2011 Snipe Pan American Game Trials - A beautiful day of sailing

by John Payne on 2 Apr 2011 2011 Snipe Pan American Game Trials kicked off on the waters off Dania Beach, Florida. Put on by Lauderdale Yacht Club, the day featured three exciting races with a different winner in each.

Beautiful weather and 80 degree temperatures greeted the competitors as the last remnants of a frontal system moved out of the area. Coming off the shore, the winds proved to be quite shifty and puffy all day, with velocities ranging between 8 and 15 knots.

In the first race Raul Rios and crew Marco Teixidor (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) grabbed the favored right side of the race course and never looked back. They were closely pursued by Augie Diaz (Miami, FL) and crew, Kathleen Tocke who finished second. Rounding out the top five were Brian Kamilar and Enrique Quintero (both of Miami, FL), Ernesto Rodriguez (Miami, FL) with Mary Hall, and Andrew Pimental (Portsmouth, RI) with Julie Marsh.

The second race saw several lead changes in the first two legs. Brian Kamilar looked like he was going to slide up the left side to lead at the top mark but a late header allowed Mitch Hall (New Orleans, LA) and Doug Hart (San Diego, CA) to each sneak in front to round one-two. Rodriguez and Pimintal rounded fourth and fifth. As those five traded places on the downwind, Peter Commette (Fort Lauderdale, FL) with Niki Medley stayed close. After rounding seventh at the leeward mark, Commette made a hard left and took the left side of the course, finding a big, favorable shift. Riding the shift, he rounded the second weather mark well in the lead. Commette held his lead through each of the next two legs, and managed to hold off Andrew Pimental at the finish to take the gun. Kamilar, Diaz and Rodriguez rounded out the top five. Do you see a trend developing with those three? Raul Rios found himself over early and took an OCS.

The third race was the more of the same. The right side paid early, especially at the top of the course, as Rodriguez lead Diaz around the weather mark. A surprise in third was junior skipper Scott Ewing (Miami, FL) with Cody Stansky (Miami, FL). By the end of the race, Augie and Ernesto were locked in a bit of a match race coming up the left side. Augie managed to cover Ernesto cleanly to win the race. In another surprise, Miami junior sailors Taylor Scheurmann and Jackson Fadley finished third. Fourth and fifth went to two of the usual suspects, Brian Kamilar and Raul Rios, bouncing back from his OCS.

Standing in first place are Augie Diaz and Kathleen Tocke. Just three points back are Brian Kamilar and Enrique Quintero. One point behind them are Ernesto Rodriguez and Mary Hall. Rounding out the top five are Andrew Pimintal with Julie Marsh and Austin Kana (Arlington, VA) with Daniel Thompson.

Back on shore, the competitors were treated to an ice cold beverage in the boat park, that was followed next to the pool by a great buffett dinner, daily awards for firsts, and a slide show.

Full results: http://www.lyc.org/files/snipe11.html

Photos: http://www.johnpaynephoto.printroom.com/snipepanamtrials