By JEFF NELSON, Staff Writer
The Russians came and conquered at the Snipe Women's World Championships here this week, taking an early lead and sailing consistently in the top five of the 31-boat field.
Ekaterina Skoudina and Tatiana Lartseva, one of two teams from Russia, won the regatta on the pair of light-air days and held on through the stronger breezes Sunday and yesterday for the victory.
Three-time world championship competitor and local racer Lisa Pline, sailing with Sherry Eldridge of Towson, notched a pair of bullets yesterday afternoon to move into fifth overall, the best showing for a local team. Arnold resident Molly Alexander, crewing for Jennifer Lovell of New Orleans, ended up third overall.
Severn Sailing Association hosted the four-day regatta and teams from all over the country and globe.
Lorie Stout and Liz Filter, both local residents and SSA members, had been in the hunt for third up until the final day, but stayed in the top ten -- finishing seventh overall.
In one of the more unusual showings, Annapolis resident Joni Palmer Gauthier entered the regatta at the last minute with a beautiful home-made wooden Snipe. She won one race and finished 11th overall. Racing was in mostly light breezes with the exception of Sunday and yesterday, when wind-speeds were clocked anywhere from 10 to 20 knots. The weekday schedule managed, however, to ensure the area's famous motorboat chop wasn't a factor in the racing.
One look around and it becomes obvious that this is a different kind of regatta. The keg is there, as are the T-shirt stand and the huddle of damp racers straining to look at a posted photo copy of the results.
But competitors hoisted as many babies as beers, offered to do the laundry for contestants who've traveled great distances, and somebody always had something good to say about their arch nemesis on the water. It was basically racing as it should be, tight and fierce in the tactics, unified and harmonious on the shore.
A case in point -- on day one, Bonnie Shope powered into the lead in the heavy air and Carol Newman Cronin fought her way through the strong breeze to eventually pass.
"Bonnie yelled out "Go get 'em Carol' and Carol yelled back "Go get 'em Bonnie.' That was the best story -- this is that kind of regatta," said Lisa Pline, one of the top female Snipe racers who suffered in the standings from the stress of organizing this competition.
The event, the first hosted by Severn Sailing Association, has been an all-around success, managing a greater mix of international talent than in either of the previous two Women's World Championships.
"I'm happy. We wanted 10 countries and 30 boats and we got them," Pline said.
Japan alone brought four teams, all of whom competed for the right to represent their country in the prestigious championship.
Akibumi Shinoda, commodore of the Snipe International Racing Association and observer at the regatta visiting from Japan, said women's competition is becoming more popular in the class.
"The women's and the masters -- those areas are rapidly growing every year. The Snipe is for family use, but it is also for training Olympians," he said.Snipe Women's World Championships Final Results: 1. Ekaterina Skoudina/Tatiana Lartseva, Russia, 18.52. Pam Kelly/Michele Bustamante, Florida, 29.753. Jennifer Lovell/Molly Alexander, New Orleans, 304. Carol Newman Cronin/Jerelyn Beihl, Newport, 31.755. Lisa Pline/Sherry Eldridge, Annapolis, 35.5
Published Oct. 08, 1998, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 1998 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
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