Snipe (dinghy)

The Snipe is a ​15 1⁄2 foot, 2 person, one design racing dinghy. Designed by William F. Crosby in 1931, it has evolved into a modern, tactical racing dinghy with fleets around the world. The class is governed by the Snipe Class International Racing Association (SCIRA) and recognized by the International Sailing Federation as an International Class sailed in 30 different countries. There have been over 31,000 Snipes constructed worldwide.

Snipe
Class symbol
Boat
Crew2
Draft3 ft 3 in (0.99 m)
Hull
Hull weight381 lb (173 kg)
LOA15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Beam5 ft (1.5 m)
Sails
Upwind sail area128 sq ft (11.9 m2)
Racing
D-PN91.9[1]
RYA PN1117[2]
Snipes racing.

The global Snipe slogan is "Serious sailing, Serious fun".

The Snipe class has both developed and attracted some of the sailing world's top competitors. Four of the top olympic medalists in sailing (Torben Grael, Paul Elvstrøm, Robert Scheidt and Mark Reynolds) have competed in the Snipe. Five Snipe sailors have received the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards: Mark Reynolds, Robert Scheidt, Torben Grael, Anna Tunnicliffe and Santiago Lange.

History

During a meeting of the Florida West Coast Racing Association in March 1931, Bill Crosby promised to publish a new trailer boat design in the magazine "The Rudder". This was done on the July 1931 issue, and the new boat was called "Snipe". The first boat, named "Adelaide", was built in Pass Christian, Mississippi, by Jimmy Brown and father, and was issued sail number 1 of the class in September 1931, and is now in the collection of the Antique Boat Museum, located at Clayton, New York.[3] By May 1932, 150 boats were already registered, and by the end of the year the number reached 250. In July 1936, the class was the largest racing class in the world.

Regattas

Regattas are held in most countries and local, regional, national and international championships offer great opportunities to compete at different levels of skills. Most regattas include open, junior, women, masters and coed categories.

The World Championships are the most important competitions, followed by the Europeans and the Western Hemisphere & Orient Championships. These regattas are sailed every two years. In Europe, the European Cup is sailed alternately (odd numbered years) with the European Championship (even numbered years).

Annual regattas include the North American Championship and the South American Championship in the Western Hemisphere and the South European Championship, Nordic Championship and East European Championship in Europe.

World Championships

Western Hemisphere & Orient Championships

Europe and Africa Championship

North American Championship
South American Championship

Nordic Championship
South European Championship
East European Championship

The Snipe is also present at the following Multi-sport events:

Argentina

The most important regattas are:

  • National Championship (Campeonato Argentino).
  • Gran Prix Nacional (GPN). These are several regattas (six in 2016) hosted by different clubs every year.
  • Eventos Principales (EP): Semana de Buenos Aires (Yacht Club Argentino), Grand Prix Internacional Luis Alberto Cerrato (Yacht Club Olivos), Campeonato San Isidro Labrador (Club Náutico San Isidro), Semana del Yachting (Club Náutico Mar del Plata) and Semana de la Bandera (Yacht Club Rosario).

Italy

The most important regattas are:

  • National Championship (Campionato Italiano).
  • Coppa Duca di Genova events. These are several regattas (Regata Nazionale) hosted by different clubs every year (four in 2017: Santa Marinella, Punta Ala, Caldonazzo and Pescara).
  • Campionato dell’Adriatico

Portugal

The most important regattas are:

  • National Championship (Campeonato Nacional).
  • Prova de Apuramento do Nacional (PAN) events. These are several regattas hosted by different clubs every year (two in 2017: Clube Naval de Cascais and Clube de Vela de Lagos).
  • Campeonato Ibérico (every two years, alternating with Spain)

Spain

The most important regattas are the events that compose the National Circuit (Circuito Nacional). These include the most important competition, the Spanish Nationals, the second most important competition, the Spanish Cup, and the most popular local regattas chosen every year by the national assembly. When the "Iberian Championship" is hosted by Spain (every two years, alternating with Portugal), this regatta is also included in the circuit.

United States

The National Championship is the top regatta of the year.

A series of regattas across the country every year are included in the US Highpoint Championship Series (up to 5 regattas per District), where the top placing skipper is awarded the Minneford Trophy.[4] Some of these events usually included are the Colonial Cup and the Frigid Digit Regatta (Severn Sailing Association), the Earl Elms Memorial Regatta and the Carolyn Nute Memorial Regatta (Mission Bay Yacht Club), Halloween Regatta (Atlanta Yacht Club), Ron Payne Memorial (Lauderdale Yacht Club), Comodoro Rasco Regatta (Coconut Grove Sailing Club), Briody Regatta (Newport Yacht Club), St John’s Tea Party Regatta (Florida Yacht Club), Winchester Invitational (Winchester Boat Club), Rocky Mountain Championship (Union Sailing Club), Riff Raff Regatta (Cowan Lake Sailing Association), Indiana Open (Indianapolis Sailing Club), Fire on the Water (Lincoln Sailing Club), Whittemore St John Regatta (Quassapaug Sailing Center) and Norm Tanner Regatta (Bow Mar Yacht Club).

Regional championships include the Atlantic Coast Championship, the Pacific Coast Championship, the Southwestern Championship and the six (seven previously) District Championships.

The Winter Circuit Championship, which includes three events, one of them in the Bahamas, awards the Zimmerman Trophy to the sailor who attends all 3 events and has the lowest score:

References
  1. "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. "The RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Number List for 2004" (PDF). Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  3. "Snipe 1 Restoration".
  4. "MINNEFORD TROPHY". SCIRA USA.

Current builders

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