Snipe Worlds – Plotting the Course – Episode 5
From the Origins to Mahon
This fifth episode covers the Snipe World Championships of the 1960s, a decade defined by four consecutive Brazilian victories followed by the back-to-back World Titles of American legend Earl Elms in 1969 and 1971.
1961 World Championship – Rye, New York, USA (September 16–22, 1961)
While the November 1961 issue of the Snipe Bulletin noted that SCIRA’s initiative to include the Snipe class in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games gained momentum following an announcement by Mr. Roy Yamaguchi—reporting that the Japan Sailing Association had affiliated with the Japan Yachting Association to support the Snipe as an additional two-man centerboard entry—the issue was headlined by the story of the 1961 World Championship. It marked the first World Title victory for twin brothers Axel and Erik Schmidt from Brazil.
Known as the “Gêmeos do Mar” (Twins of the Sea), Axel and Erik Schmidt (born in Rio de Janeiro on April 30, 1939, to a Danish sailor father) remain the only sailors in history to win the Snipe Worlds three consecutive times. They inspired generations of Snipe sailors both within their family and across Brazil.
As published in the Snipe Bulletin:
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FROM 18 NATIONS COMPETE ON LONG ISLAND SOUND
When a couple of young sailors from Brazil won the Lightning division in the Pan American Games in Chicago in 1959, world Snipers became keenly aware of the fact that they were also top Snipe sailors in their home town of Rio de Janeiro and that, in all probability, they would eventually make their mark in the Snipe class.
And this year they did so with a big bang! The young 22-year-old twin brothers, Alex and Eric Schmidt, came to Rye, New York, to the 20th World Championship Regatta and swept the Sound in a most convincing fashion. Arriving early Sunday after participating the previous week in the Lightning World Championship Races at Milford, Conn., where they took 3rd place, they entered the third tune-up race and took 1st place away from the Bahamians, who had won the previous two events on Saturday. Thus they gave emphatic notice of their entrance to competition and to some, it appeared that a finger was writing on the wall.
The twins chalked up a 1-1-2-2-1-1 for a grand total of 9442 points, just 1133 points more than the U.S. team with 7-3-1-3-5-4 (8309), who themselves were 270 points ahead of Spain in 3rd with 5-2-1-8-8-3. This was the most decisive victory ever scored in a Snipe class World Championship Series and, considering the top-flight competition, one of the most brilliant.
And this belief was justified, for on Monday the twins won both races handily and by the end of the week, they chalked up a 1-1-2-2-1-1 for a grand total of 9442 points, just 1133 points more than the U.S. team with 7-3-1-3-5-4 (8309), who themselves were 270 points ahead of Spain in 3rd with 5-2-1-8-8-3. This was the most decisive victory ever scored in a Snipe class World Championship Series and, considering the top-flight competition, one of the most brilliant. They have won many local, national, and international titles in the Star, Lightning, and Snipe classes, and here they upheld their reputation so impressively that no doubt was left in anybody’s mind that they rank as top small boat sailors in the world.
The regatta, sponsored by the Snipe Fleets of the U.S., was expertly organized by the Quassapaug (Conn.) Fleet 231 and held at the famed American Yacht Club at Rye, N.Y. 18 National Championship teams competed in this 30th Anniversary of the Snipe Class on Sept. 16-22nd, with Portugal and Finland unable to come at the last minute. Cuban sailors, prominent and successful contenders in the past 10 years, were missed by all their friends.
The modified Gold Cup Olympic courses were laid out on Long Island Sound in front of the yacht club, where the towers of New York City are visible on a clear day. Ten races in all were scheduled—3 tune-ups on Saturday and Sunday with the 7 championship races from Monday to Friday, and in spite of the approach of hurricane Esther (which culminated in a near miss Wednesday night with winds of 40-50 mph), all races were sailed exactly as scheduled, which, under the circumstances, was considered very lucky indeed.
The modified Gold Cup Olympic courses were laid out on Long Island Sound in front of the yacht club, where the towers of New York City are visible on a clear day. Ten races in all were scheduled—3 tune-ups on Saturday and Sunday with the 7 championship races from Monday to Friday, and in spite of the approach of hurricane Esther (which culminated in a near miss Wednesday night with winds of 40-50 mph), all races were sailed exactly as scheduled, which, under the circumstances, was considered very lucky indeed.
Sailing conditions were practically unchanged throughout the period from Saturday to Wednesday noon with a steady 12-16 mph wind. It shifted to the NE Sunday P.M. after the last tune-up and there it held with increasing force as Esther approached with high waves building up into white caps and rather short rollers—quite choppy for Snipes. But as Esther passed, the wind shifted to NWxW Friday morning, dropping to 10-12 mph and bringing ideal sailing conditions for the last two races.
Most of the contestants arrived at Idlewild early in the week where they were met and driven to lodging at the Westchester Country Club. 18 new wooden Snipes, completely equipped, awaited the contestants. Beautifully constructed by the Lippincott Boat Co., they were destined for post-regatta delivery to buyers who had consented to their use on the regatta. Friday A.M., sails were measured and after lunch, boats were drawn by lot. Then each team did its own rigging, and evidently Basil Kelly of Bahamas was the best rigger, for he won both races Saturday in fairly heavy weather, which he likes. But Sunday, the Schmidts arrived and the die was cast!
Sunday P.M. saw the opening ceremony with a colonial Fife and Drum Corps entertaining with music and marches; a formal flag raising and cannon salute for each country; speeches by various notables; and then christening of the boats with toasts to all drunk in champagne. All set for Monday’s races!
(RACE 1) Wind ENE 14 mph. Considerably more waves than Sunday, which bothered many of the boys. Start was good with Brazil and Bermuda on to shore while Argentina and U.S. went out on port tack. At the first 3 marks, it was Argentina, Brazil, Bermuda, but at end of 2nd beat, Brazil was 55 seconds ahead of Argentina with Bermuda 3rd and Bahamas 4th. Brazil finally won by 21 seconds. Japan, Uruguay, and British Guiana could not solve the waves and wind and did not finish after capsizing.
(RACE 2) Practically a repetition of the first slug-fest, except this time Spain led Brazil the first half of the race, but when a turnbuckle got loose on De Arion’s boat, the Schmidts passed him on the 2nd windward leg. Argentina sailed a close 3rd, while Bahamas nosed out Switzerland for another 4th. Brazil’s margin was 56 sec. in this one. These were the worst races in the whole series for U.S. with 8-7.
