Snipe Worlds – Plotting the Course – Episode 1

In just over two weeks, specifically on Tuesday, September 22 at 11:30 AM, the warning signal will be displayed for the first race of the 2026 Snipe World Championship in Mahon, Menorca, Spain.

Looking back at the course covered so far and the final stretch leading to Mahon, we begin today with a series of articles explaining what the World Championship is, its history, and finally an analysis of the favorites.

The event in Mahon will be the 52nd edition of the World Championship. It is a regatta that has changed significantly since its early days, when—prior to World War II— it was held exclusively in the United States. Back when it started, the Snipe World Championship was just called “Snipe Internationals”.

The Snipe World Championship “Commodore Hub E. Isaacks Trophy” is not an open championship in which anyone can participate, but a closed event with numerical entry limits by country. Here is a brief look at how the Snipe World Championships have evolved:

• 1934: In the first edition of the Worlds in 1934, only 2 countries were represented with 14 entries.
• 1934–1942: The championship was held annually (always in the USA).
• 1943–1944: Not held; followed by the 1945 and 1946 editions in the USA. Starting in 1947, the World Championship has taken place in odd-numbered years, alternating with the continental championships.
• 1947: The first time the event went overseas was in 1947 to Geneva, Switzerland, with one entry per country—13 countries participated.
• 1969: The one-entry-per-country rule continued through 1969, when Brazil was allowed two entries to accommodate the returning World Champion, Nelson Piccolo.
• 1973: The entry system was changed to allow two entries per country, plus the reigning World Champion.
• 1985: Hemisphere champions were added to the entry quotas.
• 1992: The Board of Governors moved to a quota system based on the number of registered boats from the prior year, allowing 2, 3, or 4 maximum entries, plus the hemisphere champions.
• 2001: The entry quota was revised to consider the average number of registered boats over the prior 2 years, establishing a sliding scale from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 8 entries; hemisphere champions; the top 2 finishers from the Junior Worlds; and an additional entry for the host country and fleet.
• 2011: The Board approved the latest reallocation method to allow more competitors to attend the Worlds if they meet certain criteria.
• 2020: Due to the COVID pandemic, the SCIRA Board shifted the World Championships to even-numbered years and the continental championships to odd-numbered years (subsequently, the Snipe Worlds originally awarded to Japan were reassigned to Portugal).

Minor adjustments have been made since 2011 to clarify the process through waiting lists, etc. That is where SCIRA stands today.

To understand how the qualification process works, read this article:

Understanding the Snipe Class: The Road to the Worlds

Statistics, numbers:

Countries with the highest number of victories:

• USA: 20 (since 1947: 9)
• Brazil: 14
• Argentina: 7
• Spain: 4
• Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico: 1

Record of victories:

• Axel and Eric Schmidt, Brazil: 3
• Santiago Lange (with Miguel Saubidet and Mariano Parada), Argentina: 3
• Ted Wells and Art Lippit, USA: 2
• Carlos and Jorge Villar Castex, Argentina: 2
• Earl Elms (with Mike Shear and Craig Martin), USA: 2
• Felix Gancedo (with Rafael Parga and Manuel Bernal), Spain: 2
• Torben Grael (with Lars Grael and Marcelo Maia), Brazil: 2
• Augie Diaz (with Jon Rogers and Pam Kelly), USA: 2
• Bruno Bethlem and Dante Bianchi, Brazil: 2

Above: Axel and Erik Schmidt

Above: Santiago Lange and Miguel Saubidet

Host Countries (number of editions): 1934–2026

• USA: 16 editions
• Spain: 6
• Brazil: 5
• Portugal: 4
• Argentina, Denmark, France, Uruguay, Japan, Italy: 2
• Switzerland, Cuba, Monaco, Bahamas, Angola (Portuguese West Africa), Canada, Norway, Sweden: 1

Previous winners:

LI – Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 29-November 2, 2026

1. Julio Alsogaray and Malena Sciarra, Argentina
2. Ernesto Rodriguez and Taylor Scheuermann, USA
3. Bernardo Peixoto and Gustavo Baiano, Brazil
4. Alfredo Gonzalez and Cristian Sanchez, Spain
5. Pedro Madureira and Enzo Ricardi, Brazil

Sailed on the Rio de la Plata, 84 starters, 11 nations

L – Cascais, Portugal, August 18-25, 2022

1. Alfredo Gonzalez and Cristian Sanchez, Spain
2. Alexandre Paradeda and Gabriel Kieling dos Santos, Brazil
3. Ernesto Rodriguez and Kathleen Tocke, USA
4. Henrique Haddad and Gustavo Nasciemento, Brazil
5. Juliana Duque and Rafael Martins, Brazil

