Clagett Sailing & US Sailing present C. Thomas Clagett Memorial Clinic Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing

Clagett Sailing and U.S. Sailing present the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and the U.S. Para Sailing Championships © Clagett Sailing

Two days of the coaching clinic has wrapped up at the 21st C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and 2023 U.S. Para Sailing Championships. Three days of racing starts tomorrow with the trophies for 2023 being awarded on Sunday June 25.

20 sailors in the single handed 2.4mR class and 10 sailors in the double handed Martin 16 class have spent the last two days working with the coaching team of Betsy Alison, Dave Dellenbaugh, Nancy Haberland, and Brian Todd. Tomorrow it will be time for the sailors to put the newly acquired skills from the clinic into action while they race for the next three days.

2023 is the third time that the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta has hosted the U.S. Para Sailing Championships, previously hosting the championships in 2018 and 2021.

Back in Newport defending his 2022 title in the 2.4mR class is Julio Reguero (San Juan, Puerto Rico). Reguero was a member of the inaugural Team Clagett who competed at the 2022 2.4mR World Championships and he is a recipient of a 2.4mR boat through the Clagett Sailing Boat Grant Program.

"I'm glad to be back in Newport but I'm going to have to work hard to defend my title from last year. The competition is really tough this year," said Regeuro who will be heading to Finland for the 2023 2.4mR World Championships being held July 31 to August 5.

Earlier in the day US Sailing CEO Alan Ostfield presented the US Sailing's Presidents Award to Judy Clagett McLennan, for her 20 years of dedication and tireless efforts in providing opportunities to sailors with disabilities, who remarked as she accepted the award, "This isn't my award it is your award."

"After two days of clinic the sailors have shown marked improvement and are ready to race over the next three days. We look forward to exciting and close racing from the sailors," said Betsy Alison.

This year's championships will be raced in two fleets, both are adapted for sailors with disabilities:

• The U.S. Para Sailing Singlehanded Championship for the Judd Goldman Trophy will be raced in the 2.4mR class.
• The U.S. Para Sailing Doublehanded Championship for the Chandler Hovey Trophy will be raced in the Martin 16

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.

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