Skeels wins Clagett/Oakcliff Match Race

Sarah Everhart Skeels (Little Compton, R.I.) and her crew of Cindy Walker (Falmouth, Mass.) and Spencer Raggio (Malta, N.Y.) won the fourth Clagett/Oakcliff Match Racing Clinic and Regatta on September 20-22 in Oyster Bay, NY.

For sailors with disabilities, the regatta was raced in Sonars, with the finals pitting Pauline Dowell who is blind against Skeels who is paralyzed from the waist down. America’s Cup helmsman, Dave Dellenbaugh, and five-time US Match Racing Champion Dave Perry, coached all the participants for a full-day day clinic and for both days of racing.

“It’s been a fantastic three days in Oyster Bay and to be here for the third time and win this year is even better,” said Skeels. “It’s been great to be back racing with Cindy, the first time since 2016 and a real advantage to sail with Spencer who has so much knowledge about the Sonar and sailing with sailors with disabilities as well as four years of sailing at this clinic and regatta.

“One of the big take aways is that it is a very level playing field when it comes to the skills of the sailors we raced against in this racing format. We come ready to race but it’s Dave and Dave who give us the knowledge. We can’t thank them enough.”

Clagett President and Co-Founder Judy Clagett McLennan notes how the sailors take so much away from this clinic and regatta and are able to apply these skills to their sailing in both match racing and fleet racing. “We are thrilled that this regatta is one sailors with disabilities look forward to and learn from each year. The Clagett appreciates the amazing collaboration between all the different organizations in Oyster Bay whose support in the advancement of disabled sailing is so important especially for the sailors.”

Final Results
1 Sarah Everhart Skeels/Cindy Walker/Spencer Raggio
2 Pauline Dowell/Jodi Munden/Kay Van Walkenburgh
3 Charlie Rosenfield/Tim Ripley/Stuart Caplan/Matt Wierzbach
4 Gerry Tiernan/Dennis Moran/Greg Murphy

Information: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/EZZKNWhpi1
Questions: Regatta@OakcliffSailing.org

Source: Sam Crichton