MAJSNIPEN 1999 and Fleet 327's 50th Anniversary

May 1-2nd Gothenburg Snipe Club, Fleet 327, arranged the traditional MAJSNIPEN on the water outside Gothenburg called Langedrag, The weather forecast given earlier the same week promised cold, rainy weather with a lot of wind. On the day before the regatta the wind indicator noted up to 18 m/s but no rain. The race committee was a bit nervous, but the next day, (the first racing day), the sun was shining from a clear blue sky, the wind was came steady from west about 5-8 m/s and air temperature 10°C, water temperature 6°C.

This years first real Snipe race couldn't get a better start. Unfortunately only 18 boats participated, maybe due to a very cold spring.

The waters outside Langedrag is sometimes very hard to handle with strong current caused by the big river "Gota Alv" which is reaching the sea at this place. Add to this a lot of small islands stopping the wind, a lot of day-cruisers and ferries making waves, water not too deep which causes mud colored sails and a not to straight mast if you for some reason chooses to put your boat upside down.

First race started right on scheduled time; the course was a simple beat/run (no reach). Paj & Karin from fleet 327 started at starboard side and tacked out to the right to take advantage from the current At first Beat mark they where number one and kept that position the whole race. (The secret at these conditions is to sail in a circle)

The three-nextcoming races the same tactics was used by almost all snipers and that resulted in three different winning crews. Close roundups and finishes in all races and you could not tell who should win the regatta.

After four races in five hours (including short lunch brake at sea) all crews looked and felt a bit tired in both bodies and souls and longed for after sail and dinner

At 7.30pm the whole gang was gathered again on a quay by "Gota Alv" enjoying the after sail event in a cold breeze and wonderful sunshine. Fleet captain Per Edwall gave the welcome toast before we entered the restaurant where the celebration dinner was held.

The participants, dressed up for dinner, standing with their backs to the cold breeze.

Luckily more people showed up to the dinner than to the race, and all of them enjoyed the supreme dinner.

During the dinner the daily first awards was given out, a lottery ticket to each crewmember with chance to win SEK 50.000: - (about US$ 6000, -). The luck was not on their side this evening; they had their luck on the racecourse that day.

This evening was also dedicated to celebrate the 50th anniversary for this fleet. Not the oldest in Sweden (Stockholm Snipe Club fleet 329 celebrated their 50th anniversary last year) but one of the most active fleets in Sweden since the beginning in 1949, according to Mats Gothlin who gave a very acclaimed speech to the audience and handed over a very big, beautiful wooden block and a painting to the fleet captain Per Edwall.

Gifts that shall be used as trophies.

Mats Gothlin giving his speech.

At the same time Mats Gothlin officially became member of honor in fleet 327 for his excellent work and engagement for the Snipe Class in Sweden. Mats were also thanked by SCIRA Sweden for his time as National Secretary by the previous (Christer Jacobson) and present (Karin Pettersson) national secretary.

Day 2 gave the same sunny weather, but lesser wind. The late land breeze from the northeast gave a light wind to start with and the fleet was spread out all over the bay when the wind just disappeared. The race continued and the wind came back and resulted in that all boats finished at the same time.

After a short pause the next three races was effected. Wind and courses as yesterday and very close races as well. The finishes was not as thrilling, Bjorn and Lise won the three last races, but despite totally four race winnings they ended up second, and finally a boat from Gothenburg and Sweden won this regatta, Congratulations Tommy & Christina Sandberg, from Kullavik and fleet 327.

Price giving ceremony was given in a Gothenburg scoring the highest temperature in Sweden this very day. First Prize: GPS-navigator, a big ceramic bowl and the desirable trophy. Ceramic bowls to boat 2-5 and useful articles as sailing gloves and sailing gears, sweaters etc. to all participants (who stayed to the final ceremony).

THANK YOU FLEET 327 FOR A FANTASTIC EVENT, HOPE THAT SOME MORE NORWEGIAN,
DANISH AND SWEDISH. I KNOW YOU WILL BOATS WILL PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR. YOU DID A GREAT JOB, BOTH SAILING AND ARRANGING AT THE SAME TIME

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