Torben Grael – Olympic and Snipe Sailor

Torben Grael grew up with sailboats as part of the family tradition. His grandfather sailed 6m’s and his uncles won the Snipe World Championship three times. It wasn’t easy finding the right boat, but when his family moved to Brazilia he was impressed with the Snipe and started sailing one.

Torben won the Jr. Worlds in 1978 in San Diego. Five years later he won the Snipe Worlds in Portugal sailing an old wooden Snipe with his brother Lars. They struggled in the light air since they weighed in at 165 kilos. That’s well over the recommended weight.

He went on to win a Star World Championship and five Olympic medals; four in the Star and one in the soling. He’s won distance races like the Volvo Ocean race on Ericson 4 and won the Louis Vuitton Trophy in 2000 on Luna Rosa. In Brazil he’s won 35 National Championships in eight different classes.