2015 Snipe World Champs - 83 teams from 18 nations are ready to fight

by Tessa Wiechmann on 21 Sep 2015 On Sunday evening, the Opening Ceremony of the Snipe World Championship hosted by the Circolo della Vela Talamone was held in Maremma, Tuscany. The #snipeworlds2015 will take place from the 19th to the 26th of September. The 83 teams from 18 nations in representation of over 130 yacht clubs paraded through the ancient village of Talamone from the lighthouse and Yacht club to the race village. In the early afternoon, over half the fleet took part in the Practice Race under sunny skies and a northwesterly breeze at 14-16 knots with the Islands of Elba and Giglio serving as a backdrop.

Invited on the podium by the vice-President of the Circolo Vela Talamone Alessandro Testa, at the Opening Ceremony SCIRA Representative Gweneth Cook from Canada said: “Grazie to Italy and to Talamone for doing such a great job and hosting the Championship. I am thrilled to have such a wonderful turnout and on Behalf of the SCIRA Board, I wish all competitors an good week of sailing and excellent racing”.

The Commodore of the Circolo Vela Talamone Ammiraglio Sergio Biraghi then took the floor to thank all those who worked so hard to make the event happen. “We have been working for this event for two years and none of this would have been possible without the dedication and passion of all our staff who are here to make you stay as enjoyable and possible”, Biraghi stated.

The Mayor of Orbetello Monica Paffetti wrapped up the official speeches thanking all 18-nation representatives for having made the trip and wishing participants fair winds. “May the beauty of the surroundings resonate with the purity of your spirit of competition”.

SCIRA Representative Gweneth Cook declared the Snipe World Championship officially open and in the evening, all participants enjoyed a buffet “aperitivo” with local wines and food delicacies while taking in the sunset over the bay of Talamone.

The warning signal for Race one is scheduled for Monday 21 September at 1 p.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.

Front-runners for the 2015 Snipe World Champion tile include Augie Diaz (USA), two-time world champion, Luis Soubie (Argentina), Alexandre Tinoco (Brazil), Raul de Valenzuela and Jordi Triay (Spain). Among the outsiders, Italians Solerio-Lambertenghi, Poggi-Vanni and Argentinians Agustin Zabalua and Miguel Costa.

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.

The Snipe Junior World Championship with the participation of 36 other crews from 11 nations finished last Friday. Antonio Lopez-Montoya and Gregory Belmonte Cuenca (ESP) are the 2015 Snipe Junior World Champions with 19 points. Second, Felipe Rondina- Luis Felipe Boani (BRA) with 21 points and third Michele Meotto-Alberto Cassandro (ITA) only one point behind.