Paralympics Emailbag- Claggett Regatta helps win

by . on 16 Sep 2008
Letter from the chair of the organizing regatta of the Claggett Memorial Regatta, Newport RI, USA

Thank you for your superb coverage of the 2008 Paralympics.

Your coverage of the Paralympic sailing in Qingdao became essential reading for those of us who have been involved with helping sailors with disabilities reach their individual goals. As Founder and Chair of the CLAGETT Regatta held in Newport, RI at SAIL NEWPORT, Rhode Island’s public sailing venue, my committee and I were glued to your daily reporting. The CLAGETT was the last regatta in North America before the sailors left for Qingdao.

Both the U.S. Team, except for Nick Scandone who was reserving his energy, and the Canadian Team participated in the 2008 CLAGETT. We are so proud of the Gold and Bronze Medals that both the U.S. and Canadian Teams earned. Looking towards the Paralympic games in England in 2012, we at CLAGETT will continue to dedicate our efforts to help sailors with disabilities become the very best sailors.

We invite all sailors with disabilities to participate in our world class regatta at SAIL NEWPORT in Rhode Island, August 23rd – 27th, 2009. At the 2008 CLAGETT we initiated the Nick Scandone Award for Perseverance and Dedication, won by Maureen McKinnon Tucker. We expect that this new award will become as coveted a prize as the over all Clagett Award won in 2008 by Paul Tingley.

Thank you again for your coverage of these exceptional athletes in Qingdao.

Judy McLennan
Chair
Clagett Memorial Regatta