2022 Snipe World Championship at Clube Naval de Cascais - Day 1

2022 Snipe World Championship day 1 © Matias Capizzano / www.capizzano.com

65 years later, the Snipe Worlds are back in Cascais waters for five days, nine races, of fierce competition for the world title.

With 87 boats lining up on the starting line, the Race Committee needed three attempts, the last one with a black flag, to get the first start of the day. The line honours of the inaugural race went to the brothers from the Canary Islands, Gustavo and Rafael Del Castillo, who led the entire regatta.

Brazilians Mario Sergio de Jesus and Henrique Wisneiwski sailed a consistent first two races. Their 2-3 finishes gives them a margin over the second place team of Ernesto Rodriguez and Kathleen Tocke of the USA who follow with 11 points posting a 7-4 and Spaniards Alfredo Gonzalez and Christin Sanchez with 13 with 4-9 finishes for the day.

Today's forecast predicted winds of 30+ on the preferred course, but PRO Jose Cancella opted for the more protected course to ensure a good start to the 50th World Championship. With northerly winds off the land, the first race was held in 12-14 knots with Gustavo and Rafael del Castillo, brothers (ESP) leading from the start.

The right side seemed to favour the leaders and it was hard fought behind the winners with De Jesus and Wisniewski finishing second. Jan Peeters and Nathalie Janssens of Belgium crossed third, with two boats caught under the black flag, one who crossed the finish line second only to be disappointed later.

2022 Snipe World Championship day 1 - photo © Matias Capizzano / www.capizzano.com

With a short break, the Race Committee started the next race posting a triangle course, but changed to windward-leeward with the wind dropping at the start to 14-15 knots. The Spanish junior skipper Francisco Silvela with Rafael del Castillo Diaz, fresh from the Snipe Junior Worlds where he finished third, rounded the weather mark first followed by De Jesus/Wisniewski on their heels.

As the race progressed with increased wind, the positions changed with Victor Perez Campos and Enric Noguera (ESP) crossing first followed by Silvela/del Castillo Diaz and De Jesus/Wisniewski.

SCIRA Commodore Luis Soubie commented, "Today was a good start for the Championship being able to complete the 2 scheduled races with the 2nd race more shifty and gusty than the first. It was great to watch the sailors boat handling and course management in these tricky conditions. The competition was very close and we expect the rest of the week to be just as intense."

Results are provisional with several scoring inquiries being investigated. Tomorrow's forecast is again for breezy conditions and the possibility of sailing the same area. The forecast for the remainder of the week is more manageable.

Event website: 2022.snipeworlds.org

2022 Snipe World Championship day 1 - photo © Matias Capizzano / www.capizzano.com

Results after day 1: