C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta - Day 1
by Sam Crichton 27 Jun 2015 13:31 BST
29 May 2015
SKUD 18 class leader on day 1 of the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta © Billy Black
For the three fleets racing at the 13th C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta in Newport RI, the race committee set a northerly course between Rose and Goat Islands, for the five races held today.
"We had an atypical Northerly all day. We never got the thermal warm up as the cloud cover stayed around for most of the day. We had 15kts of breeze that eased off over the five races today," said Principal Race Officer, Ron Hopkins (Bristol, RI).
The eight boat Sonar class has 2014 Clagett Sonar class winner, Rick Doerr (Clifton, NJ) and his crew Hugh Fruend (Freeport, ME) and Brad Kendell (Tampa, FL) in first, finishing one point in front of the Canadian team skippered by Paul Tingley (Toronto, Canada) and his team Ken Dool (Kingston, Ontario) and Logan Campbell (Saskatuan, Canada).
"Today was a lot windier than we thought but we were well set up for the conditions and have been practicing for them. Brad has been back in the boat with Hugh and I since October last year and we started sailing in Miami in December in preparation for this year's events," commented Doerr dockside.
In the 2.4mR class Dee Smith (Annapolis, MD), who is sailing in his forth regatta in the 2.4mR, had a picket fence of results, finishing all four races in first place. Clagett stalwart Peter Wood (Ottawa, Canada) is placed in second on a count-back from Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, CT).
"It was a picture perfect day of racing in Newport. It's great to be back here in Newport racing and I managed even managed to stay afloat today, no sinking this time," remarked Smith after racing. (At the Delta Lloyd regatta earlier this year Smith managed to swamp his 2.4mR and loose his position in the fleet)
The SKUD 18 class has the only all female team of Sarah Everhart Skeels (Tiverton, RI) and Cindy Walker (Middletown, RI) competing in this years Clagett. After the four races today, Ryan Porteous (San Diego, CA) and Maureen McKinnon (Marblehead, MA) are in first with Everhart Skeels and Walker one point behind in second.
"We had a great day of racing today with three good races. We retired from the fourth after hitting the mark with our boom and not doing our penalty turn soon enough," said Porteous.
Head Clagett coach Betsy Alison (Newport, RI), who has recently been appointed the Chairman of the Disabled Sailing Committee for ISAF, commented, " The sailors rose to the challenge of the conditions today. The breeze was slightly higher than we anticipated but it resulted in a fantastic day of sailing."
Racing continues tomorrow with a forecast for a Northerly breeze shifting to a South- South/West later in the day.
Full results at www.clagettregatta.org
The Clagett launches its Boat Grant Program Initiative
Known as an organization that is a leader in providing opportunities for disabled sailors and participants, the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta launched The Clagett Boat Grant Program initiative at the Sail Into Summer Cocktail Party and Auction fundraiser, held in Newport, RI on June 4th. Today co-founder and President Judy McLennan announced and explained the program to the assembled sailors in town for the start of the thirteenth Clagett Clinic and Regatta.
This initiative, the first of its kind in the USA for sailors with disabilities, will allow The Clagett to help expand the number of new sailors, using adaptive equipment, to sail and compete in regattas and community sailing programs. These boats would be loaned to sailors who fulfill the grant application requirements.
Ron Hopkins, Vice President and Principle Race Officer of the Clagett, has been an important part of the team that has worked on the creation of this program to benefit adaptive sailors in the USA.
The Clagett Boat Grant Program will be offered to a qualified North American sailor or team through a stringent selection process and will provide an adaptive race ready boat, trailer, insurance, and limited traveling expenses to a qualified classified sailor.
The life of a Boat Grant will be made for a period of up to four years, with an annual review by the Clagett Boat Grant Committee. A mentor will be assigned to each grantee. Each year the grantee will be evaluated on their responsibility fulfillment, sportsmanship, and ability to maintain the boat. At the end of the four years the grantee will have the opportunity to purchase the boat or turn it back to the Committee to be re-outfitted and used again by a new sailor.
"The launch of this initiative will enable The Clagett to assist adaptive sailors to "Reach for Success", We have kicked this program off with a bang having secured approximately $40,000 to date with pledges at all levels. I would like to thank Ron Hopkins for his forethought in relation to this program and how The Clagett could adapt the Lightning class concept for use by the Clagett," commented Judy McLennan (Portsmouth, RI), co-founder and President of The Clagett.
The initial Boat Grant Program budget of $75,000, plans to put both a Sonar and a 2.4mR boat in the hands of qualified sailors. Insurance for this program will be provided by a subsidiary company of long-term Clagett sponsor AIG.
For more information on how to support and apply for The Clagett Boat Grant Program, visit www.clagettregatta.org