A collision between a sailing catamaran and a powerboat on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay resulted in the death of Sandra G. Tartaglino, 60, of Tiverton, R.I.
As reported in the Providence Journal, the accident took place around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday near the Claiborne Pell Bridge in Newport.
Tartaglino was racing her F18 catamaran in the New England 100 Regatta, an event she had organized. Her boat was reportedly headed south when it collided with a 25-foot powerboat. According to sailingscuttlebut.com, following the accident, she was unconscious in the water on the Jamestown side of the bridge and the Newport Harbormaster pulled her out. Both boats were taken to Fort Adams State Park. No one else was hurt in the crash.
The USF18, an organization for F18 sailing in the U.S. posted a tribute on its Facebook page that included the following:
“Sandra had organized the 30 anniversary event and she was at the very first one 30 years ago. Her parents were on site Saturday night for their annual support of providing their famous Stuffed Quahogs. As always, she was giving back to the sport which she loved so much.”
Tartaglino was the USF18 class treasurer and she supported the category for years at events in the Northeast and throughout the country. She was known for bringing brownies to events to give away during pack-up and in 2014 when she couldn’t make it to the F18 North American Championship in Texas, she mailed in a batch.
A week prior to the New England 100, Tartaglino had won the Buzzards Bay Regatta on her F18.
