Snipe South East Championships at Maldon Yacht Club

SNIPE SOUTH EAST AREA CHAMPIONSHIPS / YVES LE BOUR TROPHY

This year’s Snipe South East championships held at Maldon Yacht Club on 1st and 2nd July, incorporated the second leg of the Yves Le Bour Trophy, which is a three way challenge between Britain, France and Belgium. There was an entry of 30 boats including 7 French entries. The racing on Saturday started on the Maldon Yacht Club start line in light variable winds. Six times national champion Peter Wolstenholme pulled out a unassailable lead, leaving Iain Marshall and Sue Antonelli to fight it out for second and third with Ian Varney crewed by 12 year Karl Varney coming in fourth.

The second race on Saturday started immediately after race 1 from the committee boat anchored off Mill Beach. The Snipe fleet was too keen at the start, this resulted in 7 boats over the line with several disqualifications. The race was shortened in the dying wind and finished at the club line with Peter Wolstenholme again finishing first, followed by Iain Marshall and Sue Antonelli. The first 7 boats crossed the line within seconds of each other showing what good close racing is about in the Snipe class.

Sunday’s race was postponed as the wind died completely. Eventually the wind filled in a little and the race was started cleanly this time. The race was restricted to the area close to the clubhouse, with Sue Antonelli proving the winner with Peter Wolstenholme second and Iain Marshall third. Unfortunately with the lower order boats taking some time to finish and the lack of wind with a fast ebbing tide, the race officer Barry Foulds wisely did not start race 4.

Peter Wolstenholme, crewed by local sailor and past winner Phillip Marshall sailing his new Devoti boat purchased on the Saturday, was the overall winner.

Overall Results:

1st  Peter Wolstenholme and Phillip Marshall
2nd  Sue Antonelli and David Cummings
3rd  Iain and Richard Marshall
4th  Jacques and Anne Romaine
5th= Alan Williams and Liz Crouch
5th= Alan and Janet Hoy

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Snipe Page
• UK Snipe Class Association
• Maldon Yacht Club