LYC Co-Hosts Regatta for Disabled Sailors; Vice Commodore Olsson Finishes Third
June 6-7, 2009
Rye, NY
Larchmont YC co-hosted the first annual Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta, sailed June 6-7 at co-host American YC. Twenty teams of disabled sailors and two teams of blind sailors competed. The sailors came from fourteen states, the District of Columbia and Canada. LYC’s support of this event is part of the club’s substantial initiative to promote events for sailors with disabilities.
Competitors line up for a light air start at the first annual
Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta
The regatta was won by Marc Leblanc (New Orleans) and Alex Streb (North Carolina). Jennifer French (Florida) and Mike Hersey (Massachusetts) were second. LYC’s Vice Commodore Carl Olsson, who presented the trophy named for disabled-sailing trailblazer Robie Pierce, placed third. Olsson sailed with Jackie Gay, a creative-writing teacher from Birmingham, England, who is currently on sabbatical in Victoria, Canada. Shan McAdoo and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, both from Massachusetts, placed fourth. McKinnon-Tucker won a gold medal sailing with the late Nick Scandone in last year’s Paralympics in Qingdao, China.
The event was sailed in Ideal 18s provided by Larchmont, American and Indian Harbor YCs. To adapt the Ideals for the competitors, plywood inserts were placed in the cockpits with chairs, shoulder and waist straps and other adaptations customized on a boat-by-boat basis reflecting the various competitors’ specific needs. The adaptations were designed by Rear Commodore Rob Snedeker last year as part of LYC’s contribution to the LYC/AYC hosting of the US Disabled Sailing Championship. With eight adaptations built in 2008, a team of more than 15 LYC members led by Buttons Padin built another 14 adaptations this year, took them all to American YC, installed them and then, when the regatta was over, retrieved them to store for next year’s Robie Pierce Regatta.
Except for the blind teams, the disabled sailors were required to stay in their special chairs. Each team sailed with an able- bodied crew who was permitted to move, hike and perform other tasks the competitors could not do for themselves. Six LYC volunteers sailed as ABs for various teams that did not bring their own, adding to LYC’s overall support for the event.
“Our club has done many wonderful things in the past,” said Padin, “but the Vice Commodore’s personal drive to commit Larchmont Yacht Club to promoting disabled sailing has given us an important new, additional direction. From the perspective of all those who spent countless hours making the adaptations and those who participated in the regatta, it is an experience we will never forget.”
A picture of the modifications made by LYC to Ideal 18s
for the regatta
The sailors’ disabilities and the equipment restrictions did not detract from the competitive level of the sailing. Nine races were held in the light to moderate breezes that prevailed over the two days. The racing was tight, with hotly contested starts and crowded mark roundings over the twice-around short courses. Even though the quarters were close, one of the two blind teams, Inky Inkavalia and Duane Farrar, finished fifth. Their AB crew was former LYC junior sailor and long-time Tufts sailing coach Ken Legler. Vice Commodore Olsson was impressed with the level of competition: “A number of years ago I stopped disabled racing, thinking myself a ringer. My finish showed me I am not that much of a ringer- these guys and gals are GOOD!"
Heineken was the presenting sponsor of the event.
Next year’s Robie Pierce Regatta will be sailed at LYC and co-hosted by American YC, and thereafter the event will alternate between the two clubs. The 2011 U.S. Disabled Championship will also be held at LYC with American YC’s support.
Results
Event pictures
More event pictures
