CLAGETT SAILING

Day 1 of racing at the 21st C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and the 2023 U.S. Para Sailing Championships

June 23, 2023

NEWPORT, R.I. (June 23, 2023) - Day one of racing at the 21^st C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and 2023 U.S. Para Sailing Championships is completed after the start of the day was delayed due to the breeze dropping out mid morning.

Coaches took advantage of the time while the sailors were held ashore today to wait for the sea breeze to fill in from the South, working with the 31 sailors racing at the regatta. After a two hour delay the Principal Race Officer Tom Duggan had the postponement flag lowered and the race management team went to work getting the course set between Goat and Rose Island on Narragansett Bay.

The 21 sailors in the 2.4mR class and five boats in the Martin 16 class completed three races over the afternoon in a 10 knot southerly breeze.

After racing today Peter Eager (Toronto, CAN) is leading the 2.4mR fleet. Eager who is a Clagett Sailing Boat Grant Program recipient, which he is sailing and was a member of the inaugural Team Clagett who raced in the 2.4mR World Championships in Florida last November said after racing, “Clagett Sailing and Team Clagett have made a wonderful improvement in my overall results in the 2.4mR class. They have provided me with a brand new boat, incredible coaching and support in so many ways and we are racing at an incredibly challenging and enjoyable venue.”

Defending 2022 2.4mR U.S. Para Sailing Champion Matt Koblenzer (Fox Point, MI) who finished up day one in fifth place remarked after racing,” I hope the rest of the regatta goes as well as it did today.”

In the Martin 16 class the team of Gary Pierce (Chicago, Ill.) and Jeff Long (Newport, RI) sit at the top of the leader board with three first place finishes. Long commented about the fact that this is the first time for Pierce in a Martin 16 boat, “Utilizing the advice of the coaches enabled us to achieve our results today.”

Sailing continues tomorrow and wraps up on Sunday with the 2.4mR class racing for the the U.S. Para Sailing Singlehanded Championship for the Judd Goldman Trophy and the Martin 16 class racing for the U.S. Para Sailing Doublehanded Championship for the Chandler Hovey Trophy. Along with the Championship trophies, the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy, the Susan B Johnson - Sportsmanship Award, the Larry Gadsby - Most Improved Award, the Nick Scandone - Spirit Award and the Robie Pierce and Gene Hinkle - Seamanship Award will be presented to sailors taking part in the regatta.

For a complete list of entries competing at the 2023 Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships, please visit: www.clagettsailing.org

2.4mR (21 boats)

Martin 16 (5 boats)

About Clagett Sailing:

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. Clagett Sailing’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." The organization has adopted Tom Clagett's motto of "Reach for Success,” which resonates with every Clagett sailor.

2022 marked the 20^th Anniversary of Clagett Newport. Clagett alumni sailors have earned medals at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. Along with reaching the 20^th Anniversary milestone, the nonprofit organization while adhering to its original mission has evolved beyond its original single regatta format and has been rebranded “Clagett Sailing” to encompass the multiple programs it now offers to sailors with disabilities.

Clagett Sailing would like to thank the following 2023 sponsors – Fiduciary Trust International at the Platinum level; BCD at the Gold level and Innovative Construction Inc. at the Bronze level;

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

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