US Snipe Sailor

Winter 2015

If your e-mail is like mine you have just been covered up recently with e-mails concerning the Snipe Midwinter Circuit. Perhaps too many. Left unattended for a couple of days over the Thanksgiving holiday, my inbox filled up and shut down. And I’m told Facebook exploded with comments. Whew!!

For those fortunate enough to have missed the electronic exchanges of ideas, here are the basics in a nutshell: for 25 years or more the Midwinter Championship, a regatta that has been held for 75 years, has led off our annual “Spring Vacation,” followed by the Don Q Regatta in Miami. After this boats would be shipped to Nassau for the Bacardi and Gamlin regattas, giving Snipe sailors the opportunity to compete in a truly international event almost on our doorstep. The Circuit is and has been a bellwether event that other classes envy, and it has attracted the very best Snipe sailors in the country year after year, as well as Northern Europeans escaping the snows at home. In recent years, however, entries in the three venue, four regatta Snipe Midwinter Circuit (the Southern Circuit) have been somewhat less than we would have hoped, especially for the two Nassau regattas which draw the Europeans, but few US sailors.

Thinking to “change the equation,” District 4 Governor Steve Lang has floated the idea that perhaps we should alter the schedule by holding the two Nassau regattas first, followed by the Don Q in Miami and then the Clearwater Midwinters, leaving the dates unchanged. The response to this proposal has been nothing short of overwhelming. Many have written in support of the change, while the minority of the respondents object.

In fairness to those who support the change, change simply for the sake of change can frequently lead to a positive outcome. Those opposed, on the other hand, cite hard fact to support their position, the most germane of which is the unreliability of ship borne transportation from Nassau to Miami, a situation which has become worse in the years since the tragedy of 9-11-01 with the addition of TSA screening in addition to customs and security.

If SCIRA USA is going to support then proposed change in schedule, it goes without saying that this transportation problem must be worked out.

In the meantime, stay tuned. It is a healthy sign that so many of our fellow sailors care as much as they do and take the time to express their opinion. May it always be so.

For the coming year, dates and events are unchanged, so make your plans to be in Clearwater March 18 for the start of the best-ever Midwinter Championship and as many of the Circuit events as you can make.

And if the winter blahs make you feel you can’t wait that long, there other regattas in sunny Florida including the Miami Snipe Invitational

on New Year’s Day and the Gaspar/Florida State Championship in St. Pete on Jan. 10.

Not to be outdone, Snipers in District 6 are getting an early start on the year by holding their District Championship in February.

So, as we wrap up another great Snipe year, the Board of SCIRA USA wish all Snipers everywhere a Happy Holiday Season and the Best Serious Sailing-Serious Fun New Year ever! - bc

SCIRA USA2812 Canon Street

San Diego, CA 92106619-222-0252

Danielle Richards, Executive Administratordanielle@odmsail.com

Sherri Campbell, SCIRA Financessherri@odmsail.com

Jerelyn Biehl, SCIRA Executive Directorjerelyn@odmsail.com or scira@snipe.org

Brainard Cooper, US National Secretary

Winter 2015 2

SCIRA US Perpetual FundFor over 25 years, the SCIRA USA Perpetual Fund has generated income for the purposes of promoting the class and making grants to junior sailors from the US representing our country at international Snipe events. Its partial impact is demonstrated in the follow-ing quote:

“Thank you SCIRA for the generous grant to my crew… and I. Without your grant, our amazing trip may not have been possible. Thank you so much.”

The letter excerpted above was received at the US SCIRA office from one of the junior sailors who represented SCIRA USA at the recent Junior Worlds in Rio de Janiero. The grant came specifically from the Perpetual Fund.

We’d like to thank the 2014 Perpetual Fund donors listed below. Consider a donation for 2015 to help support SCIRA USA junior sailors.2014 SCIRA USA Premium Memberships