(RACE 3) Tuesday A.M. Wind NE at 12 mph and gale warnings from Esther. Good start but the experienced rough weather boys strung out at once. Spain led Brazil all away around in a beautiful race to finish 1st. U.S. overtook Denmark and Norway and slipped into 3rd at the third mark while Bahamas moved into their familiar 4th spot when a protest against Switzerland by British Guiana was upheld.
(RACE 4) Sailed immediately with winds up to 14 and height of waves increasing. The Levinsons, now getting used to being knocked around and learning by bitter experience, asserted themselves from the start and passed every mark in 1st place, closely pursued by Brazil all the way, but edging them at the finish by 21 sec. with Norway 3rd. Spain was a close contender, but when tacking close to the finish line, the skipper caught his foot in the floorboards and he cried out in anguish as the boat went the other way. He temporarily lost control and four boats passed him, all 5 finishing within 7 seconds of each other. It was another tough break for Spain! But even then, the Duke still maintained 2nd in overall standing after Brazil with her two 1sts and two 2nds, with Bahamas and U.S. in close contention for 3rd.
(RACE 5) In spite of dire predictions, the Wednesday morning race was started at 10:10 with wind shifted to ENE at 16 mph. Waves were now about 3 feet (6 ft. from bottom of trough to top of crest) and rolling down the Sound with sea steadily building up. Again, Spain duplicated her performance in the third race, but, with victory almost in her grasp with a nice lead at the end of the 2nd beat, disaster struck when the mast rattled down as the starboard chainplate pulled out, tearing a hole through the deck. The team sat disconsolately, watching their pursuers – Switzerland, Bahamas, U.S., and Brazil pass them to finish in that order. Under the extremely rugged sailing conditions, France and Uruguay capsized; Japan did, too, but managed to right her boat and finish the race. The wind was now blowing about 20 mph and quits were called for the day.
With no races scheduled for Thursday, and bad weather reigning, everyone relaxed with a bus trip to New York with a tour through the United Nations, followed by a cocktail and dinner party at the New York Yacht Club, a most outstanding event.
True to predictions, Friday was a beautiful day for sailing. While Brazil now had a most convincing lead and Bahamas and U.S. were well ensconsed in 2nd and 3rd, Spain, Norway, and Bermuda were practically tied for 4th. These important last two races were thus sailed under nigh perfect conditions with winds of 10-12 mph from NWxW with wave action of no consequence. The light weather boys were happy!
(RACE 6) A long starting line slightly favored leeward end with boats well strung out. Starboard tackers got the break and at the first mark it was Argentina, Brazil, Bermuda, U.S., and Spain. Brazil tusseled with Argentina down the next leg and got the lead there, holding it for a 38 sec. margin at the finish line. On the final beat, Argentina fell back to 4th with Bermuda and Norway moving up to 2nd and 3rd. The U.S. was 5th.
(RACE 7) After lunch, wind dropped to 6-12 mph and quite shifty for the first time all week. Same course with same advantage to starboard tackers. Switzerland led at windward mark ahead of Brazil, Sweden, and Japan. Positions changed rapidly with wind shifts and puffs predominating, but Brazil worked ahead of Switzerland to win by the easy margin of 1 min. 24 sec., thus proving conclusively they could sail in all kinds of weather. Spain, U.S., and Japan followed in order. The heavy Bahamian team, frustrated by the light winds and a couple of bad tacks, relegated themselves to a 5th overall position in the regatta when they got a 12 and 17 for the day’s races. Switzerland’s fine 2nd place in the last race was a tough blow for them.
Practically everyone was glad to hear the final gun, for it had been a long week of racing. Even the hardiest had a few bruises and so did some of the boats, and it will long be remembered for the hard tough fight it was against wind and waves to merely stay afloat and survive to say nothing about trying to beat someone else home, where they wanted to go anyway. Spain was the hard luck team of the series, for their 3 mishaps cost them dearly in final scoring. But boats and horses are alike—anything can happen at any moment. It was a real contest all the way!
In his column “Wells Wanderings”, Ted Wells reflected on the wind conditions and the winners:
Many skippers maintained that the wind was higher than the 12-14 mph which the committee claimed it to be. I’m sure we were right in our velocities and I think the claims of error came from several sources. First, the weather was cool and we were at sea level, resulting in high density air. Second, we were on salt water, where the boats float very slightly higher. Third, the waves were fairly high at time, which slowed the boats down and made them harder to hold up. Fourth – and most important – I never saw so many great big full sails. If you want to carry these balloons, you have to work.
Now the big question — How did the Schmidts win so decisively? They did everything right, and did it just a little bit better than anyone else. It was just that simple! (I didn’t say EASY – I said SIMPLE!)
Now the big question — How did the Schmidts win so decisively? They did everything right, and did it just a little bit better than anyone else. It was just that simple! (I didn’t say EASY – I said SIMPLE!)
Read also:
1963 World Championship – Île de Bendor, France (September 7–14, 1963)
The 1963 Snipe World Championship in France, managed by Jean Dumas, SCIRA National Secretary for France, ended with the absolute triumph of Brazilian brothers Axel and Erik Schmidt.
Already established champions who had recently won a Pan-American silver medal in the Lightning class, the Schmidts dominated the competition by collecting four victories and two second-place finishes across six official races.
The only crew capable of snatching a race win from them were their compatriots and long-time rivals, the Conrad brothers, who secured second place overall thanks to a clever tactical split on the final beat of one race. The overall podium was completed by Basil Kelly and his crewmate Messitch from the Bahamas, while Americans Bob and Ellie Huggins delivered another standout performance by winning the fifth race to earn fifth place overall.
Alongside the battles at the top, the regatta was marked by moments of extraordinary human grit and high drama. Special recognition went to the female crew members representing England, France, and the United States, who successfully finished every single race they faced and showed a tenacity that even several male teams lacked.
The tension reached its breaking point on the final day when the fleet was sent out under darkening skies into a moderate gale with winds between 32 and 46 mph. The race quickly turned into chaos, resulting in nine capsizes, three broken masts, and a frantic rescue effort as support boats equipped with skin-divers worked to retrieve sailors and gear from the stormy waters.
The tension reached its breaking point on the final day when the fleet was sent out under darkening skies into a moderate gale with winds between 32 and 46 mph. The race quickly turned into chaos, resulting in nine capsizes, three broken masts, and a frantic rescue effort as support boats equipped with skin-divers worked to retrieve sailors and gear from the stormy waters.
