Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship underway

by Jerelyn Biehl on 22 Nov 2012 The 2012 Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship got underway today in Buenos Aires, Argentina. One hundred competitors comprise the 50 teams representing seven nations. The list is a who’s who of Snipe sailing including eight current and former world champions.

Eager to beat an incoming storm, the first day held three races on the Rio de la Plata beginning with 12 knots, but decreasing through the day to eight knots with steep chop.

Reigning World Champions Bruno Bethlem and Dante Bianchi (BRA) lead after the first day with a 1-5-2 followed by Junichiro Shiraishi and Shinsei Ueda (JPN) with a 9-1-3. Former World Master champion Paulo Santos with Thiago Sangineto (BRA) sit in third with a 2-11-6. Argentines round out the top five with Eduardo Fumagallo and Alejandro Noe and Federico Calabrese and Gonzalo Ramos Vertiz respectively.

Yasuhiro Oguri and Naoyuki Nanba (JPN) are the top junior team in 16th, with Brenda Quagliotti and Victoria Courtade (ARG) as the top placing female team.

The forecast calls for strong winds and heavy rain for tomorrow.

Hosted by Yacht Club Olivos, this is the fourth time the Snipe Class has returned to Argentina for the championship which has been held since 1950, with the first event held in Havana, Cuba. SCIRA (Snipe Class International Racing Association) is celebrating its 81st year of competition with fleets in 27 countries and over 31,000 boats Full results here