In 2007, Clay Burkhalter placed 12th in the Mini Transat, the binannual race from France to Brazil. It was only the second time a U.S. designed, built and skippered boat had entered the race and Clay was the 5th American to ever finish. Prior to the Mini Transat, Clay spent two years building Acadia and campaigning her in France.

Clay learned how to sail the family's aluminum, square bowed pram at age five. By the end of the year, he was crewing with Rod Johnstone (his uncle) on 16 foot Falcons, trimming the jib upwind and steering downwind as Rod set the chute. He went on to sail 420s and Lasers.

Clay helped with the construction of the first J-24, Ragtime, in the Johnstone garage on Elm Street in Stonington, Connecticut and was a regular member of the crew during that first summer of successful racing.

He has crewed extensively with Rod on almost every J-Boat model and in 1989 formed a partnership with him to start a company that designed and marketed the JY15 sailboat.

As helmsman, Clay campaigned a J-35 for seven years and has been an active sailor in the JY15 class since its beginning. He has over 100,000 offshore miles as a delivery captain and was skipper of the 70 foot Hoek-designed ketch KIM.

In addition to the above work, Clay has spent a majority of his professional career in the marine industry, working in charter fleets, boat sales and marina development. In 1995, he took time off from the marine business to assist with development projects in East Africa and in 2000 he received a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Connecticut.

He is currently part owner of the Dog Watch Cafe, a sailors bar on the waterfront in Stonington, Connecticut. He continues to do deliveries and charters.