Sailor with MS finds young blood
Larry Creaser, crew finish first in fleet for Chester Race Week
Larry Creaser has always been drawn to the water.
He’s a man whose made his life — both professionally and personally— on the ocean, becoming a successful businessman, fisherman and sailor.
And he’s always loved sailing, his passion for over 40 years. He says he found the sport a little unconventionally.
“Most kids start off with junior sailing and come from sailing backgrounds,” said Creaser during an interview with the South Shore Breaker at his home in Marriotts Cove. “I sure didn’t come from that background.”
Creaser recounted, as a kid, rigging up a set of makeshift sails to his rowboat just to participate in the sport despite being forbidden by his parents.
As a 17 year-old, he bought his own Soling and started to move to more competitive events before eventually making his way to Southern Ocean Racing Conference in Florida — a milestone in his sailing career.
“That was my first introduction to hard, professional sailing against America’s Cup calibre athletes. I was only a kid on the boat, adding a little bit of muscle and strength but it got me started,” said Creaser.
He would continue to sail competitively for years, relishing the challenge of one design fleets and became a frequent competitor at dozens of regattas, including both
Charlottetown and Chester’s raceweeks.
But his life changed when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, some 20 years ago.
As the disease progressed, he eventually made the decision to step away from sailing and thought he had lost the chance to sail competitively with his two sons.
“I just couldn’t get side to side any more,” he said. “Mentally, I was ripped.”
He sat out of the sport for around five years before one of his friends from PEI encouraged him to rig up a J100 to accommodate his mobility issues.
Creaser said he couldn’t pass up the chance to get back out on the water.
And now, he is back in the sport he loves, sailing with his sons and friends on his boat, Young Blood.
Together, they came first in their fleet at Charlottetown Race Week in 2018 and most recently won the Distance 2 fleet at this year’s Chester Race Week.
Creaser said his return to sailing boils down to one, simple mantra: don’t let the old man get to you.
“It was just so much fun,” he said of Chester Race Week. “You know what young people bring? More young people.”
Both of his sons, Mark and Glen, were key in Young Blood’s victories; in many ways, the boat is named after them.
“That’s the highlight,” he said, adding he hopes he’s passed on his love of the ocean to his sons.
Creaser noted he’s lost most of his mobility but has installed a seat midships with a toggle to keep him level when the boat is on a plane.
And although he can never no longer handle lines, Creaser is still key in observing and processing tactics aboard the boat.
“We out navigated almost everybody,” he said of his recent Chester win.
Creaser added the crew treats the distance courses like they’re sailing in a one design fleet and strive for efficiency in all things.
“For our chute, we want it up before the stern leaves the mark,” he said.
Overall, Creaser explained he’s thrilled to have the chance to share his love of the sport with his family. He hopes his sons will continue to follow their passions.
“It’s in our blood,” he said.
And Creaser, thanks to the support the support of friends and family, has definitively tapped into some young blood.