Entries from USA and Canada first out of the blocks for C. Thomas Clagett

Clagett 2013 2.4mR class mark rounding © Thornton Cohen / Clagett Regatta

Entries for the 2014 C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta are starting to roll in as sailors from across the United States, Canada and international teams prepare to take part in the 12th running of this highly regarded event.

Mark Bryant from Estero, Florida was the first entry for 2014. Bryant, a first time sailor to the Clagett, will be racing in the 2.4mR class. Prior to racing the 2.4mR, Bryant learned to sail in the Lightning and J/24 classes on Lake Erie in Buffalo, NY. When he was diagnosed with MS he turned his attention to disabled sailing and competitive racing in the 2.4mR. In 2007 Bryant was actively campaigning towards representing the USA at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and lost the place by one point. Bryant has worked as a coach with Clagett 2.4mR class alumni Mark LeBlanc and Julio Reguero.

"Since my recent retirement I've decided this year I will be a participant in the Clagett rather than watching from the sidelines as I have done in the past. I am coming up from Florida with the current 2.4mR boat builder Tony Pocklington, an able bodied 2.4mR sailor and I plan on making a comeback in 2.4mR racing," said Bryant. "As the previous boat builder of the 2.4mR I have had to miss this event due to being occupied with building rather than sailing at the time of year the event has been held. I'm really looking forward to getting back on the water and being involved with this very important event and in a class I really enjoy sailing in."

Bryant plans to go onto the IFDS Worlds in Halifax Nova Scotia after the Clagett.

Also sailing in the 2.4mR class and a four time Clagett participant will be the first international entry of Peter Wood from Ottawa, Canada. Wood has been involved with the Clagett as a participant and ambassador with his encouragement of Canadian sailors participation in the every growing event.

Sail Newport at Fort Adams State Park, Newport RI, will again host the event from June 12-15. An international line up of coaches will be working with competitors during both the clinic and regatta. Betsy Alison (Newport, RI) will be joined by Craig Guthrie (Minot, ND), Marko Dahlberg (Ylojarvi, Finland), Mike Ingham (Rochester, NY) and Mike Pinckney (Balboa, CA) as the coaching team for this years event.

"We are very pleased with the entries of competitors both returning and first time Clagett participants starting to come in. This years event will be a fantastic opportunity for those sailors planning on taking part in the IFDS Worlds in Halifax to get some time on the water both with the coaching clinic and competition before they line up next to the competition in Nova Scotia," said event founder and President Judy McLennan (Portsmouth, RI).

The 2014 Notice of Race and entry forms are now available via the Clagett website at www.clagettregatta.org