Sailed on the Atlantic Ocean, 86 starters, 18 nations

XLIX – lhabela, Brazil, October 7-12, 2019

1. Herique Haddad and Gustavo Nascimento, Brazil 
2. Alexandre Paradeda and Gabriel Kieling, Brazil
3. Damian Borras Camps and Jordy Triay, Spain
4. Mario Jesus and Gabriel Borges, Brazil
5. Luis Subie and Diego Lipszyc, Argentina

Sailed in the Sao Sebastiao Channel, 70 starters, 12 nations

XLVIII – La Coruña, Spain, September 5-11, 2017

1. Raul Rios and Mac Agnese, Puerto Rico 
2. Gustavo & Rafael del Castillo Palop, Spain 
3. Rayco Tabares and Gonzalo Morales, Spain
4. Alfredo Gonzalez and Cristian Sanchez Barreto, Spain 
5. Mario Tinoco and Alexandre Muto, Brazil

Sailed on La Coruña Bay, 85 starters, 17 nations

XLVII – Talamone, Italy, September 21-26, 2015

1. Mateus Tavares and Gonzalo Carvalho, Brazil
2. Luis Soubie and Diego Lipszyc, Argentina
3. Alvaro Martinez and Gabriel Utrera, Spain
4. Rafael Gagliotti and Henrique Gomes, Brazil
5. Mario Urban and Daniel Seixas Claro, Brazil

Sailed on the Tyrrhenian Sea, 83 starters, 19 nations

XLVI – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 6-13, 2013

1. Bruno Bethlem and Dante Bianchi, Brazil
2. Mario Urban and Rafael Sapucaia, Brazil 
3. Alexandre Paradeda and Gabriel Kieling, Brazil 
4. Alexandre Tinoco and Matheus Goncalves, Brazil 
5. Luis Soubie and Diego Lipszyc, Argentina

Sailed on Guanabara Bay, 77 starters and 15 nations

XLV Rungsted, Denmark, August 6-13, 2011

1. Alexandre Tinoco and Gabriel Borges, Brazil 
2. Alexandre Paradeda and Gabriel Kieling, Brazil 
3. Bruno Bethlem and Dante Bianchi, Brazil 
4. Alfredo Gonzalez and Christian Sanchez, Spain 
5. Rayco Tabares and Gonzalo Morales, Spain

Sailed on Oresund Bay, 59 starters and 18 nations

XLIV – San Diego, California, USA, September 4-12, 2009

1. Bruno Bethlem and Dante Bianchi, Brazil
2. Gustavo del Castillo Palop and Felipe Llinares Pascual, Spain 
3. Ernesto Rodriguez and Megan Place, USA
4. Takumi Nakamura and Junichiro Shiraishi, Japan
5. Alexandre Tinoco and Victor Mendes Martins, Brazil

Sailed on the Pacific Ocean, 49 starters and 18 nations

XLIII – Porto, Portugal, September 8-15, 2007

1. Tomas Hornos and Enrique Quintero, USA
2. Kenji Abe and Hiroshi Yamachica, Japan
3. Peter and Sheehan Commette, USA
4. Augie Diaz and Mark Ivey, USA
5. Pablo Defazio and Eduardo Medici, Uruguay

Sailed on the Atlantic Ocean, 57 starters and 18 nations

XLII – Gamagori, Japan, July 23-31, 2005

1. Augie Diaz and Pam Kelly, USA
2. Shigeru Matsuzaki and Hiroyuki Sugiura, Japan 
3. Pablo Defazio and Eduardo Medici, Uruguay 
4. Rayco Tabares and Jose Gonzalo Morales, Spain 
5. Bruno Bethlem and Sergio Gomes, Brazil

Sailed on Gamagori Bay, 51 starters and 15 nations

XLI – Landskrona, Sweden, August 3-7, 2003

1. Augie Diaz and Jon Rogers, USA
2. George Szabo and Brian Janney, USA
3. Francisco and Marina Sanchez Ferrar, Spain 
4. Alexandre and Eduardo Paradeda, Brazil
5. Henrique Wanderley and Richard Zietemann, Brazil

Sailed on the Oresund, 58 starters and 18 nations

XL – Punta del Este, Uruguay, November 24-December 2, 2001

1. Alexandre and Eduardo Paradeda, Brazil
2. Federico and Felipe Vasconcellos, Brazil
3. Cristian and Alejandro Noe, Argentina
4. Santiago Silveira and Nicolas Shaban, Uruguay 
5. Bill Hardesty and Jon Rogers, USA

