TMN Snipe World Championship 2007

by Alexandra Trindade on 11 Sep 2007 American crews are highlighted candidates for the World Snipe Class Title. The Championship, taking place at Leixões between the 8th and the 15th of September, is organized by the Clube de Vela Atlântico and will be challenged by 60 crews from 18 countries.

The North American Augie Diaz, consecutive world champion, is the greatest star athlete competing at the TMN Snipe World Championship and is expected to heat up Leixões waters. The sailor from the United States crews up with Mark Ivey and bears the highest expectations for the title.

He will be facing a powerful fleet, headed by his compatriots Ernesto Rodriguez/Leandro Spina, winners of the Milaneza Trophy (Pre-race for the World Championship). Also in the first line of competing crews one finds the Brazilian champions, Bruno Benthlem/Dante Bianchi and the Pan-American champions, Alexandre Paradeda/Pedro Tinoco, also from Brazil: 'It is my first time at Leixões. I’ve been training for two days with weak winds, but I have to use what I get ', so states the well humoured Paradeda.

The Spanish fleet, the largest European one, is headed by their national champions Francisco Ferrer/Marina Ferrer. The weak winds seem to please the double-hand team of the neighbour country: 'Since were light weighted, the weak winds and current we’ve been getting may come to our advantage. Nevertheless, the American fleet is very strong ', says Francisco Ferrer.

Portugal is represented by six crews. Diogo Cayolla/Rui Castilho, Tiago Roquette/José Távora, Joaquim Moreira/Ana Champalimaud, Diogo Talone/Pedro Pintão, Martinho Fortunato/Tiago Marcelino e Gonçalo Guerra/Tiago Guerra.

Cayolla, the current National Champion, expects to make the best out of home waters and sail his way to the top 10: 'It would be fabulous to finish among the first 10. This is my first international championship of the year and were facing professionals ', he emphasizes.

Tiago Roquette, present leader of the national ranking, does not include himself among the title candidates: 'Our experience at the Milaneza Trophy was excellent since we made it in second. It can be a hopeful sign for the World Championship but I do not include our crew among the tem most promising ', he declares.

The tune-up race, scheduled for today, had to be abandoned due to the fog settled off Leixões. The first race of the TMN Snipe World Championship is scheduled for tomorrow at noon.