It was the Italian team of Morin and Michel that ultimately changed the course of events by filing a formal protest against holding the race under conditions that endangered life and property. The Protest Committee upheld the Italian protest, canceled the storm-plagued heat, and finalized the championship based on the best five results from the six valid races already completed, officially crowning the Schmidts as world champions.
1965 World Championship – Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain (September 9–14, 1965)
The Schmidt twins sealed a historic third consecutive World Championship—an unmatched feat in the Snipe class.
From the November 1965 issue of the Snipe Bulletin:
Displaying the same form and sailing ability which won titles for them at Rye, New York, in 1961 and in Bendor, France, in 1963, the famed Schmidt twins from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, got even a firmer grip on the Hub Isaacks Trophy when they outclassed all competitors to win the World Championship of the International Snipe Class for the third consecutive time. They were listed as favorites in spite of the formidable competition and they did not disappoint their backers.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACES DOMINATED
By Brasil and United States – Puerto Rico Takes 3rd by Only 31 Points
Bahamas in 4th Place – Spain 5th – Record 25 Different Nations Entered
WESTERN HEMISPHERE WINS 5 OF TOP 6 POSITIONS
Displaying the same form and sailing ability which won titles for them at Rye, New York, in 1961 and in Bendor, France, in 1963, the famed Schmidt twins from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, got even a firmer grip on the Hub Isaacks Trophy when they outclassed all competitors to win the World Championship of the International Snipe Class for the third consecutive time. They were listed as favorites in spite of the formidable competition and they did not disappoint their backers.
The Trophy, one of the oldest in SCIRA, was dedicated in 1934 and SCIRA held an annual World Championship Regatta every year through 1947, with the exception of the war years 1943-1944. In 1947, realizing that three major events World Championship, European, and Western Hemisphere (each one getting larger every year) was a little too much frosting on the cake, the Deeds of Gift were changed as each regatta was placed on a 2-year schedule. Since that time, the Isaaks Regatta has been held on the odd-numbered years with the other two events on even-numbered years.
This XXII World Championship Regatta was held in Las Palmas, Grand Canary Islands, from September 5th to 14th with Spain as the host country. Attracting national champions from 25 different SCIRA member nations (Puerto Rico, Austria, and Senegal for the first time), the event was the largest Snipe World Championship ever held and an outstanding success, not only in the quality of the racing teams, but also in the organization and actual staging of the affair and the evident enthusiasm engendered. It exceeded many similar Olympic events in several respects.
The regatta consisted of 7 races scheduled from the 9th to 14th with the privilege of dropping one race, including a DSQ, and all were sailed on time on modified or Olympic courses on the Atlantic Ocean a rather unusual accomplishment.
Weather conditions made for favorable sailing with rather steady winds from 6-16 mph, but with rain and gusts up to 20-25 mph on one day. However, the one factor which many sailors were unaccustomed to and found disturbing were the large steady ground swells with waves as high as 10 feet at times. These led to considerable excitement as Snipes virtually disappeared in the trough to bob up again on the crest of a “whopper.” These conditions continued throughout the series regardless of changes in local wind velocities.
Weather conditions made for favorable sailing with rather steady winds from 6-16 mph, but with rain and gusts up to 20-25 mph on one day. However, the one factor which many sailors were unaccustomed to and found disturbing were the large steady ground swells with waves as high as 10 feet at times. These led to considerable excitement as Snipes virtually disappeared in the trough to bob up again on the crest of a “whopper.” These conditions continued throughout the series regardless of changes in local wind velocities.
But nothing seemed to bother Axel and Eric as they demonstrated their masterful sailing ability by getting 5 first places and 2 seconds for 9521 points.
But nothing seemed to bother Axel and Eric as they demonstrated their masterful sailing ability by getting 5 first places and 2 seconds for 9521 points, 468 points (about 6 boats) ahead of their nearest rivals, the United States team of Harry Levinson (skipper) and his brother Alan (crew) from Indianapolis, Indiana. Harry and “Buzz” got 1 first, 4 seconds, and 1 fourth for 9053 points, a fine record which placed them 1265 points ahead of the third place team from Puerto Rico.
Harry, 3 times U.S. National Champion, and “Buzz” gave the Schmidts a scare when they won the first race Thursday morning by leading all the way around the course. Axel and Eric couldn’t catch them once they got out in front. (This, in brief, became the pattern of the regatta usually whoever got the best start, and/or reached the windward mark first, continued on to be the first to cross the finish line.) Argentina was 3rd, and Puerto Rico was a surprising 4th, with Spain 5th.
The afternoon race was a reversal in that Brazil got the jump on the U.S. and that was that! Spain and Argentina continued strong and exchanged places in 3rd and 4th respectively. Basil Kelly of Bahamas, a heavy weather sailor, made his appearance in the top five with a 5th while Puerto Rico, disabled, got a last place (which they subsequently dropped in the final accounting).
The two races Friday were sailed in steadily increasing winds with puffs above 20 mph and the heavy swells made for some capsizing and broken equipment. Japan, Austria, Uruguay, and Denmark were forced to withdraw in the morning race. Brazil was first at the windward mark and the U.S., making a poor port tack, was 5th. But the Levinsons started to creep up and, one-by-one, passed Bahamas, Argentina, and Spain to grab 2nd place. As conditions worsened during the day, the 4th afternoon race saw more casualties with Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Senegal, Austria, and Portugal all in trouble. But the pattern was now fairly fixed. Again, Brazil was 1st at the mark and the U.S., 5th again, repeated their fine morning performance by passing Norway, Portugal, and Spain to take 2nd again.
Saturday morning saw a drop in the wind with consequent small swells, but a rain squall produced shifty winds resulting in several changes among the leaders all but Brazil, who again sailed away from the entire fleet to beat Denmark across by 1 minute 30 seconds. Portugal and Bahamas were 3rd and 4th, while the U.S., 5th again at the weather mark, went to 4th, but slipped back again to finish 5th, their worst race of the series. With Brazil now having a 2-1-1-1-1 series with the U.S. 1-2-2-2-5, it was evident that the top spot was cinched unless Brazil completely collapsed, practically unthinkable.
