May 31 - June 3rd 2012
2011 ROBIE PIERCE ONE-DESIGN REGATTA
Sarah Everhart-Skeels and Christy Padin win first ever Robie Pierce Women's Invitational!
Jonathan Evans and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker win 3rd annual Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta!
Full results on the Participant Information Page
Robie Pierce Regatta Hosts a World’s First
(Rye, NY May 23, 2011)
Through the combined efforts of host club American YC (Rye,NY) partnering with their neighbors from Larchmont YC, the world’s first all women’s disabled sailing event was held on the waters of Long Island Sound on May 19th. Sailing as an adjunct to the third annual Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta, seven teams from the US and Canada competed.
“It has been a longtime dream of women to have our own event to help get more women into adaptive sailing,” said Canadian Sailing Team member Brenda Hopkin. “A group of us asked the organizers last year if they could put one on in 2013, and they did it in one year. We all had a ball.”
Sponsor Beirn not only underwrote the cost of the one day regatta, they sent the women shopping in the clubhouse after racing, letting each contestant pick from an assortment of beautiful Beirn handbags.
With five wins in five races, Sarah-Everhardt Skeels and crew Christy Padin won the event, capturing the newly rededicated Larchmont YC—American YC Challenge trophy. Sailing with the winning team was able bodied crewmate Teresa Loughlin of Larchmont YC.
The third annual Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta followed the women’s event, May 20-22 at American. 14 teams from the US and Canada competed, each with an able bodied crew (AB) for ballast.
Eleven races were run over two days and the winning team was team was Jonathan Evans, with crew 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist Maureen McKinnon-Tucker. The AB duties were split between Jonathan’s brother Gansen and nephew Jake.
“Although a lifelong sailor, I haven’t sailed in over ten years. I’ve just recently gotten back into it, so winning this regatta was an added benefit.”
Second place went to the team of Tim Flynn and Sarah Everhart-Skeels. One point back in third were Carl Olsson and Susan King. Fourth went to the team of Nichole Ryder and Kerry Gruson. Rounding out the top five was the team of Gerard Tiernan and Dennis Moran.
“From its inception the mission of the Robie Pierce Regatta has been to get more people into adaptive sailing, “said Event Chairperson Siobhan Reilly. “Between the two events we had 7 people sailing in their first disabled regatta, Mission accomplished.”
Third Annual Robie Pierce One-Design Disabled Regatta
American Yacht Club, in partnership with Larchmont Yacht Club, is hosting the third annual Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta for sailors with disabilities. Spanning the four days from May 19th to May 22nd, AYC will be the site of the battle of the champions for an expected 25 - 30 crews of disabled sailors.
There are planned seminars for Friday on Local Sailing Knowledge and by UK Halsey Sailmakers and Doyle Sails followed by clinic/practice race day. Race days for Saturday and Sunday are scheduled. We even heard a rumor that Robie himself will be in an Ideal 18 ready to go! The participants will enjoy the welcoming hospitality of the American Yacht Club members and staff. Heineken will supply the beer, Vineyard Vines the shirts, Yacht Scoring the registration and Ben & Jerry's the ice cream.
On Thursday, May 19th, will be the Inaugural Robie Pierce Women's Invitational One-Design Regatta. This event sponsored by Beirn bags will invite all-women crew to race for the day in our specially adapted Ideal 18s. This is a unique event within the disabled sailing community and one that was requested by women participants in last year's Robie Pierce Regatta. We are expecting 10 - 15 boats on the line for this amazing new regatta!
REGISTER HERE NOW at Yacht Scoring
Contact Information:
Siobhan Reilly, AYC sreilly@eed-dti.com 914-329-2761
Bill Sandberg, AYC william.l.sandberg@gmail.com 203-637-4363
Buttons Padin, LYC erpadin@aol.com 914-834-8286
Robie Pierce has been a driving force in National and International disabled sailing for nearly 20 years. A life-long sailor prior to his 1985 diagnosis with MS was Robie's impetus to share his sailing experience with the disabled community.
He developed the Shake-A-Leg Sailing program in his homeport of Newport, RI into a world renowned facility with a variety of programs from recreational sailing to co-hosting world championships. Robie recruited disabled sailors throughout North America for the first USSA Independence Cup in 1991. He collaborated for the first America's Cup for Sailors with Disabilities in San Diego in 1992. Robie was a guiding light in securing sailing as a medal sport in the Sonar for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics.
It has not been all work. Robie and his team have won three US Independence Cups, the 1993 World IFDS Disabled Championship and 1994 Japan Match Race Cup. He served as chairman of US SAILING's Sailors with Special Needs 1992-1996 and represented USA as an executive board member of IFDS 1998-2002.