Premium Platinum Members

John Beall, Fleet 1

Martin Bebb, Fleet 68

Lee Bradley, Fleet 330

Charlie Bustamante

Vince Casalaina, Fleet 12

Peter Commette, Fleet 7

Tarasa Davis, Fleet 330

Henry Davis, Fleet 309

Peter Devlin, Fleet 554

Berkley Duck, Fleet 409

Past Commodore Peter Fenner, Fleet 1

Sigrid Festersen, Fleet 309

Jose Fuentes, Fleet 532

Hal Gilreath, Fleet 630

Past Commodore Lee Griffith, Fleet 256

Donald Hackbarth, Fleet 330

Mark Hasslinger, Fleet 532

Tom Henderson, Fleet 330

Thomas Hunt, Fleet 654

Andrew Klein, Fleet 77

Carolyn Krebs, Fleet 495

Eric Krebs, Fleet 495

John Lally, Fleet 77

Andrea Levinson, Fleet 705

Gilmore O’Neill, Fleet 777

Michael Papp, Fleet 828

Andrew Pontious, Fleet 12

Neal Snebold, Fleet 77

Eugene Soltero, Fleet 1

Berta Swanson, Fleet 77

Doug Swenson, Fleet 210

Premium Gold Memberships

Robin Baker, Fleet 51

Renee Bartell, Fleet 495

Kathy Bronaugh, Fleet 330

George Buck, Fleet 495

Ned Daly, Fleet 532

Packy Davis, Fleet 12

Henry Filter, Fleet 532

Martin Fraser, Fleet 777

Doug Hart, Fleet 495

Matthew Heywood, Fleet 762

Robert Hunt, Fleet 654

Philip Lee, Fleet 309

Harry Levinson, Fleet 77

Michael Mack, Fleet 12

Eliot Payson, Fleet 640

Lisa Foulke Pline, Fleet 532

George Rood, Fleet 309

Greg Saldana, Fleet 520

Dave Schibler, Fleet 495

Steve Snider, Fleet 68

William Swanton, Fleet 77

John Tagliamonte, Fleet 244

Jim Tomassetti, Fleet 18

Bill Welch, Fleet 801

Sherry Welch, Fleet 801

Peter Wolcott, Fleet 231

Joel Zackin, Fleet 231

Premium Silver Membership

Ellen Booth, Fleet 18

Robert Bowden, Fleet 495

Jim Bowers, Fleet 77

Winter 20153

Larry Briggs, Fleet 567

Larry Bull, Fleet 330

Mike Choquette, Fleet 68

J. Scott Cline, Fleet 142

Tom Colligan, Fleet 444

Charles Courtsal, Fleet 103

Robert Coyle, Fleet 244

Carol Cronin, Fleet 17

Norman Dahl, Fleet 103

Gary Derrick, Fleet 14

Ian Elliott, Fleet 330

Martin Fetsch, Fleet 532

Patrick Flood, Fleet 309

Cameron Fraser, Fleet 777

Jack Gannon, Fleet 77

Neil Gerren, Fleet 110

Richard Grant, Fleet 137

Ernest Hardy, Fleet 244

Brian Hetherington, Fleet 532

Kevin Hetherington-Young, Fleet 77

R. Douglas Howson, Fleet 12

Stephan Irgens, Fleet 705

Monica Irgens, Fleet 705

Robert Jackman, Fleet 495

David James, Fleet 444

James Lampros, Fleet 533

Steve Lang, Fleet 801

David Lence, Fleet 7

Dee Lockwood, Fleet 533

Dick Loomis, Fleet 12

Pedro Lorson, Fleet 258

Jim MacKenzie, Fleet 210

John MacRae, Fleet 244

Theresa Manning, Fleet 24

John Marx, Fleet 10

Shan McAdoo, Fleet 554

Terry McSweeney, Fleet 747

Stephen Milt, Fleet 77

Ava Moore, Fleet 330

Michael Otto, Fleet 190

Jaime Peva, Fleet 532

Ken Redler, Fleet 495

Bryan Reich, Fleet 7

Phil Richmond, Fleet 532

John Rose, District 7

Rick Scofield, Fleet 309

Chris Scofield, Fleet 309

Robert Smith, Fleet 532

Steve Stewart, Fleet 495

Jim Stillson, Fleet 1

William Thomas, Fleet 567

David Tillson, Fleet 495

Simon Verghese, Fleet 77

Kenneth Voss, Fleet 7

Chuck Wahl, Fleet 567

Darryl Waskow, Fleet 256

Mark Williams, Fleet 1

William Worster, Fleet 433

Clifford Wright, Fleet 444

Perpetual Fund Donors

Mr. William Brush

Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Bustamante

Mr. Tom Colligan

Mr. Brainard Cooper

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Courtsal

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Dalgleish

Mr. Jno Disch

Mr. William Felder

Mrs. Sigrid L. Festersen

Mr. & Mrs. Patrick M. Flood

Mrs. Jane Flood

Mr. & Mrs. Jose Fuentes

Mr. Neil Gerren

Mr. & Mrs. John Gondring

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Grant

Mr. David Haggart

Mr. Philip Lee

Mr. & Mrs. John MacRae

Mr. & Mrs. John G. Mauel

Mr. Todd S. McBride

Mr. Terry McSweeney

Ms. Laura D. O’Leary

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Recker

Mr. Harrison Reisinger

Mr. & Mrs. George A. Rood

Mr. Frederic C. Scofield

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Smith

Mr. Bill Swanton

Mr. Douglas G. Swenson

Mr. Richard Tillman

Mr. Gustav Wirth

Lake Manawa Sailing Assn

Prima Distribution, Inc

Winter 2015

Month Date Event Host Sanc-tioned

January 1-4 Miami Snipe Invite Miami, FLJanuary 10-11 Gaspar/Florida State Championship St. Petersburg Yacht ClubJanuary 24-25 Las Vegas Regatta Mission Bay Yacht Club YJanuary/Feb 31-1 Comodoro Rasco Coconut Grove Sailing ClubFebruary 6-8 District 6 Championship - Worlds Qualifier San Diego Yacht Club QFebruary 21-22 Georgia State Championship Valdosta Yacht ClubFeb/March 28-1 E.E. Manning Series Alamitos Bay Yacht ClubMarch 16-18 Snipe Midwinters Clearwater Yacht ClubMarch 21-23 Don Q Rum Keg Coconut Grove Sailing ClubMarch 25-29 Bacardi/Gamblin/Kelly Royal Nassau Yacht ClubJuly 3-5 SCIRA North American Championship Royal Hamilton Yacht Club Y, QJuly 10-16 Pan American Games Toronto, ON, CANAugust 7-14 SCIRA USA Junior & Special Junior National

Championship & Classic Boat & National Cham-pionship

Mission Bay Yacht Club Y, Q

August 14-15 GFU Mission Bay Yacht Club

SCIRA US Racing Calendarwww.snipeusa.com