Strong Competition Promised

Only a few more days to go until sailors launch their Laser Radials into the waters of Lake Erie at Mentor Harbour Yacht Club in Ohio to race in the event for the Nancy Leiter Clagett Trophy.

More than 40 young women between the ages of 13 and 18 have registered for the event, which will take place August 2 through 8. The event is sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats.

Many previous winners of the U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship have continued sailing on a very competitive level. Paige RAILEY, who won the event for the previous two years, recently won the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in the Girls Single-handed class.

The Nancy Leiter Clagett Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the event, is named after a renowned sailor from Marblehead, MA, who was a champion in classes ranging from small one-designs to Eight Meters. The perpetual trophy was donated by C. Thomas Clagett in memory of his wife.

Competition for this trophy was originally held among yacht clubs on Narragansett Bay. In 1985, US SAILING sanctioned this event as the U.S. Junior Women’s Championship. It became an open event for U.S. women, without a pre-qualification round. The championship is moved each year to different parts of the United States to build interest among young women sailors across the country. Next year’s event will be held at Bay head Yacht Club in New Jersey, with dates to be determined.