Para Sailing teams from across North America will descend on Newport for the 2023 C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta & US Para Sailing Championship this coming week, June 20-25, 2023. Thirty-four sailors will compete in the Martin 16 and 2.4mR classes, including some notable names like former event winners and members of the US Team headed to the World Sailing Championships this fall.
Racing will take place Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25 and is preceded by a two-day coaching clinic. The clinic will be hosted by an all-star coaching team: Olympian Nancy Haberland, former Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Team coach Brian Todd, multiple America’s Cup tactician and Olympic coach Dave Dellenbaugh, and Betsy Alison, five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and long-time Paralympic sailing coach.
“As Clagett Sailing enters our third decade, we are thrilled to have the sailors return once again to Newport, RI to compete in the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta while at the same time competing for the U.S. Para Championship,” said Judy Clagett McLennan, President of Clagett Sailing. “Clagett Sailing is honored once again to be hosting the U.S. Para Championships.”
2.4mR representative for the 2023 Para Sailing World Championship John Seepe (North Port, Fl.) will be on the starting line of the event this week, tuning his skills for the Worlds in August. Seepe is also a Clagett Sailing Boat Grant recipient, having received a 2.4mR from the Clagett Sailing in December of 2019.
“Since 2019, I have attended two 2.4mR World Championships and will be attending my third this July. The best of this year will be representing the USA in The Hague Sailing World Championships in August,” Seepe commented. “This wouldn’t be possible without Clagett Sailing and their wonderful contributors. I couldn’t be more grateful for those who have made this possible for me and others like me.”
This year, for the first time ever, the Para Sailing World Championships will be held concurrently with the World Sailing Championships. Five athletes, representing the U.S. in the Hansa 303 Men’s and Women’s divisions, RS Venture Connect class, and 2.4mR class, will compete in Aarhus, Denmark August 8 to 20.
Seepe will be joined at the US Para Champs by former US Para Championship winners including 2022 2.4mR winner Matt Koblenzer and 2018 Sonar class winner Dawn Hart. See the full list of entries: https://clagettsailing.org/Information
First established in 1986, what was then called the U.S. Independence Cup became US Sailing’s national championship for disabled sailors in 1989. Since 2018, the regatta has rotated between the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta held at Sail Newport and the Independence Cup held by the Judd Goldman Adaptive Foundation in Chicago.
For more information about the 2023 Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships, including Notice of Race and registration information, please visit: www.clagettsailing.org
US Sailing would like to thank event sponsor Gill Marine for their support of the US Sailing Adult Championships. Clagett Sailing would like to thank the following: Fiduciary Trust International at the Platinum level; BCD at the Gold level and Innovative Construction Inc. at the Bronze level for their support of this event.
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 20th Anniversary of Clagett Newport. Clagett alumni sailors have earned medals at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. Along with reaching the 20th 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.
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.