CLAGETT SAILING

Clagett Regatta Chosen as SKUD-18 Paralympic Team Qualifier

Portsmouth, RI (March 17, 2013) - US SAILING, the national governing body of the sport of sailing, announced that the 2013 C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta has been chosen as the qualifying event to determine two members of the US SAILING Team Sperry Topsider Paralympic Team. The event is scheduled for June 27 through June 30.

Clagett Regatta Chairperson, Judy McLennan (Portsmouth, RI) said, "We are honored that the Clagett Regatta has been chosen to select two team members to represent the U.S. in the SKUD-18 Class. We have a decade of success providing world-class training and competitive racing for the sailors."

Open to both U.S. and foreign competitors, the clinic and regatta will take place in the three boats chosen as the equipment of the Paralympic Games: the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD-18 and the singlehanded 2.4mR. Three years ago, at the competitors' request, regatta organizers opened the 2.4mR class to allow able-bodied sailors to compete in The Clagett which doubled the number of entrants on the starting line. Starting with the 2012 event, the Sonar class also became open to able-bodied sailors. Having more boats on the line translates into tougher competition and offers the best possible training opportunity for Paralympic hopefuls.

Now in its 11th year, the Clagett Regatta provides sailors with disabilities the tools to improve their skills and the opportunity to test them in competition, which allows each individual to achieve their personal competitive goals. The event’s signature pre-race clinic (Thursday, June 27 ) is run by world-class and Olympic sailors who share their expertise boat handling, sail trim, racing theory and racing rules. The clinic is followed by a three-day regatta, Friday, June 28 through Sunday, June 30.

The Clagett Clinic and Regatta is headquarted in Portsmouth, RI and runs sailing operations from the Sail Newport Sailing Center in Fort Adams State Park. Spectators can watch the competition between Rose and Goat Islands from points on the western shore of Goat Island during the hours of 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. each day.