BRANT BEACH, NJ - 8/9/2009 - Clay Johnson, Eastern Yacht Club's newest member, dominated the field of 106 sailors to capture the 2009 US Laser National Championships.  Johnson won the Championship with a race to spare, besting the competition by twenty points.  Runner-up was Thomas Barrows (grandson, Tom & Kit Barrows).  Impressive consistency was the key to Johnson's win.  Over the 9 race series, he was top five in all but one of the races he sailed, winning two races along the way.  Johnson's consistency allowed him to watch the final race from the sidelines, as the National Title was secure. 

Eastern Yacht Club now boasts two Laser National Champions among its members.  Clay Johnson's 2009 Championship win comes on the 30th anniversary of Stewart Neff's 1979 National Championship title.  Neff's Championship came on the heels of consecutive Laser Midwinter Championships in 1978 and 1979 and preceeded his 1979 Bronze Medal in the Laser at the Pan Am Games. 

Eastern's Callie Naughton (daughter George & Amy Naughton) also sailed the Nationals, taking 51st in the 142 boat Laser Radial Championship.  Earlier this season, Callie finished 2nd at the US Women's Jr. Singlehanded Championship.