2016 Snipe North Americans: Variety is the Spice of Sailing

Severn Sailing AssociationJune 3-5, 2016 The 2016 Snipe North American Championship set at least two standards for Serious Sailing, Serious Fun over three days: the largest number of registrants for a national regatta on the continent since at least 2009 (69); and a far wider variety of conditions than expected. Two drifter races on Friday, everything from drifter to full hiking breeze on Saturday (with the expected weekend powerboat chop), and then solid breeze and a lonely Chesapeake Bay on Sunday—which provided great sailing conditions for the final three races of the event. Variety may be the spice of life, but it is also a great test of skill. This was definitely not a "one setting" regatta. ...

by Carol Cronin 06/06/2016

2016 Snipe North Americans: Variety is the Spice of Sailing Image

Severn Sailing Association
June 3-5, 2016

The 2016 Snipe North American Championship set at least two standards for Serious Sailing, Serious Fun over three days: the largest number of registrants for a national regatta on the continent since at least 2009 (69); and a far wider variety of conditions than expected. Two drifter races on Friday, everything from drifter to full hiking breeze on Saturday (with the expected weekend powerboat chop), and then solid breeze and a lonely Chesapeake Bay on Sunday—which provided great sailing conditions for the final three races of the event. Variety may be the spice of life, but it is also a great test of skill. This was definitely not a “one setting” regatta.

…

With three races on the final day and a lot of mixed up scores, it was hard on the sail back to the dock to figure out who won—even for the two top teams. When the dust settled, George Szabo/Diana Waterbury would’ve needed three less points to beat out Doug Hart/Ryan Hopps, in spite of the winning team’s 17th in the first race Sunday. Nick Voss/Nicole Popp had been lurking well down the results sheet, but once they were able to drop a 45th from day one, they slid up to third overall. Fourth place team Jensen McTighe/Brendan Feeney counted no finish worse than ninth, a great result just ahead of their departure for the Snipe Western Hemispheres in Brazil.

Much appreciation goes to the race committee, led by PRO Steve Podlich, who rightly prioritized racing in good breeze over sending us home early on Saturday and Sunday. And with two great dinners, the ever-present beer truck, and a mix of socializing and learning that included a winner’s debrief on Saturday evening, Severn Sailing Association’s Fleet 532 (led by Chris Ryan) set a new standard for Serious Sailing, Serious Fun. This will be a hard one to beat—though hopefully the participation record will be broken again very soon.

1	20/ 31297	Doug Hart/Ryan Hopps	MBYC	1	1	2	[25]	4	17	6	3	34.00	1
2	57/ 30337	George Szabo/Dianna Waterbury	San Diego Yacht Club	4	8	7	[11]	3	4	4	6	36.00	2
3	63/ 28814	Nicholas Voss/Nicole Popp	Coral Reef Yacht Club	3	[45]	5	4	6	12	8	5	43.00	3
4	36/ 30027	Jensen McTighe/Brenden Feeney	Lauderdale Yacht Club	8	5	[32]	8	9	7	3	8	48.00	4
5	09/ 31027	Edgar Diminich/Jaime Santos	FEVELA/SYC	[70/OCS]	2	10	13	5	2	2	16	50.00	5
6	49/ 31130	Ernesto Rodriguez/Eduardo Supercrew		7	[22]	3	16	7	11	5	2	51.00	6
7	08/ 30288	Augie Diaz/Julia Melton	BBYC/CRYC/CGSC	21	6	6	7	1	1	[24]	10	52.00	7
8	02/ 30473	Arthur Blodgett/Terra Berlinski		9	7	1	3	[27]	3	12	17	52.00	8
9	34/ 28854	Randy Lake/Nikki Bruno		5	4	12	[19]	2	14	19	1	57.00	9
10	05/ 30860	Carol Cronin/Kim Couranz	Severn Sailing Association	16	[18]	13	2	11	6	11	4	63.00	10