Anna Tunnicliffe: "...Molly and I race Snipes together to keep in touch with fleet racing. We race against some genuinely nice people in that class."

Read the interview.

This article is reprinted from the February 2012 SpinSheet, a magazine about Chesapeake Bay sailing. The monthly "Small Boats, Big Stories" column focuses on dinghy sailing.

Anna Tunnicliffe-Funk is, undoubtedly, one of the fittest sailors on the planet. Hard work in the gym ensures that Anna—2011 ISAF Sailor of the Year, 2011 U.S. Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, 2011 Women’s Match Race World Champion skipper, and 2008 Olympic Laser Radial Goal Medalist, among other honors—is ready to respond—physically and mentally—when it’s all chips in on the race course.

Snipe World Champions Anna Tunnicliffe and Molly Vandemoer (with Deborah Capozzi) won Women's Match Racing in Perth, Australia!

Every other year, the best Women Snipers gather for the Women's World Championship. In 2010 that was St. Petersburg, Florida in November and the temperature was a balmy 80º. Out on the water the competition was even hotter.

A Gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. An Olympic match racing campaign that's well underway. Why does someone with those aspirations come to sail at the Snipe Women's Worlds in Florida? The short answer is that the competition is strong and and the competitors make you feel welcome.

Molly grew up in San Diego, one of the hotbeds of Snipe sailing. She didn't race Snipes very much, but she was in demand with some of the best Snipers when they needed pick up crew for the afternoon practices on the Bay.

Why did she want to break into her Olympic campaign schedule with Anna Tunnicliffe and Debbie Capozzi to come sail at the Snipe Women's Worlds in Florida? All her friends in the class had been telling her the competition at Snipe events is strong and and the people at the regatta will help you make the boat go fast.