By Sam Crichton
Three days of competitive racing and camaraderie along with a two-day coaching clinic wrapped up on June 30 in Newport, RI for thirty-three sailors with disabilities at the 22nd C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta, hosted by Sail Newport. This year’s fleet had eight of the Clagett Sailing Boat Grant recipients racing in the 2.4mR class, with two of the top three finishers being Boat Grant recipients.
Principal Race Officer Tom Duggan spoke about the racing after completing two races on the final day ahead of an incoming storm. “The lowest we saw in breeze strength over the last three days was eight knots and it topped out at 18 knots and it was from the southeast through to the southwest direction. I was truly impressed by the ability of the sailors to deal with the conditions on the course. The tightness of the fleets and the finishes made for great spectating.”
The twenty-one sailors in the singlehanded 2.4mR class came from across the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico to work with top coaches during the two-day clinic and then compete in the nine races completed. Joining the Clagett Sailing fleet in the 2.4mR class is the most recent recipient of the Boat Grant Program, Chuck Allen from North Kingstown, RI. Returning to race with the class after a seven-year break is Barbara Galinska from Chicago along with many new and familiar faces.
This year a Clagett Sailing regular, Julio Reguero from Puerto Rico, scored a hat trick, winning both the 2.4mR class and the overall C. Thomas Clagett, Jr, Trophy for a third consecutive year. “It feels amazing and pretty unbelievable to win again this year,” said Reguero. “It was really tough racing this year and I was lucky to be in the right places and have good finishes today to end up with the win. The level of racing is really high and there are five or six consistently strong sailors in the 2.4mR class. The competition is getting tougher each year and is really helping to improve everybody’s racing.” As this issue went to press, Reguero was heading to Keil for the 2.4mR Worlds. Completing the podium in the 2.4mR class was Andrew Parish from Saint Michaels, MD in second, and Clagett Boat Grant recipient and 2022 Team Clagett member Delani Hulme-Lawrence from Saint Paul, AB.
In the five-boat doublehanded Martin 16 fleet, Chicago skipper Gary Pierce who teamed up again this year with Newport sailor Jeff Long, took the gold medal. This team has sailed together over the last eight to nine years. “I truly enjoy coming back to Clagett each year and racing with Jeff,” said skipper Pierce. “We have great teamwork on the water, and learn more and more from the coaches each year.” Long talked about the competition after they posted a picket fence, dropping the only second place they scored, “I look forward to being at the Clagett Newport Regatta each year to learn something new and put that into practice when we are racing.” Taking home the silver medal was the returning team of Tim Brown from East Boston, MA and Sarah Everhart Skeels from Little Compton, RI. The bronze was earned by JR Hardenburgh from Boston, MA and Dan Scher from Mansfield, MA.
Julio Reguero (foreground) and Andrew Parish finished first and second, respectively, in the 21-boat 2.4mR class. © Clagett Sailing/Andes Visual
This year’s Clagett was particularly poignant with the passing of Clagett Sailing Co-Founder Judy Clagett McLennan last November last year. Judy was honored with an on-water tribute after Friday’s racing. Sailors, family and friends gathered to spread flowers on Narragansett Bay and pay their respects to Judy and the legacy she has left with Clagett Sailing.
[Editor’s note: Judy’s beloved “little green frog” – a 1951 Crosley Super Sports roadster – is featured in the “Colors, The Cars of Summer” exhibit, on display at The Audrain Automobile Museum on Bellevue Avenue until September 8.]
Gary Pierce and Jeff Long dominated the Martin 16 fleet. © Clagett Sailing/Andes Visual
“There are many people I would like to thank, including sponsors Fiduciary Trust International and XPT along with Quantum Sails, Aquidneck Landscape Services, and Elmwood Chrysler, Dodge Jeep & Ram,” said Clagett Sailing President and Co-Founder Stephanie McLennan. “I have to give a very big thank you to the Clagett Sailing Board, Advisory Board, Working and Fundraising Committees, and the Team Clagett sponsors without whose help and dedication we couldn’t run the clinic and regatta. The race committee, medical staff, judges and coaches all work together to give the sailors the best experience possible.”
Martin 16 podium finishers © Clagett Sailing/Andes Visual
“My mother and I co-founded this clinic and regatta twenty-two years ago, and this year we have five people here besides myself who have been at every Clagett Newport: Sarah Everhart Skeels and Brian Skeels, Colleen Burns-Jermain and Tim Jermain and Jeff Long, and this year we have our very first PRO Rosa, who has returned this year as our scorer so we have come full circle.” To learn more about Clagett Sailing and their remarkable events and programs, visit clagettsailing.org. ■
Clagett Trophies
C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy – Julio Reguero
Susan B Johnson – Sportsmanship Award – Eric Rose
Larry Gadsby – Most Improved Award – Delani Hulme-Lawrence
Nick Scandone – Spirit Award – John Seepe
Robie Pierce and Gene Hinkle – Seamanship Award – Michelle Seepe
