Axel and Erik Schmidt

Axel and Erik Schmidt are pioneers of sailing in Brazil. Twins born in Rio de Janeiro on April 30, 1939 from a Danish father, also a sailor.

In the Snipe class the “Sea Twins” founded the 477 Snipe Fleet and started what became a longstanding tradition of Brazilians winning the Snipe Worlds. They conquered the Hub Isaacs Trophy three times in a row: in Rye, New York (1961), Bandol, France (1963) and Canary Islands (1965). After that, Brazil went on winning world titles another 11 times, two of which conquered by their nephew, Torben Grael.

The Schmidt brothers are the only Snipe sailors to win the Worlds three times in a row. They inspired several generations of Snipes sailors that followed in their family as well as in Brazil.

Axel left us and went on sailing on higher seas on June 10th 2018.