US Snipe Sailor As this is being written Snipe sailors in the Northeast are digging out of the toughest winter most of them remember…and another storm is on the way. Facebook has shown Snipes and their trailers covered up with snow drifts.
mine). His point is a good one. We ignore the several hundred Snipe sailors out there in the USA who do not attend many, if any, of the so-called “big events,” but who support us financially and otherwise and deserve to be part of the conversation when we discuss the state of our Class.
Ah –ha, but Spring is on the way. And along I hope to see many of you in Florida at the with Spring, for Snipe sailors, Spring means Circuit. - bc the time for The Snipe Winter Circuit is at hand. Clearwater, Miami, Nassau. What P.S. Snipe sailors reading the Randy Wayne could be a better way to shed those White action novel “Hunter’s Moon” get a winter blahs than to sail with your friends Brainard Cooper, real kick to find former National Secretary US National Secretary in one, some, or all of these historic Snipe Bill Welch, his wife Sherry, and Mizzen, events? All of the venues offer some of the best their “nautical setter” mentioned as friends of the sailing anywhere and give Snipers the opportunity protagonist, a semi-retired naturalist and part-time to participate in some of the most historic events government James Bond. Perhaps life on the west in our sport. And they all offer a chance to sail in coast of Florida is more exciting than we thought! international competition. This year will mark the 77th sailing of the Clearwater Midwinter Championship. As February comes to a close, news from our administrator’s office is heartening. Membership renewals are coming in at an encouraging rate, as have contributions to the Perpetual Fund.
And they’re not the first. Former Snipe Commodore and US National Champion Ted Wells appeared as a competitor in the 1929 Cleveland National Air Races in the E. K. Gann novel “Gentlemen of Adventure.” Ted, in fact, had raced successfully in a very fast clipped-wing Travelair in those races.
All positions on the Snipe USA Board of Governors have been filled with the exception of a vice national secretary. Later this Spring, we once again, will sponsor an educational clinic at the US College Sailing Championships in Newport based on the theme, “Congratulations on your collegiate sailing career. Now where do you go from here?” District One sailors who wish to assist should contact Art Rousmaniere or Danielle Richards in the Snipe USA Office. Graduating collegiate sailors are a prime target for growth within our class, offering as we do, tight competition and international exposure in a technical boat that has stood the test of time. And, speaking of the “test of time,” one of your National Secretary’s correspondents has cautioned us, properly, that one our priorities is making sure that we remain valid to our “local yokels” (his wording, not
SCIRA USA 2812 Canon Street San Diego, CA 92106 619-222-0252 Danielle Richards, Executive Administrator danielle@odmsail.com Sherri Campbell, SCIRA Finances sherri@odmsail.com Jerelyn Biehl, SCIRA Executive Director jerelyn@odmsail.com or scira@snipe.org
Spring 2015
District Updates District 1 Update Sarah Levinson -District Governor With ice in the harbor and grass covered by several feet of snow, last summer seems like a long time ago now. But the memories are still strong from a great 10 days of sailing that revolved around two events hosted by Cottage Park Yacht Club in Boston. The 2015 Women’s Nationals and 2015 North Americans were held on back to back weekends, allowing most of the fleet to leave their boats rigged and ready during the week in between. (A lucky few unrigged and headed to Newport for some midweek training, before returning to CPYC for the NAs.) It’s quite a logistical challenge to host two regattas in one summer, and I’m sure several volunteers were regretting the decision halfway through the second event. For the competitors, however, reducing the travel and rigging time maximized the social time catching up with old friends and making new ones, which is really what regattas are all about. A field guide to Snipe sailing in D1 in 2015 SCIRA D1 has fleets with active fleet racing in Annapolis MD, Quassapaug CT and Winchester/Medford and Beverly MA. Any of these fleets would be happy to have you join them if even for a single day of racing. And as for regattas, we have it all: open water in Annapolis (May 30-31 and Oct 3-4), Surf City NJ and Beverly MA (Aug 28-30) and small lakes in Lake Quassapaug, Southbury CT (Jun 20-21 and Aug 22-23) and Winchester/Medford MA (July 11-12 and Sept). All Snipe regattas feature a focus on the pairing of fun and competitiveness so there is something for all interests, skill levels and ages. The Quassapaug regattas feature partying and camping all weekend and challenging sailing conditions with typically shifty breezes - family teams are particularly common. Annapolis tends to draw a very competitive fleet of sailors where boat speed is a premium. Beverly’s regatta is in the open yet protected waters of Salem Harbor and is this year’s regional qualifier for the 2016 Western Hemisphere and Orient Championships so the competition is expected to be stiff - it will be a great opportunity to up your game by going toe-to-toe with the region’s best. Winchester’s regatta in June is in one of the smallest lakes in the US’s snipe fleets and will for a second year include a division of wooden “classic” snipes. The Medford regatta is on the same lake and serves as the season-ender for those who tend to stay local. So there is plenty for all levels of experience and competitiveness. Come join us.
