Snipe Class in Poland

by Filadelfia Bachorz and Ewa Kulesza Kierskie lake is a small post-glacial lake located within the area of the city of Poznań in western Poland. In the sixties, seventies and eighties sailing reached its peak of popularity, therefore many famous Olympics competitors and sailors came from this region. At that time, there were twelve active sailing clubs located in Kiekrz – today, there are only six clubs involved in the competition. In the sixties, Snipe was a very popular Polish sailing class. Many of the Polish champions came from the clubs located in Kiekrz. The Snipe boat was also suitable for training purposes like no other floating unit. ...

by Filadelfia Bachorz and Ewa Kulesza

Kierskie lake is a small post-glacial lake located within the area of the city of Poznań in western Poland. In the sixties, seventies and eighties sailing reached its peak of popularity, therefore many famous Olympics competitors and sailors came from this region. At that time, there were twelve active sailing clubs located in Kiekrz – today, there are only six clubs involved in the competition.

In the sixties, Snipe was a very popular Polish sailing class. Many of the Polish champions came from the clubs located in Kiekrz. The Snipe boat was also suitable for training purposes like no other floating unit.

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The hulls at that time were constructed from wood. At the same time, new constructions based on modern solutions began to appear, based on such materials as plywood and plastics used in Hornet, Cadet, OK dinghy classes, which were later replaced by lighter constructions from laminates applied in 420 and 470 classes. Fewer and fewer competitors were interested in racing in this technically tricky and heavy-weight class. The boats were slowly vanishing from the club hangars. None of the Polish boat producers undertook the production of Snipe boats based on new technologies. The last Polish National Championship was held in 1967, and the winner was a junior (at that time) crew that consisted of Janusz Knasiecki and Bohdan Ratajczak. The break in organizing the Snipe Nationals in Poland lasted as long as 34 years.

In 1998, Michał Koczorowski and Mirek Błoch were invited by their French friends to compete in the Snipe class regatta in Le Havre, France. Many of us were astonished by the class high popularity in the world. The aforementioned French friends, the couple Jacques and Metschild Romain, for the two following years rented the boats free of charge. Later, they offered to lend two fully equipped boats for sailing with a possibility of their further purchase. The good will and contribution of our French friends as well as the enthusiasm of Polish competitors paved the path to the 2001 Polish Championship, which was organized for the first time after a long, over a three decade, break. The presence of befriended French teams initiated the international nature of this event. The winners were Mirosław and Jacek Błoch (the first president of the Snipe class in Poland). Moreover, the ”old champions” were also competing in this event and a year later they came back to the leader position, which they managed to hold for many subsequent years.

Mirek and Jacek Błoch, Bogdan Ratajczak, Zbyszek Zibi Rakocy, along with their friends, were for many years wholeheartedly involved in organizing races and they also promoted our class among younger competitors. The great effort of this small group of enthusiasts brought about tangible outcomes and raised a great interest in the Snipe class . Every year our class attracts new competitors.

Poznań and Kierskie lake has become the center of the Snipe class not only in Poland but also in Eastern Europe. Nowadays, there are about 30 Snipe class boats here and over several dozens of sailors.

Polish Snipe sailors have been taking part in international events since the reactivation of the class. Our teams compete in many prestigious Snipe championships and regattas around the world. Owing to the fantastic atmosphere, Polish competitors are particularly fond of regattas in Italy in Caldonazzo, Molveno, as well as the Belgium Championship, held annually in Schrendijke. Belgian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, German, French and Brazilian teams, often representing the world’s top sailors, keep coming back to numerous Polish evens, such as the Polish Championship as well as the European Cup and Eastern European Cup that have been recently organized in Poland.

One of the most important events for the Snipe class in Poland was the European Cup organized by Zibi Rakocy in 2014 in Kamień Pomorski.

For the las few year we have organized the Polish Junior Championship as well as the Polish Masters Championship on Kierskie lake, which every year attract more and more interest.

The board of the class under the leadership of the president Zibi Rakocy, Rafał Zakrzewski, Darek Sibilski, Mirosław Błoch, Sylwia Kędzierska Polaczyk and Jakub Kulesza have been very efficient and contributed to the organization of annual Snipe events in Poland. Zibi Rakocy for several years held the position of the SCIRA General Secretary Europe. Currently, he holds the position of SCIRA Secretary of the Board.

This year, Belgian and Italian sailors have already expressed their willingness to participate in the East European Cup organized in Poznań. The event is going to be in line with our class motto:
„Serious Sailing”– Serious Fun!

We cordially invite all Snipe sailors. Good fun and sailing guaranteed.The races will be held from July 20th to 22nd 2018 on the waters of Kierskie Lake in Poznań.