Championship helps start a new great fleet

Snipe South Americans 2012.

Congratulations Snipers!

Congratulations Amiguinho & Coveiro! Alexandre Tinnoco and Gabriel Borges closing a great season by winning this year’s South American Championship, keeping the cup in Brazil once more. It was disputed in Manta, Ecuador, during Easter week. The Brazilians sailed to the top 6 positions, including top Junior team with the Sabino brothers and top Female team with Juliana Mota and Larissa Juk. The top Master team was won by the Chilean Tomas and son Sebastian Rodriguez. The winner in mixed division was the debuting couple of Ariana Villena and Jose Ferretti from Ecuador, who finished seventh overall.

The great target of this champioship was achieved; a new fleet was started with the promise of future champions. The new sailors from Ecuador just started to sail in the Class and presented good techinical skills to develop the class in their local seas. A 3-day clinic was held just prior to the SouthAmericans to get them up to speed and the clinic proved perfect, as their scores showed improvement as the regatta progressed. An international effort was made to bring the championship to Ecuador, but time and money hampered the sailors of Argentina and Uruguay. Still, it was worthwhile seeing a long term possibility in maintaining a new fleet. Manta Yacht Club was an excellent host and welcomed all the delegations with beautiful cultural opening ceremony in the presence of Jerelyn Biehl – Executive Director SCIRA. Congratulations everyone!

See you all in Montevideo SA 2013!

Alex Juk

Jerelyn Biehl