Spring 2015
- Art Rousmaniere Can’t make the Mid-Winter Circuit? Then plan on the Spring Circuit in District 1 in early June. Travel to the Colonial Cup May 30-31 and then get two for one with the Atlantic Coast Champs at Surf City on June 6-7! Double deck from distance and fly out/ fly in. The Surf City Regatta has become a must event in the spring with sailors coming from Florida and all over. Some call it the pork loin regatta since grilling up plenty of pork loin has become a tradition, along with Jersey corn. It may be the only regatta that delivers three warm meals in one weekend if you count the warmed, leftover pork loin sandwiches to take with you as you start your drive home. Bring your sleeping bags and there will definitely be a spot for you somewhere in the Griffith house. Make it a two-fer and do the Spring Circuit on the midAtlantic!!
It’s Fun to Travel in District 2
Steve Tautz - District Governor Each of our active fleets sponsors a regatta during the summer months. May
Our regatta season starts with a regatta in Dallas. It is a good place to get in some warm breezy sailing.
June
Then we go to Lincoln for the Firewater regatta. Its central location usually draws the biggest fleet of the year.
July
Then it’s on to Bow Mar Lake in Denver. It’s a great place to bring the family and hang out at the beach. It’s a small lake with lots of short races.
August
The Rocky Mountain Champs are also held in the Denver area and will be at Union reservoir this year. No motor boats are allowed so it makes good smooth racing.
September
Missouri Valley Champs are held in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It’s a great place to work on your tactics.
As you can see, you can sail in many different types of conditions in District 2. We would love to have you join us. Contact the Fleet Captain for more information on fleet racing.
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District Updates Notes from D4 Steve Lang - District Governor In the Southeastern US, our season is best over the winter, so most Snipe sailors think of starting at Labor Day with the Florida Juniors at Coconut Grove SC in Miami. Another well-known annual regatta that everyone should attend sometime is the Halloween Regatta in Atlanta. As always, winning the costume party may be as competitive as the sailing! This year our annual Florida State Champs was moved from November to coincide with the GASPAR Regatta so that the St. Petersburg YC could host the US Masters. The Masters is a tremendous social event along with competitive sailing. It was sad to hear of the passing of Jerry Thompson who was the 2015 Great Grand Master winner (sailing with Alan Capellin). 1 2 3 4
events.
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Don Hackbarth/Merrill Varn Andrew Klein/Jessica Claflin Hal Gilreath/Cynthia Parmley Jerry Thompson/AlanC apellin
GM Master Master GGMaster
The GASPAR Regatta was became the Florida State Championships this year and was sailed in January with 19 boats. Peter Commette (sailing with Hillary Noble) was the winner. The Miami Invite attracted more than 20 younger sailors, while the Comodoro Rasco, and Georgia State Champions were sailed in February. Our local fleets continue to work hard to put on traditional and competitive
One item of interest for the future is a new discussion of Barcardi/Gamblin held as part of the spring series. Shipping boats to Nassau is more complicated and unpredictable now days, so there is a healthy debate about possible schedule changes to encourage more participants. In a similar fashion, over time conflicts with the college spring break week sometimes makes the Clearwater Mid-winters a housing and traffic challenge. Even though things are on their traditional dates for 2015, D4 is seeking comments from sailors who would like to attend these wonderful and traditional events with an eye on a calendar that is best for the most. Hope to see you on the water soon, Photos: Left: Jerry Thompson & Alan Capellan. Upper: Gaspar Regatta. Left: Stefan & Monica Irgens in Clearwater. Below: Robert Dunkley in Nassau.
As this is being written, we are looking forward to the spring series: March 15-16 Midwinters Clearwater 20-22 Don Q Coconut Grove 25-29 Bacardi/Dudley Gamblin Nassau 28-29 Ironman Birmingham April 25-26 AYC Open Atlanta May 9 Ron Payne Coconut Grove 18-19 (TBA) St. John’s Tea Party Jacksonville June 16-17 James Island Charleston 23-24 Low-Country Beaufort
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Spring 2015
SCIRA USwww.snipeusa.com Racing Calendar Month
Date
April May May May May June June June June July July July August August August August
25-26 16-17 16-17 23-24 30-31 6-7 20-21 20-21 27-28 3-5 11-12 11-12 7-15 15-16 22-23 28-30
Spring 2015
Event
Host
Atlanta Open St. John’s Tea Party Herb Shear Memorial Southwestern Championship Colonial Cup Atlantic Coast Championship Pacific Coast Championship Whittemore St. John Michigan State Championship North American Championhip Winchester Invite/Classic Snipe Rally Norm Tanner Memorial Regatta SCIRA USA Womens/Jr/Special Jr/Open/Classic/GFU Briody Memorial Board of Governors Jubilee YC Invite/WHO Qualifier
Atlanta YC Florida Yacht Club Mission Bay Yacht Club Corinthian Sailing Club Severn Sailing Association Surf City Yacht Club Coronado Yacht Club Quassapaug Sailing Center North Cape Yacht Club Royal Hamilton YC Winchester Boat Club Bow Mar Yacht Club Mission Bay Yacht Club Newport Yacht Club Quassapaug Sailing Center Jubilee Yacht Club
Sanctioned
Y
Y, Q
Y, Q Y Q