Courtesy John Payne

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Nice photos by John Payne online!

Miami, March 17, 2013. Two races with light wind.

Ernesto Rodriguez and Julia Melton won the regatta.

1. Ernesto Rodriguez & Julia Melton, 1-6-3-4-2

2. Bruno Bethlem & Dante Bianchi, 4-2-5-3-10

3. Peter Commette & Bruno Mello, 14-7-9-1-3

4. Brian Kamillar & Enrique Quintero, 2-15-10-2-5

5. Nicholas Voss & Nicole Popp, 15-4-1-16-1

... full results ... and regatta report by John Payne

The Snipe Class slogan is "Serious Sailing, Serious Fun." After spending the weekend covering the XLVII Annual DON Q Rum Keg regatta, I have to say they take their slogan, well...., seriously. Thirty eight Snipes from nine different countries converged on Miami's Biscayne Bay for the second stop of the Snipe Winter Circuit. The Don Q is a five race event with no drop, so every race is serious. One false start or bad shift can make the difference between trophies or memories.

Miami, March 16, 2013. One race sailed in light conditions.

1. Ernesto Rodriguez & Julia Melton, 1-6-3

2. Bruno Bethlem & Dante Bianchi, 4-2-5

3. Andrew Pimental & Megan Place, 7-3-4

4. Nick Voss & Nicole Popp, 15-4-1

5. David Hernandez & Lior Lavie, 8-12-6

... full results ...

Miami, March 15, 2013. Two races sailed today in Miami with 8-12 knots.

1. Augie Diaz & Kathleen Tocke, 5-1

2. Bruno Bethlem & Dante Bianchi, 4-2

3. Ernesto Rodriguez & Julia Melton, 1-6

4. Andrew Pimental & Megan Place, 7-3

5. Raul Rios & Edgard Diminich, 3-9

... full results ...

Attention Snipe Sailors Attention Snipe Sailors

The XLVII Don Q Regatta is just 12 days away. Avoid the lines on Thursday and Friday and register online through the Coconut Grove Sailing Club's website (http://www.cgsc.org/regattas) or the Regatta Network site (click on Calendar and scroll down to the event date).

Thursday, March 14 Registration 1600-1800
Friday, March 15 Registration 0800-0900
Competitors Meeting 0930
Warning Signal 1200
Saturday, March 16 Warning Signal 1200
Sunday, March 17 Warning Signal 1000
No warning signal after 1400

ST: 2012 was a great year for you. Brazilians, Don Q, Nassau, US Nationals and Western Hemisphere & Orient. At the begining of the year did you expect a incredible season like this? 

Bruno: The first good surprise was our Nationals in January. Now there is a tie between us and Xandi [Paradeda] that got it 8 times. And that is so good because Xandi was a mirror for me for a long time. Some years ago when I got the title for the first time I could not imagine that I could get it 8 times. Don Q and US Nationals was also hard as a good training for the WH&O. The WH&O was tough because, as usual, during the most important regattas the sailing conditions were totally different from the practice week.

ST: How did you prepare this last sailing season? Did you choose a particular regatta as your main goal? Family and work ... Do you have time for training regularly?

Bruno: Our main goal was the WH&O because it qualifies for the Worlds in Rio. We've chosen important events in US because US fleet is very strong. We are old now and unfortunately we need to work. And I'm also married but my wife gives me a great support for sailing at a high level. She is behind me cheering for me. We are always trying to get some time for training but sometimes it is impossible to train and race the regattas. So we are more interested in racing big regattas than training.

Winter (?) in Florida

I have been many times to the United States for Snipe sailing, but everytime, when I take the plane with the "green monster" (my big suitcase) loaded with sails, spreaders, sheets and other equipment, I am always very happy and eager to land on the other side of the pond.

Leaving Europe for travel to find many friends and competing in the Floridian “Winter" is a perspective that brings me to work hard in January and February, so I can buy the gift of ten days' holiday for the circuit.

My schedule this year included the Midwinters in Clearwater, on the Gulf of Mexico, and the Don Q in Miami. Both regattas with my "prodiera americana" (American crew) Bridget.

Great shots from Miami (courtesy Marco Oquendo)

For more photos visit the site Marco Oquendo Photography

One race today - 8-10 knots.

Final results:

1. BRA Bruno Bethlem & Dante Bianchi

2. USA Augie Diaz & Kathleen Tocke

3. PUR Raul Rios & Manuel Inserni

4. USA Brian Kamillar & Enrique Quintero

5. Ernesto Rodriguez & Megan Place

Full Results

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