The 6th race saw improving conditions with nice sailing winds of 8-12 mph and less swells. Here Bahamas stepped to the front and sailed a beautiful race, leading Brazil all the way around the course. Puerto Rico was 3rd and the U.S., after a bad start and in 15th place at the windward mark, stepped on the gas and in the last four legs went to 14th to 16th to 7th and final 4th for a gratifying comeback. This glorious finish cinched 2nd place overall for them and interest now turned to the hot battle for 3rd position. Bahamas with 6733 points was leading Puerto Rico by 314 points (4 boats); Spain was in a solid 5th, while Norway was in 6th place, but only 359 separated her from Sweden, Denmark, and Argentina.
The final 7th race Monday was the “light weather” race with winds 6-10 mph and moderate swells. Again, Brazil demonstrated all-around ability with a 1st in very shifty winds, beating U.S. by 1 minute 28 seconds. Brazil opened up a little on every leg in this last performance. Bahamas saw her 3rd overall-place hopes disappear down the drain as she slipped back to 9th and watched Argentina take over 3rd place as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark went back to 6th, 11th, and 14th positions respectively. Puerto Rico showed continued strength with a fine 4th, and Finland was 5th. It was “the Moment of Truth.”
Thus the racing was concluded and the objective obtained the Brazilian twins were the best Snipe sailors in the world, a fact agreed upon by everyone. The U.S. team made a gallant fight like the one they made at Rye under similar rough weather conditions when Brazil nosed them out of the title.
“Dark Horse” Puerto Rico was the real surprise of the regatta when they beat tough Bahamas by only 31 points for 3rd. Spain had a strong hold on 5th all through the series.
The Club Real de Náutico had the finest organization yet experienced and this, combined with a full social program and unmatched Spanish hospitality and friendliness, made the event one of the finest in the 35-year history of the International Snipe Class. The great success of this fine international sporting event augurs well for the future of Snipe in world-wide sailing circles.
And even more participating nations are anticipated in the future. Venezuela was entered at Las Palmas, but failed to show, for some presently unexplained reason. Chile, Virgin Islands, possible West Germany, along with other European nations might be eligible to race in the next event in 1967.
Read also:
1967 World Championship – Nassau, Bahamas (November 5–10, 1967)
Brazilian dominance continued, though with a new team: Nelson Piccolo and Carlos Henrique de Lorenzi. American champion Earl Elms placed second with a young Dave Ullman as crew (who would go on to become a 470 legend and world-renowned sailmaker). Third place went to Anton Grego and Simo Nikolić representing Yugoslavia.
From the December 1967 issue of the Snipe Bulletin:
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACES DOMINATED AGAIN
By Brazil and United States – Yugoslavia Gets a Good Solid 3rd
Belgium in 4th Place – Bahamas 5th – 24 Different Nations Entered
A diminutive Brazilian sailmaker from Porto Alegre (Happy Port) swept away spectacular competition with cool, consistent sailing to win the 1967 Snipe Class World Championship, a seven-race regatta sailed November 5-10 off Coral Harbour, on the southwestern shore of the Bahamian Island of New Providence.
This 28-year old South American is Nelson Piccolo, who, with his crewman C. Henrique de Lorenzi, retained the championship which was won by fellow Brazilians Axel and Erik Schmidt in 1961, 1963, and 1965. Brazilians have now won the last four times the regatta has been sailed, which is every two years.
Piccolo proved his right to represent Brazil in the Snipe Championship regatta by dominating a strong fleet of Snipe sailors, including the Schmidt brothers, in the past year or more.
Piccolo achieved a comfortable leading score of 9059 points in the series for the championship honors over Earl Elms of San Diego, California, U.S. A., and 22 other national champions.
Also a sailmaker, the 27-year old Elms had 23-year old David Ullman, an apprentice in the same trade, as his crew.
The American National Champion commanded the situation, although by a narrow margin, going into the sixth race. He lost out when Piccolo won the 6th and finished 4th in the seventh while the best he could do were a 6th and 5th, consecutively.
In the last race, realising that Elms was his only threat for the title, Piccolo effectively covered the American Snipe all the way. It was all over for the Californian when he trailed Piccolo across the finish line.
CRAFTY, DARING.
The series got off to a slow start when a four-knot wisp of a wind barely rippled the 6.6-mile modified Olympic course. The first race was twice delayed. But the light airs posed no problem for the crafty Brazilian, who timed the start perfectly, went on starboard tacks, and rode a series of lifters from off the Coral Harbour shore.
Elms was a port-tacker. He was 10th in the early stage of the race, but eventually worked his way through the 24-boat fleet to finish 3rd.
Belgians Patrick van Godtsenhoven and Charle de Bondtridder held a five-boat lead in the second race and went on to win in winds which were very much like the first day’s. In this one, Piccolo was disappointed when he went looking for lifters he got from the beach the day before. He finished 6th. Elms got sandwiched in with teams from Japan, Argentina, and Canada at the start, but finally took another 3rd.
Sailmaker Elms was delighted with the Belgians’ performance as they were using sails manufactured by him. So were Puerto Rico, France, Bahamas, Canada, and the Virgin Islands.
While all this was going on, Yugoslavs Anton Grego and Simo Nikolic were making their presence felt. By virtue of a pair of seconds, they led the regatta, with Elms second and Piccolo third.
For the fourth race, the beautiful Bahamas weather continued with a flood of sunshine, balmy temperatures in the low 80s, and hardly any wind. Positions alternated throughout the sail, but as the fleet led by Brazil, Bahamas, U. S., Belgium, and Yugoslavia came down on the leeward mark, the race committee fired a course change gun, and everyone sailed the final leg on a 30-degree shift.
In the slightly rising wind, Belgium blew by the leaders like a white tornado, nipping Yugoslavia at the line with the U.S. 3rd; Brazil 4th, and Italy 5th. Protesting the change in the course, Bahamas did not finish.
A 6-10 knot wind in the fifth race made the light air specialists happy, and France’s Didier Poissant and Michel Duhau showed a bit of talent in this one—they followed Piccolo around the first weather mark with Norway, U. S., and Yugoslavia close astern. The Frenchmen held until the last beat where they dropped and finished 4th. Ahead were Brazil, U. S., and Bahamas.
Eager for more wind, sailors opened doors to their plush rooms at the Coral Harbour Yacht Club on rest day and found them. They were banged full in the face with a howling east wind. Winds were at least 25 knots, with gusts up to 30-plus. The race committee was apprehensive that the weather would worsen. It was getting very blustery for Snipes.
