April 25th to 27th, 2025, was a special weekend for me and 28 other young women sailors.
U.S. Sailing, Southern Yacht Club volunteers, and some great coaches organized an excellent event for me and other young women sailors in New Orleans. I truly appreciated the hospitality, tour of New Orleans, the grits, biscuits, and beignets, and most importantly, the friends I made and the people who made it happen.
“The value of Tom Clagett’s vision behind both the Ida Lewis and Leiter trophies is immeasurable. For the past 28 and 43 years, respectively, the opportunity. For Junior Women Sailors to have the competition to help them improve their sailing skills has been not only an exceedingly valuable experience, but for many, a memorable and prominent step in their sailing and racing experiences. For many, Ida and Leiter have been where young women have met, made lifetime friends, shared coaches, and improved their sailing skills, all while attending these clinics and regattas. This camaraderie amongst the girls has been a backbone to their sailing.”
– Judy and Stephanie McLennan, daughters and granddaughters of Thomas Clagett and Nancy Leiter Clagett.
Thank you to Zim Sailing, including John Colby, who was on site, and Sam Patterson for providing ILCA charter boats free of charge for the event.
Thank you, Judy and Stephanie McLennan, U.S. Sailing, Southern Yacht Club, the volunteers — especially Samantha Frost, my hosts, the Harris Family, and coaches Charles Barclay and Sweta Shervegar!
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