US 2.4 Meter Blog

Dee Smith continues to dominate US events during his campaign to the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Eleven races and eleven bullets in three days of racing during the 13th Annual Clagett Regatta. Dee’s enjoying a new challenge and applying knowledge gained during his continuing career as a professional big boat sailor to racing the 2.4mR. To paraphrase Bill Shore once again coaching 2.4mRs at this year’s Clagett, “Dee doesn’t make any mistakes. We’ll be watching from the coach boat and saying ‘he should tack’, and Dee tacks”.

Good Luck Dee!

We had a successful event March 12-14 out of the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club in Charlotte Harbor. The weather was beautiful (even by Florida standards, and the people who spent last six weeks freezing up north have a much lower bar) and the fifteen participants enjoyed it.

Bill Shore organized and coached on the 12th and 13th starting with a morning “chalk talk” then some on the water drills for speed and boat handling and practice racing each day. Mark Bryant and Randy Shore also helped on the water.

On Saturday the 14th everyone participated in the Leukemia Cup regatta held for 2.4mR’s just off the CHYC. After five short races newcomer Dee Smith won handily, showing that when you have top keelboat skills they transfer well to the 2.4.mR, followed by Charlie Rosenfield and Danny Evans. Tony Pocklington had a strong start in the first three races but then had a breakdown.

It was great to see a number of new people making up the fleet, and the growth of the class in Port Charlotte is very encouraging. Hopefully as more people see the number of boats out there and experience sailing the 2.4mR growth will continue

Thanks to the Charlotte Harbor YC, Tony Pocklington, Dennis Peck, US Sailing, and all the others who made this great event happen.

• Results for the 2.4mR class