Snipe Season Started in Europe

Snipe Season Started in Europe Image
Courtesy of Matias Capizzano - SCIRA
Courtesy of Matias Capizzano – SCIRA

by Reino Suonsilta – SCIRA European Secretary

A short review with National Secretaries in our newly formed WhatsApp group is showing how different the conditions in Europe are this time of the year.

Spain

Fernando Celdran reports that Spain is already strongly up and running. Three weeks ago, Oseberg in Motril gathered 80 snipes to racing. Malaga is following early March expecting 40 boats to join, just before the Copa España Vigo in March 19-22. Spain welcomes sailors from all over Europe to join these and other regattas.

Italy

Daniela Semec from Italy told that Winter Championship in Anzio, down south, opened the season. Training sessions have also started in the north. Daniela is looking forward to seeing many European sailors in the first regatta in memory of Ezio Braga (ex Italian and European secretary) in 4-5 April in Luino on Lago Maggiore.

Belgium

Yannick Laumans is excited to see the season to just kick-off in Belgium. They already tried to start three weeks ago, but a storm blew the regatta away. People are warming up (either by sailing in Spain or traing) for Antwerp Snipe Cup, March 7-8. About 25-30 teams are expected to join.

Another interesting event is Women’s Belgian Nationals in March 28-29. All European ladies are warmly welcome! Also in March, Belgium Champion of Champions event is sailed with snipes. Please check other events in the middle of Europe at scira.be/events/list/.

UK

Mark Antonelli from UK is jealous to his southern colleagues under his umbrella. WET is the only word to describe the weather in Britain. So, plenty of water, but on the wrong side of the hull. It will take another 4 weeks before Sniping starts.

Finland

It looks like Finland and UK are sharing similar winter this year. Northern Finland has record amount of snow, and south is breaking records in the amount of rain. Although the sea is not frozen in the south coast, it is still ice cold and a hostile place for sailing. Snipes are waking up from hibernation in April, and the racing season starts in mid-May.

 

I am looking forward to another great Snipe season, to be topped with Europeans in Spit in September. Lot of activity and possibilities both locally and across the region. Now is the right time to check the event lists and book slots in your calendar for Serious Sailing and Serious Fun.

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