Junior Worlds: a Perspective from Down Under

This week's Snipe racing was quite impressive for me as a first-time participant in a Snipe international event. I was struck not only by the competitive level but also by the respect and fairness among fellow sailors.

by SnipeToday 01/11/2024

Junior Worlds: a Perspective from Down Under Image

by Anneke Meyer

I’m an 18-year-old Australian sailor who recently took part in the 2024 Junior Snipe World Championships. Normally, I sail the ILCA 6, and I’ve been fortunate to compete in two ILCA 6 Youth World Championships before this.

This week’s Snipe racing was quite impressive for me as a first-time participant in a Snipe international event. I was struck not only by the competitive level but also by the respect and fairness among fellow sailors. The racecourse was set against the stunning backdrop of Biscayne Bay in Miami, offering a diverse range of conditions that made each race unique. I was impressed with the professionalism of the race committee as they adapted to the changing conditions and maintained high quality racing.

Off the water, everyone was friendly, spending time at the club after races, catching up with friends, or making new ones. The overall atmosphere was great, thanks to the hard work of the regatta staff who made sure that every day we came ashore to music from a DJ and delicious, warm, fresh international food.

I’ve made many new friends from around the world during this event, and I’m grateful for the experience. The memories created here are something I’ll cherish for a long time. Besides the competition being super fun, I also learned so much. Not only did I learn how to sail a Snipe, but I also learnt how to work with a crew as a team. I love the Snipe because of the technical aspect that I don’t see in the ILCA class and the close racing the boat produces that puts a big emphasis on strategy and tactics.

In the end it was an invaluable experience that has improved my sailing across all classes and has taught me the importance of training in different boats to discover and progress new skills and for that I am so grateful. I want to give a huge thanks to Augie Diaz and Pietro Fantoni who organised my accommodation and boat which allowed me to compete and without which I wouldn’t have been able to go. They also taught me so much about sailing during my stay in Miami along with the coaching expertise of Kathleen Tocke. I also want to thank the Miami Snipe Fleet, Paola Prada for tirelessly supporting me and our Commodore Zibi Rakocy for helping Australia to come. Last but definitely not least, thank you to Cole Amaral for being a super patient and enthusiastic crew.

I am so excited for the next time I have the opportunity to sail the Snipe!