Sailed on Maldonado Bay, 61 starters, 19 nations

XXXIX – Santiago de la Ribera, Spain, September 3-11, 1999

1. Nelido Manso and Octavio Lorenzo, Cuba 
2. André Fonseca and Rodrigo Durate, Brazil 
3. Fernando Rita and Javier Sintes, Spain 
4. Aureliano Negrin and David Martin, Spain 
5. Carlos Martinez and Alberto Vadell, Spain

Sailed on the Mar Menor, 56 starters, 21 nations

XXXVIII – San Diego, California, USA, September 13-19, 1997

1. Mauricio Santa Cruz and Eduardo Neves, Brazil 
2. Alexandre Paradeda and Flavio Fernandes, Brazil 
3. Andrey and Galina Kiriliuk, Russia
4. Doug Hart and Jon Rogers, USA
5. Thomas Iversen and Thomas Rasmussen, Denmark

Sailed on the Pacific Ocean, 52 starters, 20 nations

XXXVII – Rimini, Italy, July 1-9, 1995

1. Santiago Lange and Mariano Parada, Argentina 
2. Guillermo Parada and Gonzalo Martinez, Argentina 
3. Doug Hart and Jon Rogers, USA
4. Frederik Segerstrom and Carl Terneus, Sweden 
5. Damian Borras and Javier Magro, Spain

Sailed on the Adriatic Sea, 48 starters, 18 nations

XXXVI – Porto Alegre, Brazil, November 1993

1. Santiago Lange and Mariano Parada, Argentina 
2. George Nehm and Fernando Krahe, Brazil 
3. Guillermo Parada and Sergio Ripoll, Argentina 
4. Paulo Santos and Ricardo Santos, Brazil 
5. Ricardo Fabini and Jose Chiaparro, Uruguay

Sailed on Guaíba River, 46 starters, 17 nations

XXXV – Tønsberg, Norway, August 2-10, 1991

1. Axel Roger and Jorge Quiroga, Argentina 
2. Hakan and Rikard Bjurstrom, Finland
3. Birger Jansen and Janet Krefting, Norway 
4. Gustaf Svennson and Lenna Ljunggren, Sweden 
5. Roberto and Carlos Bermudez, Spain

Sailed on Oslo Fjord, 20 nations, 50 starters

XXXIV – Karatsu, Japan, August 22-28, 1989

1. Ricardo Fabini and Harold Meerhoff, Uruguay 
2. Torben Grael and Marcelo Maia, Brazil 
3. Nobuhiro Utada and Noriaki Sugitani, Japan 
4. Guillermo Parada and Paulo Weber, Argentina 
5. Peter Commette and Connie Suddath, USA

Sailed on Sea of Genkai, 15 nations, 44 starters

XXXIII – La Rochelle, France, August 31-September 4, 1987

1. Torben Grael and Marcelo Maia, Brazil
2. Santiago Lange and Miguel Saubidet, Argentina 
3. Horacio Carabelli and Luis Chiapparo, Uruguay 
4. Nobuhiro Utada and Noriaki Sugitani, Japan 
5. Fernando Rita and Antonio Andreu, Spain

Sailed on the Atlantic Ocean, 16 nations, 49 starters

XXXII – Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 23-December 1, 1985

1. Santiago Lange and Miguel Saubidet, Argentina 
2. Johnny MacCall and Sergio Ripoll, Argentina
3. Miyuki Kai and Akio Kaneko, Japan
4. Felix Gancedo and Carlos Llamas, Spain
5. Paulo Santos and Cassio Ashaver, Brazil

Sailed on the Rio de la Plata, 19 nations, 35 starters

XXXI – Porto, Portugal, September 5-11, 1983

1. Torben Grael and Lars Grael, Brazil
2. Craig Martin and Kenyon Martin, USA
3. Jorge Haenelt and Laureano Wizner, Spain
4. Paulo Santos and Jose Santos, Brazil
5. Johnny MacCall and Juan Grande, Argentina

Sailed on the Atlantic Ocean, 18 nations, 37 starters

XXX – Long Beach, California, USA, September 7-12, 1981

1. Jeff Lenhart and Pat Muglia, USA
2. Felix Gancedo and Carlos Llamas, Spain
3. Torben Grael and Lars Grael, Spain
4. Roger Stewart and Doug Sharp, USA
5. Johnny MacCall and Juan Grande, Argentina

Sailed on the Pacific Ocean, 21 nations, 36 starters

XXIX – North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, August 12-19, 1979