The Brazilians were now making shambles of the competition. Their boat handling had been dubbed “Snipe-A-Tack.” A faultless handling of the jib sheets by Lorenzi saved valuable seconds. His zip from side to side and quick upward snatch of sheet popped the jib full in a style reminiscent of Paul Elvstrom at his best.
DOUBLE TRIANGLE.
Whipped by the strong winds in seas with a three-foot chop, crews had bailers going full bore in the sixth race. The course was changed from a triangle and windward-leeward-windward legs to a double triangle and a final beat. The downwind legs were screamers, with light crews planing. The race took its toll.
Brazil got by Belgium upwind and was never headed again. Belgium held to 2nd, while Swedes Trygve Liljestrand and Bo Lundgren got 3rd; Switzerland’s Pierre Siegenthaler and Colin Callender 4th; Yugoslavia 5th; and U. S. 6th.
The Brazilians were now making shambles of the competition. Their boat handling had been dubbed “Snipe-A-Tack.” A faultless handling of the jib sheets by Lorenzi saved valuable seconds. His zip from side to side and quick upward snatch of sheet popped the jib full in a style reminiscent of Paul Elvstrom at his best.
Taking a whipping in this race were: Spain couldn’t stand the pace and dismasted on the third leg; England turned turtle, righted their craft, bailed the hull dry, and finished 21st; Portugal snapped boom outhaul, but finished 7th; Colombia swamped before the start; Bahamas damaged boom and finished 11th.
POSITION SWAPPING.
It was blowing 15-22 knots out of the northeast when the final race left the line. Two skippers got caught in the coffin corner of the committee boat, Yugoslavia’s Grego and Bermuda’s Carlos Bosch. Both retired.
Switzerland’s Siegenthaler surged into an early lead with Bahamian Basil Kelly and Pedro Wassitch in his wake, and he drew away at every mark.
The reaches were wild, screaming things with an almost out-of-control planings and many position-swappings. The end result was Switzerland the winner; Bahamas 2nd; Puerto Ricans Gary Hoyt and Hovey Freeman 3rd; Brazil 4th; and U. S. 5th.
With Brazil winning the Snipe Class World Championship, the consensus was that the Snipe World title was getting to be very much like the America’s Cup, held by one nation (U. S.) for over a century.
The Royal Nassau Sailing Club sponsored regatta began following a 3-race tune-up series for the Christopher Columbus Cup. Piccolo showed his mastery in this, but lost out to Elms when he had a first-place disqualification in the second race—he overran the starting line and failed to answer the recall by the race committee.
The swank Coral Harbour Club, flying the standards of the 24 nations participating in the regatta, offered complete facilities to the visiting sailors. The club catered to their every need.
The next World Championship will be held at Angola, Portugese West Africa, in 1969. By Ding Cambridge
Above: 1967 World Champion boat: Snipe 12115 “Simbad”, built by Lineburger in 1959 for the Worlds in Porto Alegre.
Nassau, Bahamas, 1967. Nelson Piccolo e Carlos Henrique de Lorenzi
Behind the Scenes:
A fascinating story connected to the 1967 Worlds involves a Varalyay Snipe built in San Pedro, California, the Yugoslavian crew of Anton Grego and Simo Nikolić, and a world divided by the Iron Curtain.
In the book Snipe Tales (1996), boat builder Lou Varalyay recalled shipping a Snipe to Yugoslavia during the Cold War:
“During the Cold War, a letter from Yugoslavia came about an order, I asked how to deliver it. When it was nearly finished I sent a letter. The reply was that on a certain day, take it down in a dock in Long Beach and leave it. We did that and noticed a Yugoslavia freighter tied up. The next day the boat was gone.”
Milko Volarić, President of Yacht Club Galeb in Kostrena, Croatia, provided the rest of the history:
“In Yacht Club Galeb monograph on page 90, Anton Grego mentions that in 1964 they finished second at the European Championships in Sanremo, Italy. The reason why they lost first place was an old Snipe with old sails. The management of the Club decided to buy a new Snipe and sails, all according to the choice of the Vice-Champions of Europe.
At that time, Americans were the most famous builders for the Snipe class. At the end of 1964, Anton Grego and Simo Nikolić decided to order a new Snipe at Varalyay Snipe builder, in San Pedro, California…
With the new Varalyay Snipe, number 15006, called ‘Pesja’ and new sails from North Sails San Diego, Anton Grego and Simo Nikolić became Champions of Europe in 1966 in Karlshamn, Sweden, and Vice-Champions of Europe in 1968 in Izmir, Turkey.
At the 1967 Worlds in Nassau, Bahamas, Anton Grego and Simo Nikolić won the bronze medal with a chartered boat because the famous Lou Varalyay Snipe ‘Pesja’ was stuck in transit in the port of New York due to a dockworkers’ strike.”
Above: Pesja
1969 World Championship – Luanda, Angola (October 24 – November 1, 1969)
The 1969 event marked the first (and to date, only) Snipe World Championship held on the African continent (though Melilla, a Spanish city on the African coast, hosted the 2026 Junior Worlds). It was the first of two World Championships won by San Diego legend Earl Elms, sailing with 16-year-old crew Mike Shear aboard a fiberglass Chubasco equipped with a Cobra aluminum mast.
Snipe Bulletin November-December 1969
United States Wins World Snipe Championship Title
Reinaldo Conrad of Brasil 2nd-European Champion from Portugal 3rd
Sweden and Defending Champion Nelson Piccolo of Brasil in Close Fight for 4th and 5th-23 Nations
No Snipe sailor in the United States will be particularly surprised to learn that the strong team of Earl Elms and Mike Shear won the 1969 World Snipe Championship Title of the International Snipe Class at the recent regatta held in Luanda, Angola, Portugese West Africa. 29-year-old Elms (4 times straight national champ) with 16-year-old Mike Shear (his crew the last 3 times) has proved almost unbeatable in local regattas, and his record of 2-2-1-2-2-1-2 for 12 points total (after dropping a 2 for his worst race) testified to the strength of the team and the high regard they have enjoyed here. They participated in 54 races in order to win the privilege of representing their country, so great was the competition, and this very fair victory confirms their impressive career. Reinaldo Conrad, noted sailor from Brazil, was 2nd with 1-6-4-1-2-1 and 22.7 points; while the Portugese champion from Luanda, Paulo Santos, had a safe 3rd with 5-1-3-1-3-4 and 29.4 points.
