US Snipe Sailor Wow! Summer is already winding down and the fall sailing season is upon us. The summer season has been filled with Snipe activity and growth. In the last issue of this magazine we mentioned that membership numbers were looking up. Three months later our membership numbers are up 20% above 2013’s.
Mintzias edged Augie Diaz and Aine McLean Fretwell by a point. At the World Masters SCIRA USA was represented by Augie Diaz and Kate Sheahan of Miami who were first in the Master Division and second overall. Again in District 2, the Rocky Mountain Snipe Championship at the Union Sailing Club of Longmont, CO was won by Doug Swenson.
The guys and gals of District 2 did Soon to come are the Frigid Digit/World’s Qualifier at Severn themselves proud with the hosting of the Sailing Assn. in Annapolis, The Riff Raff Regatta at Cowan 2014 Nationals at the Okoboji Yacht Club Lake, OH, the Pan Am Trials in San Diego and the annual in Iowa. Yes, the number of competitors Halloween bashes - Atlanta’s famous Halloween Snipe was lower than we had hoped, and yes, Regatta, and Mission Bay’s Carolyn Nute Memorial Regatta. Brainard Cooper, there was no wind the last two days, but that US National Secretary doesn’t begin to tell the story. Charter/loaner boats are available at many of these events, so we encourage Snipers everywhere to get out there and see As Roberto Guaragna of Miami said early one morning, “Those old friends and enjoy the best competition anywhere. who didn’t come to this regatta really missed out.” Roberto then went on to praise the facility, the weather (fairness Serious sailing – Serious fun, indeed! demands mentioning that this was before the two-day calm at the end of the week), the venue, and the support given the sailors on and off the water. Those participating can testify to the excellence of Iowa corn-fed beef! Our Class received a very nice compliment from Nationals Chief Judge Mike Posey, who commenting on the rigging and tactics seminar conducted by Doug Hart, Augie Diaz and others, said that he thought highly unusual to see as much camaraderie between competitors as at our Nationals. Executive Administrator Danielle Richards and your National Secretary especially appreciated the help of former Executive Administrator Mary Buckley for her invaluable assistance, both at registration and on the Race Committee. Thank you, District 2. Very well done! As this is being written the 2014 Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship has just been completed, and US National Champion Raul Rios won the regatta – by one point! Whew! Congratulations to Raul and his crew, Fernando Monllor. Hearty congratulations also to other US sailors who finished 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, and 19 in the 43 boat fleet. But these aren’t the only stories this summer. Cottage Park hosted the Women’s Nationals and the North Americans on successive weekends following the Nationals, a Herculean task pulled of successfully by the sailors in District 1 lead by Art Rousminere. Aine McLean Fretwell and Claire Riedman topped the 15-boat fleet and are our new US Women’s National Champions, edging Carol Cronin and Linda Epstein in a tiebreaker. Close Snipe competition continued the following weekend when 37 boats from 5 countries showed up for the North American Championship. Miami’s Ernesto Rodriguez and Eduardo
Photo above: Winchester Invitational & Classic Snipes - Everyone loves the Swanson green ‘99 boats!
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
Summer 2014