Nothing short of inspirational

It has been an unusually cold, windy, and often rainy spring in the northeast and that cold, dampness, and chill helped shape the 2025 Robie Pierce Regattas for sailors with disabilities. The Robie Pierce Regattas are run jointly by Larchmont and American Yacht Clubs alternating venues every year. This was the 16th Robie.

On May 29, the Robie Pierce Women’s Invitational Regatta was raced in breezes in the 10-15 knot range with temperatures in the 50s and low 60s. Starting on time, three races were completed before it became apparent that the sailors were starting to feel the impact of the cold, wind, and sea state.

Winning those three races was Jane Pimentel (Westport, CT) sailing with Lin Wei-Lee (Mt. Vernon, NY) and Tara Foster (Westport, CT) as able-bodied crew (AB). Pimentel won races 1 and 3 outright and was given redress for race 2 after a gear failure on one of the provided Ideal 18s. Five boats competed in the Women’s event.

The Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta on May 30-June 1 began with a light breeze only to have it fade away before the first race. Rather than have the sailors sit in the sun awaiting the anticipated afternoon winds, PRO Cynthia Parthemos sent the fleet of 15 boats back ashore where the sailors could find shade and hydration.

An hour later the sailors were back in their boats on the way out to sail two races in ideal conditions with 7-10 knots of wind from the West. At the end of the first day, Jim Hahn had notched up two race wins foretelling his eventual regatta win. He had Colin Smith (Middlebury, VT) as crew with AYC sailors Bill Mooney and Andy Giglia as ABs.

The forecast for Day 2 was for winds in the high teens and twenties precluding the sailors from racing. However, this intrepid group confirmed that the Robie is a party where a race breaks out.

On the last day, the boats left the dock reefed with the sailors facing more cold and windy conditions. Fortunately, the wind was still a westerly, so the waves were manageable.

That said, with winds puffing to 18 knots, the fleet of disabled sailors were sailing at the upper edge of the preferred range, but the fleet held on for four more races to complete the series. Hahn and crew continued their winning ways and came back ashore with a six-race picket fence score.

In second was the Ottawa, CA team of Tracey Schmitt and Daniel Scher, sailing with Spencer Raggio (Corinth, NY) as AB. In third was Duane Farrar, Cailin Currie, and Sol Marini all from Boston Blind Sailing.

“I just love this regatta…and it’s not just about the racing,” said Hahn about his fourth Robie. “The people who come to sail the Robie are nothing short of inspirational and the two Clubs who put on this event are exceptional at making disabled sailors feel safe on the water and welcome ashore. I already have my crew signed-up to sail the Robie in 2026.”

Results:
• Women: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/IZiJ11Fp1h/results
• Open: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/oT6v4knfI9/results

Source: Buttons Padin