Held as part of the Claggett Regatta, the 2006 IFDS Blind Sailing World Champions JP Creignou (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Jan Bartleson with 2000 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Magnus Liljedahl and David Bannister (all Miami, Fla.) wrapped up the 2010 Sail Newport Blind National Sailing Championship title after winning all five of their races today in the seven-strong J/22 fleet.

Photo Dan Nerney
JP Creignou (St. Petersburg), Jan Bartleson (Miami), Magnus Liljedahl (Miami) and David Bannister (Miami), winners of the 2010 Sail Newport Blind National Sailing Championship title

Creignou did not expect it to be easy as the team headed out to the racecourse:  “It’s going to be very different from yesterday.  We had a lot of weight on the rail with Magnus and it was to our advantage.  Today is going to be light air so it’s going to be more tricky.”  While Creignou has competed in the Clagett Regatta several times in other classes, this was his third try for the blind title.  “This is a tradition for me to come here to such a great event and it’s fun to be driving, because this is the only time I’m the ‘front man’.”

Second through fifth place went to teams from The Carroll Center for the Blind (Newton, Mass.) who participate in the center’s SailBlind program which is run out of the Courageous Sailing Center in Boston.  Sengil Inkiala (Waltham) and Nancy Jodoin (Newton) with Ken Legler (Reading) and Harry Berman (Hull) were second overall on 15 points, followed by Duane Farrar (Watertown) and Nina Kagan (Boston) with Kay Van Valkenburgh (Marblehead) and Bob Costello (Medfield) with 27 points.  Matt Chao (Newton) and Ryck Lent (Waltham) with Lisa O’Connor Dalton (Hull) and Bill Rapp (Rockport) were fourth with 30 points, while Jason Wallenstein (N. Billerica) and Bruce Howell (Needham, Mass.) with Mike Dinning (Natick) and Mary McKinnon (Quincy) finished the series with 41 points for fifth place overall.

Jan Harley, Media Pro Int’l