For Immediate Release
The Clagett Media Contact: Sam Crichton sam@samcrichton.com, (401) 787-2250
US Sailing Media Contact: Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org
NEWPORT, R.I. (June 23, 2018) – Conditions for day two of the 2018 Clagett Regatta and the U.S. Para Sailing Championships, hosted by Sail Newport, was a complete 180 on day one with a gray, overcast day greeting the 44 sailors. The Race Committee took the three classes out to the course in a very light breeze that started out in an Easterly direction and moved to a North Easterly.
Overnight leader in the 2.4mR class, Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.) has held on to his single digit results to stay in first place after today’s three races. Completing the podium in the 22-boat fleet after the three races today are Julio Reguero (Guaynabo, Peurto Rico) and Peter Wood (Ottawa, Canada).
“I love sailing here in Newport, the tidal aspect of racing here is very different to the lake racing we do at home, it definitely impacts the on-water decisions. This is a great learning regatta and the town of Newport and the racing are always fun. It’s a great opportunity to race against people from all over North America,” commented Wood who is the highest placed Canadian sailor in the 2.4mR class after two days of racing.
Sonar sailors managed to finish three races for the day and Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.) and his crew of Dawn Hart (Dade City, Fla.) and Charles McClure (Brookline, Mass.) have retained their first position in the fleet. The team based in Chicago consisting of Gary Pierce (Highland Park, Ill.) and Patrick LoDuca (Chicago, Ill.) who are sailing with Newport local sailor Jeff Long, are still in touch with Doerr, just four points behind in second place. The Texan team of David Gaston (Port Bolivar, Texas), Mike Janota (Galveston, Texas) and Kevin Somers (Missouri City, Texas) are holding on to third place.
Chicago based sailor Pierce, who is racing at his fourth Clagett Regatta, remarked after racing, “It’s been a great day of racing today and the coaching clinic with Dave Perry was fantastic, I learned a lot from his method of coaching. It’s definitely different sailing here in Newport to the racing we have on the lake in Chicago, the lake always has bigger waves.”
The RS Venture Connect sailors finished up the round robin schedule and for the last day of racing will be semifinals and finals. The Canadian team of John McRoberts (Victoria, BC) and Scott Lutes (Mahone Bay, NS), both of whom are former Paralympians, and the bi-coastal U.S. team of Christina Rubke (San Francisco, Calif.) and Kris Scheppe (Naples, Fla.) have guaranteed themselves a place in the finals. The top two teams from the semifinals tomorrow will join them to race for the class title tomorrow.
“It feels like being home to be back racing at The Clagett. I’ve seen lots of familiar faces and a lot of new ones in particular female sailors joining the ranks, which is great. I last sailed at this regatta with my wife Jackie in the SKUD 18 and we won so to be back here sailing with Scott brings a new dynamic to the boat,” said McRoberts.
Racing in the 2018 Clagett Regatta and the U.S. Para Sailing Championships concludes tomorrow and trophies for both regattas will be awarded. The forecast for tomorrow is for a Westerly breeze of around five knots becoming South West in the afternoon.
For more information about The 2018 Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships visit: www.clagettregatta.org and the U.S. Para Sailing Championships event website. Follow The Clagett and US Sailing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and search #ClagettRegatta for content.
The 2018 U.S. Para Sailing Championships is sponsored by Gill.
About the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta
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. The Clagett’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”. Tom Clagett’s motto was “Reach for Success”, which resonates with every Clagett participant. Clagett competitors have seen medal success at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. Competitors often comment that, The Clagett, has improved their quality of life as they apply what is achieved on the water to everyday situations.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the National Governing Body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, 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.
Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta 2018 sponsors and supporters
The Clagett organization would like to thank the following 2018 sponsors – Fiduciary Trust International at the Platinum level; Newman’s Own Foundation at the Gold level; American International Group, Inc. (AIG) at the Silver level; The Horance A. Kimball & S. Ella Kimball Foundation and Alice and Bruce Whelihan at the Bronze level.
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