The championship regatta has been held on a biennial basis the last 20 years, and it is the first time U.S. has won it since 1949 (Ted A. Wells the last U.S. winner) — it only took 8 years for the U.S. to put a man on the moon! Winning an international title in the Snipe Class against keen competition by top-notch small boat sailors is no mean accomplishment!
24 teams of champions from 23 countries participated (Brazil had 2 — Piccolo, the defending champion, and Conrad, the 1969 National Champ). Turkey, Colombia, Paraguay, Chile, Venezuela, Cuba, Bermuda, and Virgin Islands, while expected, did not appear at the last minute. Even so, this was one of the largest one-design sailing events held in the world and surpasses some Olympic events. And what other class could muster that many entries and nations, so say nothing of staging an event in Africa, the first of its kind on that continent?
Portugal was the host country, and they provided free transportation, room, and board to all contestants and officials from Lisbon to Luanda and return (Boeing 707). The Club Desportivo Nun Alvarez was host club, and national authorities and local officials from His Excellency the Governor General of Angola on down participated in all ceremonies, official functions, and parties from October 23 to Nov. 3.
The regatta was opened with all ceremony Friday morning Oct. 24th in front of the clubhouse overlooking the bay. A host of government, yachting, and church representatives watched as contestants in turn raised their flags as national anthems were played. It was quite an impressive sight under a bright sky with gentle winds. The Governor General, Lt. Col. Rebocho Vaz, gave a warm speech of welcome and wished good luck to all the contestants who had travelled so far. That afternoon the first practice race was held.
Official racing started with an international open regatta for all comers, and some 30 odd teams participated in a 2-day 3-race series, testing out boats, equipment, and sailing grounds, plus a few side glances at the experts. Portugal won this series, leading to strong local hopes of more victories, for this team came from Luanda and the whole town was interested in the contest. Stores and public buildings had Snipe displays and exhibitions with official insignia and banners in evidence. Paulo Santos and his crew, Fernando da Silva, had won the European Championship in 1968 at Izmir, Turkey, and then got the right to sail for Portugal when they won the 1969 National Title the week before this regatta in a contest held on Luanda Bay. The best sailors from Portugal, and the Provinces of Angola and Mozambique, entered this event and the team was a strong one. Naturally, they had a large, enthusiastic, and loyal gallery of followers whenever they appeared.
At the conclusion of this series, it was evident that 5 teams would be slightly favored — the 2 Brazilians, Portugal, Sweden, and the United States. They usually finished as a group in each race well ahead of the rest of the fleet.
Sailing in Luanda must be about the best spot in the world, could say it was almost out of this world! The bay with open water is affected little by local landscape; the trade winds came up every mid-morning, blowing steady and straight as an arrow in one direction with little variation or shifting, gradually getting up to about 10 knots by mid-afternoon and increasing to 15-18 knots thereafter, falling away about dusk, moving counterclockwise around the clock every 24 hours. Accurate predictions can be made for each day based on duplicating the data for the same day the previous year (and that’s the truth!). Two races were run each day at 1:00 and 3:00 o’clock, and so reliable was the wind, that all were started right on time as set. 7 sailed in 5 days and the worst was dropped. Only one postponement of 15 minutes occurred and that was due to a halyard breaking on the blue signal. Waves regular and steady, not too large and with little chop; tides and currents not too strong and even as predicted. White caps almost every late afternoon, and no one could complain about drifters. Weather was delightful all week, and although only a few degrees south of the equator, was not hot or muggy; rather, on the chilly side, and some sweaters were visible.
The first 2 races, Monday Oct. 27 saw the favored 5 teams finish on top in both contests, true to prediction. Conrad of Brazil won the first one in moderate winds with Elms a close 2nd; Piccolo 3rd; followed by Sweden and Portugal. In stronger winds for the 2nd race, Portugal led all the way, followed by U.S. in 2nd place. Puerto Rico made a surprising showing with 3rd, then Sweden, Brazil I, and Brazil II.
3rd race Tuesday saw lighter winds with a steady 10-12 knots, and here Sweden, after leading for 4 legs, watched Elms sneak past them for a first place. Order of finish was USA, Brazil I, Sweden, Brazil II, Finland, Portugal. This win definitely put USA in front with 6 points, with the next closest score 18.7.
2 races Wednesday were the bread-and-butter events. In strong winds, Portugal got off to a good start, but Conrad soon passed him up and opened up on the rest of the fleet at every mark, getting an excellent victory. USA worked up from 6th place at the first mark to finish 2nd, thus opening the door to the title a little wider. Portugal, Brazil I, Puerto Rico, and Sweden in order.
Later in the day, Portugal again got off to a good start in some white-caps and was never headed. It was their best race. USA had a dog-fight with Puerto Rico all around the course, changing positions a couple of times and Earl barely managed to garner his customary second place by regaining the lead in the last 2 legs. A hard struggle! Sweden 4th, with Spain, improving with every race sailed, finishing a strong 5th.
At this point, with 2-2-1-2-2 (12 points), it was evident that Elms only had to get another top spot in the last 2 races to have the title cinched, for the competition was Portugal (27.4); Brazil II (31.4); Brazil I (39.7); Sweden (41.4).
The 6th race Friday turned out to be the decisive race and told the story, for Earl, in strong and chilly winds under a bright sky, immediately displayed his top championship form by taking the lead at the first mark and holding it throughout the race, thus confirming his position and demolishing Portugal’s hopes. Conrad did his best to catch Elms, being especially strong on the reaches, but couldn’t quite make it. Portugal, after falling back, gained on the run and turned the last buoy well to finish in 3rd place.
This settled the championship, but Portugal and Brazil II with 33.1 and 34.1, and Sweden with 49.4 and Brazil I with 49.7, had their work cut out for them to decide the next 4 places, promising a most exciting final and 7th race on Saturday.
This race started at 3:30 PM with a moderate wind and cloudy skies. Conrad, with superb defensive sailing, aggressively was out for blood, and there was no doubt about the outcome, for he was first at the windward mark with USA trying to catch him. He fairly flew out ahead of all the others all around the course, opening up on every leg. It was his best race. Portugal tried to catch both the leaders, but slipped back on the 3rd leg while Puerto Rico moved up to pass USA on the 2nd beat. But at the end of the run, Portugal had come up to Puerto Rico and the finish was Conrad, Elms, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Brazil II. Sweden sailed her worst race (10) and thus lost her chance to better her record. However, Brazil II was disqualified by the Race Committee, which changed her score from 46.7 to 49.7, thus giving Sweden 4th overall place with 49.4.
