Miami sailors at 2007 Snipe World titles

by Lynn Fitzpatrick US Editor Sail-World.com on 16 Sep 2007 Perennially, the Miami Snipe fleet is among the strongest in the world. This past week, many of members of the fleet competed in the 2007 Snipe World Championship.

Miamian Augie Diaz, the reigning World Champion; Ernesto Rodriguez and Leandro Spina, the reigning US National Champions; Enrique Quintero, the 2006 US Junior Snipe Champion; Peter and Sheehan Commette and Gonzo Diaz were the local fleet’s representatives among the 18-member US delegation to qualify to compete in Portugal at this year’s Snipe World Championship.

Rodriguez and Spina did the Miami fleet proud by winning the Pre-World Test Regatta on September 1 and 2 in moderate to heavy air conditions. The winds, as well as the Rodriguez/Spina team’s good fortune dissipated this past week. Racing during two of the scheduled five days of the 2007 Snipe World Championship was canceled due to lack of wind.

The US Junior Team of Tomas Hornos (Swamscot, MA) and Enrique Quintero (Miami, FL) surprised the world by winning the opening race of the World Championship.

Not only that, they were able to hold their own by taking third and fourth in the subsequent races to lead the regatta as the clock ticked down and time ran out for any more races to be held.

In the end, Hornos and Quintero, who have done more than their share of practicing with the very talented members of the Miami Snipe Fleet, were crowned the 2007 Snipe World Champions.

Miami continues its stranglehold on the World Championship title although the reins have been passed to a younger generation. Peter and Sheehan Commette (Fort Lauderdale, FL) and Augie Diaz and Mark Ivey (Miami, FL) finished third and fourth, respectively in the 57-boat fleet.

Miami Fleet Captain and Snipe stalwart, Old Man Diaz’s comment once he heard the results, 'Super good, super good!'