The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta will host the 2026 U.S. Para Sailing Championships at Sail Newport from June 26 to 28, marking the fourth time the event has hosted the national championships.
The 24th annual Clagett Regatta has drawn 25 entries from sailors across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, including several recipients of Clagett Sailing Boat Grants who will race boats provided through the program, which was established in 2016. Among the registrants are Chuck Allen, Peter Eager, Siobhan MacDonald and Julio Reguero, who represented Team Clagett at the 2025 2.4mR World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy. Californian Julie Smith, the 2025 U.S. Para Sailing champion, will travel to Rhode Island to defend her title, moving from the Hansa 303 she sailed in 2025 to the doublehanded Martin 16 class this year.
“Twenty-four years ago, the Clagett Sailing journey began with five boats racing at the inaugural clinic and regatta. This year we have 25 sailors from across North America and Puerto Rico racing in two classes as we host the US Para Sailing Championship for the fourth time,” said Clagett Sailing President and Co-Founder Stephanie McLennan. “Over the next week sailors will work with coaches during the clinic and regatta as they Reach for Success, and I wish them all a wonderful regatta full of learning, fun and achievement.”
Clagett Sailing previously hosted the championships in 2018, 2021 and 2023, and hosted the Blind Sailing National Championships in 2011.
“We are proud to be partnering with Clagett Sailing for the U.S. Para Championship. Our missions align perfectly, to promote the development and accomplishments of Para Inclusive sailors in the United States and in North America,” said Betsy Alison, adult director at US Sailing. “This event, and its commitment to building the next generation of Para sailors is helping World Sailing’s efforts for reinstatement in the Paralympic Games in Brisbane and beyond.”
One of the oldest sailing regattas in the U.S. for sailors with disabilities, the championships will be raced in two adapted fleets. The U.S. Para Sailing Singlehanded Championship, for the Judd Goldman Trophy, will be raced in the 2.4mR class, while the U.S. Para Sailing Doublehanded Championship, for the Chandler Hovey Trophy, will be raced in the Martin 16. Additional awards to be presented include 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.
The event traces its roots to the U.S. Independence Cup, first established in 1986, which became US Sailing’s national championship for sailors with disabilities in 1989. It was renamed the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship in 2007 and the U.S. Para Sailing Championships in 2018 to align with International Paralympic Committee terminology. Many competitors at the championships and the Clagett Regatta have gone on to represent the United States at the Paralympic Games, including 2008 gold medalists Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon and bronze medalist John Ruff; 2012 silver medalists Jennifer French and J.P. Creignou; and 2016 silver medalists Rick Doerr, Hugh Freund and Brad Kendell.
This year’s coaching lineup includes Betsy Alison, Brian Todd and Mike Ingham, who have all coached at multiple Clagett Sailing regattas over the past 24 years.
Founded in 2003, the Clagett Regatta honors the late Tom Clagett, a U.S. Navy World War II veteran who learned to sail on Chesapeake Bay and who developed a deep respect for the accomplishments of people with disabilities after suffering temporary paralysis from meningitis as a youngster. More information about the 2026 Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships is available at clagettsailing.org.