The closing ceremony was most elaborate with high government officials from Luanda (and their wives) and Lisbon presiding. Held late at night in the elaborate grounds and buildings surrounding the Municipal Swimming Pool bedecked with 6 Snipes under full sail. Contestants lowered their flags, received their trophies, then drank, dined, and danced until the wee small hours. Tickets had been sold in advance to the public and it was a gala occasion with over a thousand there. Some party! to end Some Regatta!
Those fortunate enough to attend this unusual (in many ways) event will long remember the fine hospitality and enthusiasm displayed by the good people of Portugal and Luanda: the calendar was full of entertainment, including an overnight safari (saw some animals, too!) The Luanda public turned out in full force for the last races — scores in boats of all kinds all over the course; hundreds of cars on the closest shores where the course could be viewed, and hundreds of spectators at the yacht club all day taking it all in. They got a spectacle such as never seen there before. The Snipe Class is deeply grateful to Portugal for the excellent organization and conduct of this most important regatta.
The Snipe sailing world has new champions, truly worthy of their laurels, and full honors go to all the contestants, all of whom gave their best.
Above: very interesting advertising: in 1969 in Mozambique the Snipes sailed a National Championship
1971 World Championship – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (October 8–15, 1971)
Earl Elms successfully defended his title, winning his second consecutive World Championship.
From the Snipe Bulletin:
Earl Elms Wins Second World Title
Ralph Conrad, Brazil, 2nd — Felix Gancedo, Spain, 3rd
Roger Stewart, U.S.A., 4th — Sonny DeCosta, Bermuda, 5th
Earl Elms has established himself as the “Gran Marinar” of the Snipe class by winning the Twenty-Fifth World Championship. The bienniel event was held in Rio de Janeiro October 11-16 with 22 competitors representing 21 countries. Elms, a San Diego sailmaker and five-time winner of the U.S. Nationals, successfully defended his world title against strong competition. His finishes of 1-2-1-4-2-7-2 for a total of 17points was 8.7 points better than Ralph Conrad representing Brazil.
The site of the races, Guanabara Bay with the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain in the background was perhaps the most beautiful in the world. Winds were mostly light and tides tricky, thereby providing a challenge to the sailors.
The site of the races, Guanabara Bay with the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain in the background was perhaps the most beautiful in the world. Winds were mostly light and tides tricky, thereby providing a challenge to the sailors.
The first race was held in light wind after several hours delay. Elms established an early lead and was never seriously threatened. Pierre Siegenthaler, a resident of Bahamas but a Swiss citizen finished second, his best race. Felix Gancedo of Spain was third. Conrad got caught down in the pack but managed to pick up to sixth.
The second race was started in wind that continued to build. Conrad was leading at the end of the triangle followed by Elms and Stewart. Both overtook Conrad who finished fourth. Stewart was first, Elms second and Horatio Pastori of Uruguay was third.
The third race about to be sailed before noon on Tuesday was postponed on advice of the weather bureau. Winds of 40 knots were predicted within a few minutes and all boats were directed to a sheltered cove. After an hour and a half wait the wind had dropped and so the race was started in 18 knot winds. The predicted wind arrived at the windward sector of the course just as the first boats were arriving at the first mark. Boats began flipping right and left with not more than a third of the fleet remaining on the course. Elms went over three times but still managed to keep going. An interesting quirk was that the heavy wind, estimated at 45-50 knots took a good 30 minutes to arrive at the race committee boat. When it did the race was abandoned. There were no injuries and the boat damage was surprisingly little considering the force of the wind.
The following day light air and strong current gave the competitors the worst race of the series. Conrad led at the triangle followed by Pastori and Elms. Elms overtook both and finished a half a leg in front of Conrad with Takao Ninomiya of Japan in third place. The wind had shifted and the last two legs were reaches. The marks could not be moved since boats were on both windward and leeward legs of the course.
The races on Thursday were dominated by Stewart and Conrad. Stewart took the fourth followed by Conrad, Gancedo and Elms. Conrad won the fifth followed by Elms and Sonny DeCosta from Bermuda third. Elms made a tremendous recovery from the 14th position at the end of the triangle.
The sixth race on Friday was won by Conrad followed by Gancedo and Sonny DeCosta. The wind/tide conditions finally caught up with Elms and he took his worst race, a seventh. At this point, Conrad and Elms were tied after considering their throwout race.
The wind had picked up to 15 knots and Elms was boxed in at the start giving Conrad a good position. Surprisingly, Conrad did not cover and held to the starboard side of the course. Elms held to the port side to take advantage of the strong current. Conrad admitted it was a mistake but he was expecting the usual wind shift that never did appear.
An interesting note is that the Snipe Class is coming under increasing interest from outside the class. Joerg Bruder, top Finn sailor, built new fiberglass Snipes for this championship. The boats were very competitive as compared with the few boats brought by their own skippers.
England was represented by Rodney Pattison, a three-time World Champion in Flying Dutchmen. His performance was probably not indicative of his sailing ability since Snipe is slanted towards tactics whereas in Flying Dutchmen it is strictly boat speed.
Officials for the regatta included Edward Stutterheim, President of the Flying Dutchman class and internationally known regatta official, Jonathan Janson, vice-president of I.Y.R.U. and Otto Schlenzka, race committee chairman at Kiel and slated for the Olympics in 1972.
Ralph Conrad, the Brazilian competitor won the right to represent his country in the preliminary series. As teenagers, he and his brother won the Pan Am Games in 1963. His crew was Pedro Reinhard who was Gold Medalist at the 1971 Pan Am Games.
Elms’s crew was 14-year-old Craig Martin who is sailing his second year with Elms. Twenty-year old Roger Stewart, the U.S. National Champion, had his brother Jerry as crew. Jerry is U.S. Junior Champion. Sonny DeCosta is over 40 years old and has been sailing for only 3 years, the same number of years as Roger Stewart. Young or old there appears to be plenty of talent coming along.”
