Interview with Taylor Scheuermann, SCIRA Secretary

Please, can you introduce yourself?

I currently live in Miami, Florida, in the United States. I serve as the Miami Snipe Fleet captain, and I am a District Governor for the Southeast United States, serving on the SCIRA USA Board. Alongside a tremendous team, I recently helped to organize the 2024 Snipe Jr. World Championship in Miami.

I started sailing Snipes in 2008, as a direct result of the opportunities presented by Augie Diaz, Peter Commette, and Doug Broeker. Their respective mentorships tremendously influenced the exponential progress of my sailing growth. 

Despite being the youngest member of the new Board, you have a good international experience both as a skipper and as a crew. Can you list the main international regattas in which you participated?

I have been very fortunate to sail in many international regattas, the most notable of which have been the Jr. World Championship (2011, Skipper), Women’s World Championship (2010 & 2018, Skipper), Western Hemisphere & Orient Championship (2010, Crew / 2021, Skipper), European Championship (2023, Crew), and World Championship (2019 & 2022, Skipper / 2024, Crew). While the venues were beautiful and the sailing was superb, the most valuable part of these travels has been the relationships made with Snipe sailors around the world!

You come from a historical and quality fleet that has grown a lot in recent years, even with young people. Which, in your opinion, is the secret of your fleet?

Our fleet is very fortunate to have resources available to sponsor new Snipe sailors and promote their growth. Our fleet also maintains a high level of enthusiasm and communication, which yields positive returns. Constant communication through WhatsApp promotes frequent, organized, and high-level practices nearly every weekend.

According to SCIRA Constitution: “The Secretary will oversee membership trends and patterns and report to the Board.” Apart from this, what will be your contribution to the Board and the Class? Do you have any ideas or a program? Internal organization, promotion, communication, transparency? In which areas the class can be, in your opinion, improved?

The Board has a responsibility to listen to Snipe sailors around the world, to duly represent the class and its sailors, and to provide ample resources to support the class in its growth. Constructive ideas and opinions will continue to be encouraged, with the intention of improving the class and enhancing the opportunities for sailors therein. Facilitating clear, accessible, and consistent feedback processes is imperative to ensure member voices are heard and considered in decision-making.

To foster talent and enthusiasm, we must actively promote youth and female participation, both at regattas and in roles that empower them to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to the class. Youth-specific programs, clinics, and mentorship opportunities can inspire the next generation of Snipe sailors. Similarly, supporting women-focused clinics, incentivizing attendance at women’s championships, and creating leadership opportunities will foster greater inclusivity and diversity.

In addition, the Snipe class must continue to prioritize its digital communication strategy. Leveraging social media platforms to provide real-time updates, highlight events, and celebrate successes remains critical. These platforms should also serve as accessible sources for essential resources, such as event calendars, newsletters, and training materials. By maintaining and strengthening our social media presence, we can continue to inspire global visibility, engagement, and connection. Showcasing how our class embodies the “Serious Sailing, Serious Fun” motto will further attract new sailors to the Snipe.