The "Snipe Sailor of the Year": Glory, Vanity, or Just a Popularity Contest? - SnipeToday

Do you feel like an inner voice is whispering that something is missing this year? That nagging sense that there is a void in your digital life? Exactly a year ago, over at SnipeTonight, we asked the same burning question: Do you miss the “Snipe Sailor of the Year” poll?

From 2011 to 2022, SnipeToday was the stage for this prestigious (and occasionally chaotic) ritual. Looking back at the Hall of Fame, the names are legendary. We’ve seen the likes of Alexandre Tinoco, Raul Rios, Damian Borras, and the 2022 champions Alfredo Gonzalez & Cristian Sanchez take the crown. We even tracked the “Fleet of the Year,” which, let’s be honest, seemed to be a permanent residency for Spain (Las Palmas, Cadiz, Mahon… do they even sail anywhere else?).

Snipe Sailor of the Year

2022 Alfredo Gonzalez & Cristian Sanchez (ESP)

2021 Martin Bermudez de la Puente & Angela Pumariega (ESP)

2020 not awarded

2019 Damian Borras, with Sara Franceschi (ESP), Alexandra Wang (NOR), Jordi Triay (ESP)

2018 Damian Borras Camps & Jordi Triay (ESP)

2017 Raul Rios (PUR) and Mac Agnese (USA)

2016 Birger Jansen & Janett Krefting (NOR)

2015 Raul Rios (PUR) with crews Fernando Monllor, Andre Guaragna (USA) and Kara Voss (USA)

2014 Manu Hens (BEL) with crews Victor Perez Campos (ESP), Maj Kristin Hansen Borgen (NOR), Enrico Michel (ITA) and Alexandre Tinoco (BRA)

2013 Tiago Roquette and Tiago Morais (POR)

2012 Raul de Valenzuela and Alejandre de Ona Antolin (ESP)

2011 Alexandre Tinoco and Gabriel Borges (BRA)

Snipe Fleet of the Year:

2022 Fleet 287 Las Palmas (ESP)

2021 Fleet 886 Cadiz (ESP)

2020 Fleet 187 Mahon (ESP)

The Great Democracy Dilemma

The pros of such a poll are obvious: it brings in fresh eyes, sailors from other classes, and—most importantly—thousands of aunts, cousins, and high school friends of the nominees who have never touched a mainsheet in their lives.

But let’s be real. There’s a fine line between “Best Sailor” and “Most Likely to Spam Their WhatsApp Contacts.” We all know some absolute titans of the class are missing from that historical list.

2025: The Year of Impossible Choices

In a World Championship year, the math is easy: Win the Worlds, win the title. Simple.

But what about a year like 2025? How do we weigh the scales? Who was truly the best?

The European Champions?
The Western Hemisphere & Orient winners?
The Master Worlds legends (who likely had the best wine at the dinner)?
The Women’s Worlds powerhouse?

Red carpet

If we start adding categories for Men, Women, Juniors, and “Lifetime Achievement,” we aren’t a sailing class anymore—we’re the Academy Awards. Should we prepare for red carpets at the boat park? Will the winner thank their sailmaker, their mother, and their carbon-fiber tiller extension in a tearful three-minute speech?

The “Expert” Solution?

Even the Snipe Photo of the Year wasn’t safe from drama. We asked for “Art,” and voters instead chose “the photo that has my friend in it.” Professional photographers were outraged, claiming the selection was subpar.

So, do we hand the power over to a “Super-Secret Committee” of experts? A smoke-filled room of Snipe elders deciding our fate? It sounds sophisticated, but it lacks the chaotic energy of a public brawl.

Our Modest Proposal

Perhaps the secret is to follow the SnipeTonight motto: “You cannot be serious!” These polls are games designed to keep the community alive during the cold winter months (at least in the Northern hemisphere).

To keep things spicy, we’re considering a shift in direction. Instead of the “Best,” why don’t we vote for:

The “Character” of the Year: A pure popularity contest for the person who makes the boat park worth visiting.

The “Epic Capsize” Award: A poll for the most ridiculous regatta moment, the most embarrassing social event blunder, the most spectacular capsize, or the most disastrous road trip.

What do you think? Should we bring back the traditional polls, hand the keys to a “Super-Secret Committee,” or embrace the chaos and vote for the most entertaining characters and disasters of 2025?

So, Attention Snipe Sailors! It’s time to cast your ballots for the ‘Character of the Year’ and the ‘Epic Capsize’ award. But here’s the catch: don’t just drop a name—we want the receipts. Tell us exactly why your nominee deserves the crown. Whether they are the life of every post-race party or the genius who brought two left gloves on the boat, we want to hear your justifications!

Drop a comment below and let us know—we promise not to tell the “Super-Secret Committee” what you said!

Note: The “Exchange of Views and Reading” section of this website hosts the views of the Snipe Sailors.

This article represents a personal opinion, which may not coincide with the official opinion or view of the Class or other sailors. We deem it useful to discuss (naturally avoiding offensive content) various topics relating to our Class, to allow for an open and democratic discussion, as has always been the case on SnipeToday for more than a decade.

Dear readers, if you want to reply to this article, agreeing, or disagreeing, or proposing different solutions, I will be happy to host you in this section of the site (email to: [email protected])