1. Dave Chapin and Tim Dixon, USA
2. Mark Reynolds and DeAnn Wright, USA
3. Boris Ostergren and Ernesto Neugbauer, Brazil
4. Felix Gancedo and Carlos Llamas, Spain
5. Marco Aurelio Paradeda and Luiz Pejnovic, Brasil

Sailed on Sydney Harbor, 18 nations, 30 starters

XXVIII – Copenhagen, Denmark, August 21-28, 1977

1. Boris Ostergren and Ernesto Neugebauer, Brazil 
2. Tom Nute and Randy Smith, USA
3. Marco Aurelio Paradeda and Luiz Pejnovic, Brazil 
4. Per Brodsted and Alan Purup, Denmark
5. Ralf Casen and Bengt Holmqvist, Finland

Sailed on Oresund, 20 nations, 36 starters

XXVII – Punta del Este, Uruguay, November 28-December 6, 1975

1. Felix Gancedo and Manuel Bernal, Spain
2. Agustin Diaz and Gonzalo Diaz, Sr., USA
3. Peter Bjurstrom and Hakan Bjurstrom, Finland
4. Horacio Garcia Pastori and Felix Leborgne, Uruguay 
5. Jeff Lenhart and Eric Krebs, USA

Sailed on Maldonado Bay, 16 nations, 31 starters

XXVI – Malaga, Spain, October 12-20, 1973

1. Felix Gancedo and Rafael Parga, Spain
2. Per Brodsted and Steen Brodsted, Denmark
3. Erik Thorsell and Claes Nordwall, Sweden
4. Earl Elms and Donnie Bedford, USA
5. Paulo R. Paradeda and Carlos Goncalves, Brazil

Sailed on the Mediterranean Sea, 22 nations, 43 starters

XXV – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 8-15, 1971

1. Earl Elms and Craig Martin, USA
2. Ralph Conrad and Pedro Reinhardt, Brazil 
3. Felix Gancedo and Antonio Burgos, Spain 
4. Roger Stewart and Jerry Stewart, USA
5. Sonny DeCosta and Mickey Adderly, Bermuda

Sailed on Guanabara Bay, 21 nations

XXIV – Luanda, Angola, Portuguese West Africa, October 24-November 1, 1969

1. Earl Elms and Mike Shear, USA
2. Reinaldo Conrad and Mario Buckup, Brazil
3. Paulo Santos and Fernando da Silva, Portugal
4. T. Ericsson and B. Engstrom, Sweden
5. Nelson Piccolo and C. Henrique de Lorenzi, Brazil

Sailed on Luanda Bay, 24 nations

XXIII – Nassau, Bahamas, November 5-10, 1967

1. Nelson Piccolo and C. Henrique de Lorenzi, Brazil
2. Earl Elms and Dave Ullman, USA
3. Anton Grego and Simo Nikolic, Yugoslavia
4. Patrick van Godtsenhoven and Charles de Bontridder, Belgium 
5. Basil Kelly and Pedro Wassitch, Bahamas

Sailed in Coral Harbor, 24 nations

XXII – Las Palmas, Grand Canary Island, Spain, September 9-14, 1965

1. Axel and Eric Schmidt, Brazil
2. Harry and Alan Levinson, USA
3. John Hoyt and Hovey Freeman, Puerto Rico
4. Basil Kelly and Pedro Wassitch, Bahamas
5. Pedro Casado and Felix Gancedo, Spain

