Author: Shan McAdoo

Clagett Regatta back with a Vengeance

Clagett Regatta back with a vengeance
August 29, 2021 – Newport, RI
Fifteen boats entered the 2.4 meter class for the Singlehanded US Para Sailing Championships which concluded today. While we missed our Canadian Colleagues tremendously, we had a great event and crowned Dee Smith the winner after 7 races.
Day one of the event, the fleet was skunked. Everyone had an awesome clam bake dinner while reveling in the excitement of being tied for first.
Day two Newport brought a north easterly breeze with plenty of pressure. The fleet got out and sailed 4 races. The cross current racing between Goat and Rose Islands made for challenging sailing and the shifty wind at the top of the course made for lots of passing opportunities on the entire time.  Rudy Trejo and Dee Smith won races on Saturday and the fleet had very mixed scores going into Sunday’s sailing.  Saturday the fleet was treated to an amazing barbecue.
Light Conditions and an competitive fleet
Sunday dawned with a light easterly. The fleet completed three races in light winds. This provided many passing lanes as the fleet seemed to sail in packs around the course. Dee Smith and Rudy Trejo continued to sail strong.
Activity at the windward mark
At the end of racing Dee Smith was crowned the winner, followed by Rudy Trejo in second and Julio Reguero in third.
The Clagett regatta is an amazing event with excellent support for disabled sailors, excellent coaching for all sailors and excellent race management. Thanking the incredible group of people who worked so hard to make this event possible would take a very long time, but lets hit the highlights. Dave Dellenbaugh, Dave Perry, Betsy Allison and Brian provided 5 days of awesome coaching. Tom Duggan and his team set competitive courses in very tough conditions and kept us going. Finally and most importantly Judy McLennan and her army of volunteers provided hospitality rivaling any event along with great logistical and sailing support.
Harbor start
All in all, the Clagett event was back with a vengeance. Next year we hope our Canadian friends will be able to join us again for even more fun.
Maureen McKinnon heads out for a day of racing
The racing moves to Davis Island Yacht Club for a pre-worlds regatta in November.  Stay tuned for a Notice of Race.
Text by Shan McAdoo, Photos by Kathy McAdoo Whitehair

Varied and Challenging conditions at Judd Goldman Independence Cup

The organizers at the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation (JGASF) pulled out all of the stops for their 2021 Independence Cup regatta. This disabled sailing event hosts three classes, Sonars, Independence 20s and 2.4 meters. They provide everything from the shirt on your back, to your hotel room to your boat.  They have a well organized army of volunteers who could not be more helpful.
Warm fresh water, panoramic skylines. Hard to focus on racing
On the water its a great venue and a well run regatta. They sail four or five leg windward – leeward courses and organized enough to really get races run.
Zak Kordik wins race 5
The first day of sailing was challenging. The breeze started out of the south west, light and shifty then transitioned to a “sea breeze” for the last of the 3 races. Rudy Trejo was the story of the day. Posting a 1-2-1, Rudy was picking his way through the shifts with amazing precision.  Shan McAdoo and Matt Koblenzar finished the day in second and third respectively.
Day 2 brought wind. Rudy Trejo continued to dominate on the course. Some of the competitors struggled in the breeze (me) and there were some broken boat issues.
The IC is as much about camaraderie as sailing. The folks at the JGASF and the Chicago Columbia Yacht Club put on a great on site BBQ for all of the competitors featuring yummy Chicago Style Hot Dogs.
Tight racing on the 3rd day of sailing
The final day of racing came with light air. The RC got all three fleets out early so they could maximize the racing. In the end the 2.4 meters got 8 races over three days.  Rudy Trejo continued to sail masterfully Matt Koblenzar rose from 3rd to 2nd and Shan McAdoo fell into 3rd. The sailing conditions were challenging and fair.
Matt Koblenzar pushing hard at the final start
Thanks to the folks at JGASF and the Chicago Parks Dept.  Peter Goldman, Mike Nolan assemble an army of volunteers to support every aspect of competitive disabled sailing.  We sailed hard and had a great time in Chicago.  We missed our Canadian friends and hope you will join us next year.

Rockport fleet Midsummer update

July is the middle of sailing season in New England and so far we have been very happy in our new home at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club in Rockport MA.  While the weather has not always cooperated (thanks Elsa), we have been welcomed into the club and are now sailing 1 or 2 days per week.

SBYC is a lovely little club with an amazing view and great amenities.  The race course is a 10 minute sail from the dock and is usually in flat waters with 8-12 knots of wind. Perfect 2.4 meter sailing conditions.

Maureen Mckinnon tuning up before the first start of the day

We are in with 3 other fleets (Flying Scotts, Rhodes 19s and Bullseyes), and get multiple starts per race day. The courses are usually 4 leg windward leeward so we get plenty of starts and roundings. The fleet as a whole is improving with finishers all crossing within seconds.

A lovely July day, perfect for sailing 2.4 meters

The group recently purchased new sails and are psyched for the rest of the summer in Rockport followed by fall and winter in Florida.  We have been working on expanding our owners pool and now have 5 committed owners for our fleet.  Just this past weekend we welcomed Arthur Bronstein to our fleet. Arthur was heard to say that the 2.4 meter was “the most fine I have ever had in a sailboat.”

Arthur Bronstein gets a little guidance on boat setup prior to sailing his new boat

Our upcoming schedule includes sending fleet members to Chicago for the Independence Cup and then next month the whole fleet will be sailing in the Thomas Claggett Regatta in Newport. We are also hoping that visiting 2.4 meter sailors will come to Rockport to sail against us.

Welcome to Sandy Bay – Marblehead fleet moves to Rockport

Welcome to Rockport
May 1, 2021 – Rockport MA
The Marblehead 2.4 meter fleet is moving to Sandy Bay Yacht Club  in Rockport, MA.  SBYC  generously invited all of our fleet members to join and sail with their existing fleets of Stars, Rhodes 19s, Flying Scots and Bullseyes.
Busy summer day at SBYC
We are thrilled to be sailing out of this club on a partially sheltered body of water in a wonderful location said Shan McAdoo on of the fleet’s founding members. We loved sailing in Marblehead and will be back in Marblehead in July for the Marblehead NOOD, but SBYC offered us a great infrastructure for dry sailing, many days of racing and a group of members who are very excited about the unique aspects of the 2.4 meter.
SBYC runs a great racing calendar in an amazing venue. The race course is a 5 minute sail from the Yacht Club dock.  Sailing in the semi sheltered waters of the bay in the daily sea breeze will make for some wonderful conditions.
Lovely Sandy Bay, a perfect racing venue
The Rockport fleet will be sailing multiple days per week in Sandy Bay. As mentioned, we will be racing Marblehead NOOD on July 22-23 and also attending the Claggett Regatta in Newport in August.
We will have more than 20 racing days this summer and could not be more excited.  We hope our fellow 2.4 meter sailors will come join us.