2015 Snipe World Championship – Tough fight on Day 2

by Tessa Wiechmann on 23 Sep 2015 Day two of racing in Talamone Tuscany @ the Snipe World Championship organized by the Circolo della Vela Talamone with another two races completed. After four races, Soubie-Lipszyc from Argentina are in the lead with 21 points (four – six – eight - three) followed in second place by the two-time World Champion Augie Diaz racing with Kathleen Tocke at 39 points (twelve – five – seven - fifteen). Third, Belgian Hens racing with Spaniard Campos at 46 points (nine – two – twenty-five - ten).

Today’s races were won by Jordi Triay Pons-Lluis Mas Barceló (ESP) in Race three and by 18 and 19 year old Felipe Santa Rita-Luis Felipe Meirelles (BRA), who finished second overall in last week’s Junior Snipe World Championship.

Once again Snipe Bay in Talamone, Tuscany delivered great racing conditions. After yesterday’s strong winds, the 83 crews from 18 nations cut the starting line with flat seas, sunny skies and a nine-twele knot westerly breeze. An extremely tactical race day, with wind direction fluctuations that were continuously interpreted to adapt the race course in the best of ways by the President of the Race Committee Fabio Barasso and coordinated by the Club Velico Talamone’s Vice-President Alessandro Testa.

The first race of the day, Race three, was led for four of the five legs by the Japanese Sasai-Ishikawa, but was finally won by the Spaniards Jordi Triay Pons (Menorca) and Luis Mas Barceló (Mallorca) who were able to roll the Japanese from the left side of the course in the final upwind leg. Third on the finish line, Brazilian Alexandre Tinoco-Nicholas Grael Pelican, son and nephew respectively of Lars and Torben Grael.

At the end of Race three, while still on the water, Jordi Triay Pons (ESP) stated: 'The race was very hard with constant wind shifts and changes of direction that we were able to read well. The first three races have been won by three different Spanish crews. This is undoubtedly proof that the level of Snipe Spanish is very high. Let's see what will happen tomorrow'.

For the second race, Race four, the wind increased to 11-12 knots. First on the finishing line, the 18 year old Brazilian helmsman Felipe Santa Rita with 19 year old Luis Felipe Meirelles. The two ranked second overall in last week’s Junior World Snipe Championship. Next on the finishing line, Japanese Oi-Sakai and third Luis Soubie-Diego Lipszyc from Argentina.

The best Italian crew in the overall standings is that of Enrico Solerio-Paolo Lambertenghi (YC Sanremo), eighth overall (fourteen – seven – twenty-one – twenty-two).

The World Snipe continues tomorrow with the possibility of completing up to three races. The warning signal for Race five is scheduled for Wednesday 23 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.