Sailed on the Atlantic Ocean, 25 nations

XXI – Isle de Bendor, France, September 7-14, 1963

1. Axel Schmidt, Brazil
2. Reinaldo Conrad, Brazil
3. Basil Kelly, Bahamas

Sailed on the Mediterranean Sea, 22 nations

XX – Rye, New York, USA, September 16-22, 1961

1. Axel Schmidt, Brazil
2. Harry Levinson, USA
3. Duque de Arion, Spain

Sailed on Long Island Sound, 18 nations

XIX – Porto Alegre, Brazil, October 16-25, 1959

1. Paul Elvstrom, Denmark
2. Gonzalo Diaz, Sr., Cuba
3. Masyuki Ishii, Japan

Sailed on the Guaiba River, 16 nations

XVIII – Cascais, Portugal, September 2-9, 1957

1. Juan Manuel Alonso Allende, Spain 
2. Raymond Fragniere, Switzerland 
3. Fred Schenck, USA

Sailed on the Atlantic Ocean, 21 nations

XVII – Santander, Spain, August 27-September 1, 1955

1. Mario Capio, Italy
2. Jorge Mantilla, Cuba
3. Helder Soares Oliveira, Portugal

Sailed on Santander Bay, 16 nations

XVI – Monaco, September 5-12, 1953

1. Conde Martins, Portugal
2. Tom Frost, USA
3. Clemente Inclan, Cuba

Sailed on Mediterranean Sea, 15 nations

XV – Havana, Cuba, November 29-December 4, 1951

1. Jorge Vilar Castex, Argentina
2. Francis Seavy, USA
3. Jorge Mantilla, Cuba

Sailed in Havana Harbor, 6 nations

XIV – Larchmont Yacht Club, NY, USA, August 22-26, 1949

1. Ted A. Wells, USA
2. Jorge Vilar Castex, Argentina
3. Per Skjonberg, Norway

Sailed on Long Island Sound, 9 nations

XIII – Palma de Mallorca, Spain, August 30-September 4, 1948

1. Carlos Vilar Castex, Argentina
2. Antonio Perez Rodriguez, Spain
3. Antonio Jose Vilardebo, Portugal

Sailed on Mediterranean Sea, 10 nations

XII – Geneva, Switzerland, August 26-29, 1947

1. Ted A. Wells, USA
2. Jorge E. Brauer, Argentina
3. Felix V. Roznieki, Norway

Sailed on Lake Leman, 13 nations

XI – Lake Chautauqua, NY, USA, August 21-23, 1946

1. Bob Davis, Balboa, California
2. Victor Larson, Lake Chautauqua
3. Bob Carrick, Lake Merritt, California 

Sailed on Lake Chautauqua, 37 starters

X – Chicago, IL, USA, September 7-9, 1945

1. Bob & Betty White, Balboa, California
2. Don Cochran, Clearwater, Florida
3. Don Borough, Diamond Lake, Michigan

Sailed on Lake Michigan, 16 starters

IX – Grosse Pointe Farm, MI, USA, August 28-30, 1942

1. Heinzerling Brothers, Lake Lakawanna
2. Gail DeJarnette, Dallas, Texas
3. Ted A. Wells, Wichita, Kansas

Sailed on Lake St. Claire

VIII – Fort Worth, TX, USA, September 5-7, 1941

1. Darby Metcalf, Los Angeles
2. Steve Bechtel, Jr., Lake Merrit, California
3. Ted Varalyay, Los Angeles

Sailed on Eagle Mountain Lake, 26 starters

VII – Canandaigua, NY, USA, August 29-31, 1940

1. Darby Metcalf, Los Angeles
2. T. & L. Varalay, Los Angeles
3. Don Cochran, Clearwater

Sailed on Canandaigua Lake, 28 starters

VI – Los Angeles, CA, USA, August 25-27, 1939

1. Walter Hall, Oakland, California
2. Darby Metcalf, Los Angeles
3. Ray Hopkins, Redondo Beach

Sailed at Los Angeles Harbor, 12 starters

V – Syracuse, IN, USA, August 26-28, 1938

1. Charles Gabor, Lake Mohawk,
2. Cleo Payne, Wichita Falls, Texas
3. Henry Schuette, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Sailed on Lake Wawasee, 21 starters

IV – Sea Cliff, NY, USA, August 21-23, 1937

1. Authur M. Deacon, Western Long Island Sound
2. William Leo, Norwalk, Connecticut
3. Cort Ames, Western Long Island Sound

Sailed on Long Island Sound, 22 starters

III – Oshkosh, WI, USA, August 29-30, 1936

1. Philip Benson, Jr., Sea Cliff, NY
2. George Q. McGown, Jr., Fort Worth
3. A.M. Deacon, Western Long Island Sound

Sailed on Lake Winnebago, 14 starters

II- Dallas, TX, USA, August 31-September 1, 1935

1. Perry Bass, Wichita Falls, Texas
2. H.S. Thompson, Miami
3. William E. Bracey, Dallas

Sailed on White Rock Lake, 12 starters

I – New Rochelle, NY, USA, September 8-9, 1934

1. William E. Bracey, Dallas Sailing Club
2. F.M. Ellsworth, Triangle Sailing Club
3. Karl Haimerl, Western Long Island Sound 

Sailed on Long Island Sound, 14 starters

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About the 2026 Snipe Worlds:

Mahon, Menorca, Spain, September 19-26, 2026

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Commodore Hub E. Isaacks Trophy Deed of Gift

O´Leary Trophy Deed of Gift

Earl Elms Perpetual Trophy Deed of Gift

Bibi Juetz Perpetual Trophy Deed of Gift