2015 Snipe World Championship – Tough fight for podium

by Tessa Wiechmann on 24 Sep 2015 Heavy duty sailing and good seamanship were called for on day three of racing in Talamone Tuscany @ the Snipe World Championship organized by the Circolo della Vela Talamone. Race five was completed with Mario Calazans-Daniel Seixas (BRA) crossing the finish line in first position. For safety reasons, race six was abandoned when a gale swept through Snipe Bay with winds on the race course reaching 26-30 knots.

A good call by the Race Committee chaired by Fabio Barasso who could also count on the on-the-water safety team of the Circolo della Vela Talamone to ensure all 83 crews from 18 nations could return safely to shore. Spaniards Soto Valero-Belmonte Cuenca dismasted and were towed into port.

After five races with no discard, Luis Soubie – Diego Lipszyc from Argentina are still in the lead with 32 points (four – six – eight – three - eleven). Augie Diaz - Kathleen Tocke (USA) are second at 43 points (twelve – five – seven – fifteen - four). Third place on the provisional scoreboard for Japanese Yuichi Oi-Noriaki Sakai at 60 points (eighteen – twenty-nine – nine – two - two).

Back on the docks, Brazilian helmsman Mario Calanzas winner of today’s race stated “It was a very difficult race, with the wind changing in pressure very often. We were able to tack in the headers, sail close to the wind in the first beat which allowed us to round Mark One in the lead. Our speed downwind was excellent and we managed to keep our Japanese and Brazilian friends in check even on the last beat.”

Best Italian crew overall, Franco Solerio (YC Sanremo) and Paolo Lambertenghi (CV Torbole) who now rank seventh overall thanks to an excellent seventh place in today’s race (fourteen – seven – twenty-one – twenty-two - seven).

In the evening a well-deserved Crew Party took place at the Race Village, whereas on Thursday 24 September the concert 'Saxophone Colours - from Paris to Buenos Aires' is scheduled at the Hospitality tent. Starring in the free concert open to all organized by the Associazione Culturale Kaletra, the exceptional duo formed by saxophonist David Vallini and pianist Giuliano Adorno.

The World Snipe continues tomorrow with the possibility of completing up to three races. The warning signal for Race six is scheduled for Thursday 24 September at 11 a.m.

On the starting line: Argentina (seven teams), Belgium (six), Brazil (nine), Columbia (one), Croatia (one), Denmark (one) Ecuador (two), Finland (one), France (two), Great Britain (one), Japan (seven), Norway (two), Poland (three), Spain (twelve), Sweden (two), United States (nine) and Uruguay (one). Italy is represented by 16 crews in the Snipe World Championship.

The Race Committee is formed by: Fabio Barrasso (President), Andrea Bimbi, Bruno Iazzetta, Giovanni Capitani, Alessandro Testa, Filippo Soffici and Fabio Andreuccetti. The International Jury is formed by: Tullio Giraldi (President), Licio Bruno Marques, Sergey Kuzovov, Charles Perry and Marco Cimarosti. The SCIRA representatives are Riccardo Lobato and Gweneth Cook. The Chief Measurer is Antonio Espada.

The Race Committee shall attempt to complete 11 races. No more than three races shall be sailed per day. On the last day of the regatta, no warning signal will be made after 3.30 pm. Three races are required to be completed to constitute a series. When fewer than six races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. When from six to eight races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. When nine or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst scores.

Prizes shall be awarded to the skipper and crew for the top 10 places. The Commodore Hub E.Isaacks perpetual trophy shall be awarded to the fleet of the winning skipper. The O’Leary Trophy shall be awarded to the crew winning the World Championship. The Earl Elms Perpetual Trophy shall be awarded to the winning skipper of the final race of the World Championship. Prizes will be presented to the best scorer of each day of races. A special prize drawing will take place during the Awards Ceremony. Only crews who are present at the Awards Ceremony will be entered into the prize drawing.