Sailors ready to race at Thomas Clagett 22nd Century Memorial Clinic and Regatta

The docks at Alofsin Pier at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, are filled to the brim with the boats of 32 disabled sailors from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico who are in Newport for the 22nd C. Thomas Clagett Memorial Clinic and Regatta presented by Clagett Sailing.

Two days of training were led by world champion parasailing gold medallist Betsy Alison, who joined again this year, alongside former Canadian Paralympic coach Brian Todd and Nancy Haberland of Maryland.

The 2.4mR fleet, which worked with Todd and Haberland, and the Martin 16 fleet, which worked with Alison on Narragansett Bay, made the most of the conditions over the past two days. The sailors are eager to put their new knowledge into practice on the water over the next three days of racing.

Julio Reguero of Puerto Rico returns to defend his title for the C. Thomas Clagett Jr Trophy. Reguero, who is a recipient of the Clagett Boat Grant program and races in the 2.4 mR class, won the C. Thomas Clagett Jr Trophy the last two years and will aim for a hat-trick this year.

Chuck Allen of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, is racing for the first time in the Clagett 2.4mR class. Allen is the latest recipient of a boat from the Clagett Boat Grant program. Allen is a familiar face in sailing circles, having worked with Newport North Sails for the past 25 years.

In the Martin 16 class, Chicago sailor Gary Pierce once again teamed up with local Newport sailor Jeff Long to defend his 2023 title against a strong fleet of Martin 16s, which includes the U.S. Para Sailing Champion team 2023 by Tim Brown of East Boston, Massachusetts, and Sarah Everhart Skeels of Little Compton, Rhode Island.

“It’s fantastic to see so many familiar faces back with us for our 22nd year, as well as some new sailors joining the fleet in Newport this year, including the latest Boat Grant Program recipient, Chuck Allen. I hope everyone leaves with new skills and renewed friendships this year,” commented Clagett Sailing President and Co-Founder Stephanie McLennan.

For a complete list of registrations for the 22nd^n/a C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and more information about Clagett Sailing, visit: www.clagettsailing.org.