson (Cambridge, MA) who sails with Farrar in Boston. Scheppe, who sailed at the recent C. Thomas Clagett Jr., Memorial Clinic and Regatta in Newport in the Martin 16 class with Dawn Hart, however this was his first Clagett/Oakcliff.

Farrar has previously sailed at the Clagett Regatta in Newport when Clagett Sailing hosted the Blind Sailing Championships. “I’ve had a wonderful time at my first Clagett/Oakcliff, the Daves were great and we learned so much information that my brain was overloaded in a good way. I’d definitely like to be back next year,” said Farrar after they finished up in second place.

This is the second time at Clagett/Oakcliff match racing for Eli Workman who sailed in 2022 with Charlie Rosenfield and returned this year to sail with his father Dan and James Windsor (Bazrah, CT). Eli grew up sailing with his father Dan Workman (Acton, MA) in Laser 28 and Express 37’s out of their home club Jubilee Yacht Club in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Eli started adaptive sailing at the Robie Pierce regatta less than a month out of rehab after a skiing accident in 2017. “My first match racing experience was at the 2022 Clagett/Oakcliff and I was crewing for Charlie Rosenfield which isn’t my usual position on the boat. I was able to learn the rules and tactics without the pressure of the skipper or tactician and this year I’m back to where I’m comfortable on the boat at the helm. I was able to learn from Charlie and this year got to apply the knowledge from 2022 while steering,” commented Workman (Southfield, MI)

Sailing at their first match racing regatta and first Clagett/Oakcliff were husband and wife team Luke and Jennifer Scheinhorn (Riverdale, NY) who sail out of Hudson River Community Sailing and were joined for this regatta by Pascale Agnone (Deer Park, NY). Both Luke and Pascale are visually impaired with Jennifer being the sighted crew member for this team.

Luke said after racing was completed, “This was our first-time match racing and being at a Clagett regatta. We 100% will be back, it’s the most I’ve ever learned about sailing in a weekend.”

“We are so very grateful for all the support our sailors received from Oakcliff Sailing and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club. This weekend of instruction from Dave Perry and Dave Dellenbaugh was invaluable to our sailors. It has been wonderful to see new sailors racing and learning alongside veteran Clagett sailors. The volunteers have delivered a flawless weekend enjoyed by all.

“As our sixth year of sailing in Oyster Bay comes to an end, we want to give special recognition to Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club and their flag officers and staff who have been overly generous with their time and assets. We look forward to the continued partnership with Oakcliff Sailing and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in the years to come,” commented Clagett Sailing President, Judy Clagett McLennan (Portsmouth, RI)

Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club provided the Sonars used by the teams, which were fitted with adaptive equipment for sailors to utilize and hosted the sailors onsite at the club. Race management was provided by Oakcliff Sailing staff and Clagett Sailing, along with a team of very helpful volunteers who ensured another successful regatta was experienced by the visiting sailors.

“The Clagett Match Racing is one of those regattas that pulls at your heart strings and fills you with unbridled joy. It is always an honor to give a platform to different ability sailors. You never know exactly who will rise to the top, but it’s not about who wins, it’s about the experience,” remarked Oakcliff Sailing Regatta Director, Patrice Rachlin (Oyster Bay, NY).

Founded in 2016, The Clagett/Oakcliff Match Race event is open to both adaptive and able-bodied sailors from the US and outside the US. At least the skipper should identify as having a disability. Clagett Sailing’s motto is “Reach for Success”, and its 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.”

Clagett Sailing partnered with Oakcliff Sailing, a non-profit coaching and training center for sailors who have progressed beyond traditional coaching methods. The event will be hosted by Oakcliff Sailing and the Seawanhaka Yacht Club, both in Oyster Bay, NY.

The dates for the 2024 Clagett/Oakcliff Match Racing Clinic and Regatta will be announced once calendars are finalized.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Source: Event media