Snipe Junior Worlds – Breeding Ground of Champions

Talamone, Italy: The Snipe Class has a long history of producing and attracting great sailors. The 2015 championship is no different and a quick look at the list of competitors sees the potential of the future of sailing in these juniors.

Begun in 1973, the Snipe Class saw the need to promote youth sailing creating a Junior World Championship. Over the years it has attracted top youth sailors from around the world and produced such Junior champions as Torben Grael (BRA), Bill Hardesty (USA), Luis Calabrese (ARG) and Andre Fonseca (BRA). Among its ranks sailors have gone on to be Olympians, Volvo Round-the-World sailors, Team Race World champions and Kiteboard World champions.

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With a strong list of contenders (36 teams) at the 2015 event, including four female skippers and two all-female teams, the regatta is set to create more champions. Brazil is sending their National Champion Nicholas Grael and Joao Pedro Moreira hoping to match his uncle Torben’s Jr World win back in 1978 that subsequently led to his father Lars and uncle Torben teaming up to win the 1983 Snipe Worlds. Portugal is fielding Mafalda Pires de Lima who is sailing any boat she can get her hands on with fantastic results. She has brother Tomas as crew. Eleven nations are represented with no slouches on the line.

The juniors begin racing on 14 September on the bay of Talamone with the prizegiving set for 18 September. The senior teams roll in the following day with racing being held 21-26 September. 83 teams are registered for the Open Worlds with some of the junior teams staying on to test their skills.

For the Open Worlds, returning to try to regain their titles are 3 former Snipe World champions, Augie Diaz (USA-2003 & 2005), Ricardo Fabini (URU-1989) and Alexandre Tinoco (BRA-2011) against strong teams fielded from Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Japan, Belgium and the United States, to name a few of the 18 nations represented.

Follow along as the teams battle for the 2 titles: www.snipeworlds2015.com for results and updates.

List of competitors: www.snipeworlds.org

Photos by Matias Capizzano.

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