C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and 2023 U.S. Para Sailing Championships - Day 1

Close finish line action in 2.4mR class Clagett Regatta-U. S. Para Sailing Championships © Clagett Sailing-Andes Visual

Day one of racing at the 21st C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and 2023 U.S. Para Sailing Championships is completed after the start of the day was delayed due to the breeze dropping out mid morning.

Coaches took advantage of the time while the sailors were held ashore today to wait for the sea breeze to fill in from the South, working with the 31 sailors racing at the regatta. After a two hour delay the Principal Race Officer Tom Duggan had the postponement flag lowered and the race management team went to work getting the course set between Goat and Rose Island on Narragansett Bay.

The 21 sailors in the 2.4mR class and five boats in the Martin 16 class completed three races over the afternoon in a 10 knot southerly breeze.

2.4mR's on Narragansett Bay Clagett Regatta and U. S. Para Sailing Championships - photo © Clagett Sailing - Andes Visual

After racing today Peter Eager (Toronto, CAN) is leading the 2.4mR fleet. Eager who is a Clagett Sailing Boat Grant Program recipient, which he is sailing and was a member of the inaugural Team Clagett who raced in the 2.4mR World Championships in Florida last November said after racing, "Clagett Sailing and Team Clagett have made a wonderful improvement in my overall results in the 2.4mR class. They have provided me with a brand new boat, incredible coaching and support in so many ways and we are racing at an incredibly challenging and enjoyable venue."

Defending 2022 2.4mR U.S. Para Sailing Champion Matt Koblenzer (Fox Point, MI) who finished up day one in fifth place remarked after racing," I hope the rest of the regatta goes as well as it did today."

Martin 16 class start line Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships - photo © Clagett Sailing - Andes Visual

In the Martin 16 class the team of Gary Pierce (Chicago, Ill.) and Jeff Long (Newport, RI) sit at the top of the leader board with three first place finishes. Long commented about the fact that this is the first time for Pierce in a Martin 16 boat, "Utilizing the advice of the coaches enabled us to achieve our results today."

Sailing continues tomorrow and wraps up on Sunday with the 2.4mR class racing for the the U.S. Para Sailing Singlehanded Championship for the Judd Goldman Trophy and the Martin 16 class racing for the U.S. Para Sailing Doublehanded Championship for the Chandler Hovey Trophy. Along with the Championship trophies, the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy, the Susan B Johnson - Sportsmanship Award, the Larry Gadsby - Most Improved Award, the Nick Scandone - Spirit Award and the Robie Pierce and Gene Hinkle - Seamanship Award will be presented to sailors taking part in the regatta.

Pierce and Long leaders of the Martin 16 class after day 1 at 21st Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships - photo © Clagett Sailing - Andes Visual

For a complete list of entries competing at the 2023 Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships, please visit: clagettsailing.org.

Provisional Results after Day 1: