Please select your home edition
Edition
Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025

Snipe Open at Blue Circle Sailing Club

by Iain Marshall 6 Jul 2011 06:16 PDT 2-3 July 2011

If at first you don't succeed is a saying that came true this weekend at Blue Circle Sailing Club for the 49th Snipe Open Meeting. After 29 years of trying, Mark Antonelli crewed by Tracey Norris took the honours in what was to prove a test of patience over 2 days and 4 races.

13 boats lined up for the first start on Saturday in what from the outset was to be a closely fought battle. Mark and Tracey led to the first mark, a lead they maintained for the first half of the race until they were eventually overhauled by Iain Marshall and Ewan Harris. Ian Knight and Caroline Murdoch had crept their way towards the front and it became a three way battle for the lead. On the final run, Mark and Tracey snuck through to take the honours with Ian and Caroline taking second and Iain and Ewan taking third.

The second started in less breeze which was shifting significantly around making the race officers job very tricky indeed. Mark and Tracey appearing to be revelling in the light and shifty conditions led from start to finish with Eric Paalman taking second and Alan Williams in third.

In Race 3, the introduction of a Windward/Leeward course made no difference to Mark and Tracey's dominance as they built an unassailable lead taking the final gun of day 1 with Iain and Ewan taking second and Andy and Carol Gibson taking third.

Sunday dawned with prospects of a good days sailing as there was a gentle breeze that was drying the dew from the tents as the fleet enjoyed their bacon rolls and cups of tea. The attempts of the public transport system to deter our French Visitor from joining the racing did not succeed and after a short postponement, the fleet launched to make their way to the start. During the postponement, there were some strange dances going on to encourage the wind to increase however upon launching these majestical moves appeared to have failed as wind slowly decreased.

Race 4 saw Alan Williams and Liz Pike establish an early lead to head the fleet round the course in relative comfort. As the wind continued to decrease, the fleet were left wanting for every breath of wind to grace their sails and give them any amount of speed above zero miles per hour. The race officer took the sensible decision to shorten the course after one lap around the lake leaving only the final beat to the finish. With Alan and Liz still in front, it became a case of hunting out any patch of breeze and Mark and Tracey seemed to have mastered their treasure hunt skills slowly but surely realing in Alan and Liz. At the finish Liz and Alan took the gun by the narrowest of margins ahead of Mark and Tracey with Sue and Steve Roberts taking third.

As the fleet returned ashore for lunch to see if breeze was to increase, it duly did but only for the sail back to the club. Once ashore, the diminishing wind transformed the surface of the lake into a mirror like finish. The Race Officer made the sensible but disappointing decision to abandon the final two races.

Despite testing conditions the organisation by our newest fleet captain Ian Rumbold was second to none and I am sure that next years 50th Blue Circle Open Meeting will be something exceptional.

Related Articles

Snipe Class looking for a new Executive Director
To provide administrative and financial services to the SCIRA Board The Snipe Class International Racing Association (SCIRA) is seeking applicants for a part-time Executive Director position. This position will provide administrative and financial services to the SCIRA Board. Posted on 1 Jun
2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week
Next-generation sailors and Olympians clash in international waters The 2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week concluded after three days of high-level competition, bringing together 302 boats from five countries and highlighting both Olympic-calibre talent and rising youth sailors. Posted on 1 Jun
Snipe Europeans to be held at Vilamoura
Fleet will visit Portugal this September Vilamoura is set to host the European Snipe Championship. Organized by Vilamoura Sailing, this championship will bring together some of the finest Snipe sailors from across the continent to compete in the crystal-clear waters of the Algarve coast. Posted on 30 May
Snipe open weekend at Blackwater
A superb weekend of racing at a superb venue The Blackwater Sailing Club proudly hosted a highly successful Snipe Open Weekend on 10-11 May welcoming sailors from across the country for two days of outstanding competitive racing and warm camaraderie. Posted on 22 May
2025 European Youth Snipe Championship overall
Portugal's Alfonso Munhá and Francisco Camacho win, but no title awarded The European Youth Snipe Championship, held in the town of San Martín de Valdeiglesias since Saturday, has come to an end in the Madrid reservoir of San Juan. It does so without being able to award the title of European champion. Posted on 14 Apr
2025 European Youth Snipe Championship day 2
Another day of frustration in Madrid The wind was once again very fickle in the San Juan reservoir in Madrid, with 6 starts attempted, 1 general recall and 3 races attempted, which were to be the first of the championship, cancelled at the halfway point due to huge wind shifts. Posted on 14 Apr
2025 European Youth Snipe Championship day 1
A lack of wind results in no racing being possible on the first day in Madrid The first day in the RCN of Madrid, of the three programmed, is closed in white due to the absence of wind. Posted on 12 Apr
2025 European Junior Snipe Championships preview
A fleet of 35 boats representing 5 countries has gathered in Madrid The international event organised by the Real Club Náutico de Madrid, which starts today at the San Juan reservoir and will conclude on Monday 14th April, brings together a fleet of 35 boats representing 5 countries Posted on 11 Apr
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy returns
With the introduction of the high-performance TP52 class The prestigious Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy is set to return for its sixth edition from July 4-6, 2025, promising a thrilling weekend of top-tier sailing in one of Europe's most scenic and challenging maritime locations, Cascais. Posted on 24 Mar
Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta 2025 overall
Bacardi Cup legends Mateusz Kusznierewicz & Bruno Prada sail to a sixth straight victory On a day where every gust mattered and every tack counted, Biscayne Bay transformed the light-air finale into a masterclass of precision and teamwork. Posted on 9 Mar
PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 BOTTOMMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMAllen Dynamic 40 Footer