Julio Reguero wins C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy

Newport, RI (June 26, 2016) – The fourth and final day of the 14th C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta started out at eight knots building to 12 knots over the three races. The race committee took the 2.4mR and Sonar classes out to a course set up between Rose and Goat Islands with the Pell Bridge as a backdrop for the southeast breeze.

In the Sonar class, the Warrior Sailing Program team continued their winning run to finish the 10 race regatta with all first places. The team from the US Virgin Islands improved over the three days of racing to finish the final race within two feet of the Warrior Sailing Program team.

Joshua Agripino (San Diego, CA), skipper of the Warrior Sailing Program team and a former US Marine commented, “This regatta has been a lot of fun and a great opportunity for the team to train prior to the J/22 Worlds. It was fantastic to be able to sail against Nancy when she was training with the US Virgin Island team. We’re all really looking forward to coming back to The Clagett next year.”

After a challenging final day of racing, Puerto Rico’s Julio Reguero managed to hold off challenger Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, CT) to take the win in the 15 boat 2.4mR class, by five points. Second and third places were tied on points with Rosenfield and Dan Evans (St. Petersburg, FL) finishing on 29 points and Rosenfield took the second place on a tie breaker.

“Racing has been really tough with speed and tactics making it a tough fleet to sail against, a bad day can send everything down the drain for you,” remarked Reguero after receiving the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy today. “I enjoyed being back racing at The Clagett. I am planning to do the Clagett/Oakcliff Match Race clinic and that will be my first time match racing which I am really looking forward to as I will be sailing with my son.”

Principal Race Officer (PRO) Tom Duggan (East Sandwich, MA) commented after the four days, “The weather was spectacular, conditions were perfect for these boats, it’s very rare see four days like this on Narragansett Bay. I never had too much or too little wind to cancel racing. The 2.4mR fleet very competitive and it was especially fun to watch today for the final day of racing.”

“We’ve had another fantastic four days at the 14th Clagett with the clinic being conducted by world class coaches and the racing being run by a world class PRO,” commented Clagett co-founder and President, Judy McLennan (Portsmouth,RI). “The 17 boats that have been here have enjoyed fantastic conditions and we look forward to next year when we will be celebrating the 15th year for The Clagett and we would like to invite all Clagett alumni sailors back to join us at the celebration. We would also like to send our best wishes to all the Clagett alumni sailing in Rio in September.”

McLennan continued, “We also look forward to seeing many of the sailors from this regatta in Oyster Bay for the inaugural Clagett/Oakcliff Match Race clinic in July. The Clagett would like to thank our sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who make it possible to have The Clagett each year.”

The dates for the 2017 Clagett will be June 21-25 and held at Sail Newport, located in Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI.

Awards
• Susan B Johnson – Sportsmanship Award: Tony Pocklington and Jim Kerr
• Larry Gadsby – Most Improved Award: Josh Aginpino
• Nick Scandone – Spirit Award: Aaron Wong- Sing
• Robie Pierce and Gene Hinkle – Seamanship award: Christine Lavallee
• The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy 2016: Julio Reguero

Winner of the C. Thomas Clagget, Jr. Trophy Julio Reguero with Judy McLennan and Bill Leffingwell.

Event details: www.clagettregatta.org

About the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta: Founded in 2003, the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta honors the late Tom Clagett (1916-2001), a U.S. Navy World War II veteran who learned to sail on Chesapeake Bay. As a youngster he suffered temporary paralysis as the result of a bout of meningitis; an experience that left him with a deep respect for the accomplishments of people with disabilities. The Clagett’s stated mission is “to assist sailors in realizing their potential on the water by providing them both the knowledge and tools to improve their skills and the opportunity to use these skills in competition”. Tom Clagett’s motto was “Reach for Success”, which resonates with every Clagett participant. The event includes all three boats that have been chosen as the equipment of the Paralympic classes: the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD-18 and the singlehanded 2.4 Metre. Clagett competitors have seen medal success at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games. Competitors often comment that, The Clagett, has improved their quality of life as they apply what is achieved on the water to everyday situations.

Report by Sam Crichton.