Snipe South European Championship – Sergio Michel Trophy

Portoroz, June 6-7, 2015. Final results after 6 races (1 discard)

Photo credit: Jana Pines

1. Pietro Fantoni & Marinella Gorgatto, 8

2. Stefano Longhi & Eleonora Zuzic, 14

3. Fabio Rochelli & Daniela Semec, 16

Report, full results and photos

The 2015 edition of the South European Championship was held in Portoroz, Slovenia, organized by Jahtni Klub Portoroz.

Slovenia is a young country, independent since 1991, with only about 20 nautical miles of coastline but a strong interest in sailing. In 2014 Portoroz hosted a Snipe regatta and sailors experienced the hospitality of the club and the excellent race area. So for 2015 SCIRA Italy proposed the bid (and then got the support of the European National Secretaries) for Portoroz to host the South European Championship, even though there is not yet a Snipe fleet in Slovenia. The choice was apt because the bay of Portoroz is an ideal race area for the Snipe, both with the sea breeze and the “bora” (offshore wind).

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On Saturday the first race, in light winds, was won by the juniors Michele Meotto and Alberto Cassandro. Then the wind strengthened to 12 knots and the two subsequent races were won by Pietro Fantoni and Marinella Gorgatto, with Fabio and Daniela Rochelli second.

Back on land, after many hours on the water under a blazing sun, the competitors were able to rehydrate with good fresh Slovenian beer. Then the evening continued with a dinner of fish (accompanied by music from a string sextet).

On Sunday, the wind blew from the land (Bora) with gusts, lulls and big shifts. Each race could be considered finished only on the finish line. Three different teams won the three races (with wind from 8 to 15 knots): Stefano Longhi and Eleonora Zuzic, Tom Stahl and Jacopo and Pietro Fantoni and Marinella Gorgatto.

The winners of the trophy, which has been held since 2009 in memory of Sergio Michel (winner of six Italian Nationals), were Pietro and Marinella, who finished just ahead of Stefano Longhi and Elenora Zuzic. Fabio and Daniela Rochelli Semec were third.

Thanks to Jahtni Klub Portoroz and all the volunteers for their excellent work on the sea and on land. See you next year in the beatiful Bay of Portoroz … and don’t forget the second leg of the 2015 Summer Circuit (Piada Trophy – Campionato dell’Adriatico in Chioggia, June 27-28).

More photos

Final Results
Sergio Michel Trophy