Pattisson’s Account and Technical Context
Decades later, British Olympic legend Rodney Pattisson offered a critical perspective in his 2019 autobiography Superdocious!: Racing Insights and Revelations from Legendary Olympic Sailor Rodney Pattisson (2019 Bloomsbury Publishing):
“Then there is the question of getting sailors to resist the temptation of cheating on the water. Body movement is the single biggest contributor to boat speed and needs to be better policed. My first experience of this was at the Snipe World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro back in 1969. I was competing in a hopelessly uncompetitive Brazilian boat and was up against the American Earl Elms, who had won the world championship many times. Well overweight himself, Elms employed a lightweight child as his crew. He would then use his considerable weight to slowly and gently rock his boat along. Such was the value of this movement that in light airs in particular he was quite unbeatable, though few sailors realised the benefits and the only noticeable sign was the gentle movement of his mast.
The only way to control what we call illegal ooching of body weight and the compensatory pumping of sails in light weather is with jury.”
Pattisson’s memory betrays a few clear flaws: he gets the year wrong (placing the event in 1969 instead of 1971) and airs decades-old grievances with rather poor style, especially given that Earl Elms passed away in 2014 and is no longer around to reply.
The “lightweight child” dismissively mentioned was actually 14-year-old Craig Martin (who went on to win silver as a skipper at the 1983 Snipe Worlds), and the alleged unsportsmanlike behavior was never penalized: the International Jury at the event found no infractions whatsoever, judging Elms’s boat handling to be completely regular and compliant with the Racing Rules of Sailing in force at the time. Far from “cheating,” the Californian champion was simply a decade ahead of his time, now widely recognized as a pioneer of modern sailing kinetics and dynamic boat handling.
IYRU Rule 60 (1969) – Means of Propulsion “A yacht shall be propelled only by the natural action of the wind on the sails, the water on the hull, and by the normal use of the rudder and centerboard. No manual or mechanical means of propulsion, other than those permitted by the rules, shall be used.”
In 1971, Rule 60 of the 1969 IYRU Racing Rules was in effect. Only later did the racing rules evolve into the current RRS 42, which is further complemented by class-specific interpretations/guidelines, including those of the Snipe Class.
The Snipe Bulletin documented the equipment and tactical environment at the 1971 event:
Sails: Elms’ were the most popular sails used in the regatta. The sails are perfectly suited to the Cobra mast and aluminum boom. Norths were used by Spain, Argentina, Bermuda and Canada and seemed to be fast in all conditions. Uruguay, Brazil (main only) and South Africa used Piccolo sails. Finland used his own sails. Sweden used Levinsons. Earl used a 4.5 jib and a 3.8 main. The numbers were marked on by felt pen to insure a smooth cloth and decrease porosity. Rodney Pattison tried Bruce Banks sails but had little success and substituted Elms.
Teams: Both USA crews and Brazil were extremely confident of their chances. They had spent a lot of time insuring that everything worked perfectly. The Spaniards used the Bruder boat but their first step was to make it into a replica of the boat at home. They came well prepared with spare masts and fittings. Rodney Pattison from England was impressed by the calibre of competition, the closeness of the racing and the fact that the boat is suited to the tactician. Several times he felt he was on the wrong side of the course and in his FD would simply be able to use boat speed in the right direction. He found the Snipe less forgiving. His techniques downwind were good, but he lacked upwind experience.
In the same issue of the Snipe Bulletin, former SCIRA Commodore Basil Kelly offered some sharp criticisms regarding the organization and safety conditions in Rio. Reflecting on the event, Kelly suggested that future boards avoid hosting World Championships at massive clubs in large cities, where competitors felt like an inconvenience to the club’s 4,000 members. He detailed the dangerous conditions during the third race when 50-knot gusts and a 3-knot tide caused widespread capsizes across the fleet. Sailing an older wooden boat without built-in flotation or a self-rescuing cockpit, Kelly’s Snipe swamped and capsized. After being picked up by an official rescue boat carrying IYRU officials, Kelly noted that even the new self-rescuing Bruder Snipes failed to drain properly once filled with water. Upon returning home to the Bahamas, Kelly retrofitted his own boat with transom drain holes and foam flotation to ensure it could be righted and sailed away independently. In reality, by subsequently organizing numerous top-tier Snipe Class events, Rio and its Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro proved Basil Kelly’s criticisms wrong, demonstrating over the following years that it is one of the most famous and highly appreciated sailing venues in the world.
1971 Worlds’ Video at this link:
XX – Rye, New York, USA, September 16-22, 1961
- Axel Schmidt, Brazil
- Harry Levinson, USA
- Duque de Arion, Spain
Sailed on Long Island Sound, 18 nations
XXI – Isle de Bendor, France, September 7-14, 1963
- Axel Schmidt, Brazil
- Reinaldo Conrad, Brazil
- Basil Kelly, Bahamas
Sailed on the Mediterranean Sea, 22 nations
XXII – Las Palmas, Grand Canary Island, Spain, September 9-14, 1965
- Axel and Eric Schmidt, Brazil
- Harry and Alan Levinson, USA
- John Hoyt and Hovey Freeman, Puerto Rico
- Basil Kelly and Pedro Wassitch, Bahamas
- Pedro Casado and Felix Gancedo, Spain
Sailed on the Atlantic Ocean, 25 nations
XXIII – Nassau, Bahamas, November 5-10, 1967
- Nelson Piccolo and C. Henrique de Lorenzi, Brazil
- Earl Elms and Dave Ullman, USA
- Anton Grego and Simo Nikolic, Yugoslavia
- Patrick van Godtsenhoven and Charles de Bontridder, Belgium
- Basil Kelly and Pedro Wassitch, Bahamas
Sailed in Coral Harbor, 24 nations
XXIV – Luanda, Angola, Portuguese West Africa, October 24-November 1, 1969
- Earl Elms and Mike Shear, USA
- Reinaldo Conrad and Mario Buckup, Brazil
- Paulo Santos and Fernando da Silva, Portugal
- T. Ericsson and B. Engstrom, Sweden
- Nelson Piccolo and C. Henrique de Lorenzi, Brazil
Sailed on Luanda Bay, 24 nations
XXV – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 8-15, 1971
- Earl Elms and Craig Martin, USA
- Ralph Conrad and Pedro Reinhardt, Brazil
- Felix Gancedo and Antonio Burgos, Spain
- Roger Stewart and Jerry Stewart, USA
- Sonny DeCosta and Mickey Adderly, Bermuda
Sailed on Guanabara Bay, 21 nations
About the 2026 Snipe Worlds:
Mahon, Menorca, Spain, September 19-26, 2026
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