2022 Snipe World Championship at Clube Naval de Cascais - Overall
by Jerelyn Biehl 26 Aug 2022 08:10 BST
21-25 August 2022
After a 47 year drought, the Spanish duo of Alfredo Gonzalez and Cristian Sanchez sailed a great last race of the Championship to return the Snipe World trophy to Spain. The last time the Hub Isaacs Snipe World title was in Spain (and Europe) was in 1975 with Felix Gancedo and Manuel Bernal as champions. It was a long time overdue and the Spanish are elated.
Hailing from Lanzarote, Gonzalez/Sanchez have been silently chipping away. Their best prior performance at the Snipe Worlds was 4th overall in 2017, and their lead up regatta was a win in June for the Spanish Cup with 200 boats. Lanzarote was the perfect heavy air training ground which proved to their advantage in Cascais. With finishes of 4 (9)-3-8-2-7-4-3-3, their ability to finish in the top 10 each race proved to be their winning formula.
The last race of the regatta was held in relatively lighter winds than the other 8 races, with 8-12 knots and no swell. Quite a change over the week and a bit of a surprise as the competitors left the Club in heavy air. A clear start on the first go with the pin and the left side favored, sitting in 2nd overall, Alexandre Paradeda/Gabriel Kieling (BRA) were on the favored side while Gonzalez/Sanchez & regatta leaders Ernesto Rodriguez/Kathleen Tocke (USA) started at the boat. Rodriguez/Tocke stayed right in lighter wind with Gonzalez/Sanchez opting for the left half way up the beat. At the weather mark, 1999 Snipe World Champion Nelido Manso/Sanlay Castro de la Cruz rounding first followed by Sam & Daan Vandormael from Belgium. Gonzalez/Sanchez rounded just ahead of Paradeda/Kieling who rounded 10th with Rodriguez/Tocke in the 40's. At the 2nd top mark, Gonzalez/Sanchez had moved into 3rd, Paradeda/Kieling holding their spot and Rodriguez/Tocke slowing grinding through the fleet.
The finish for the Earl Elms Trophy - winner of the last race, was extremely close with the Belgian team of Sam and Daan Vandormael just taking the gun. Nelido Manso/Sanlay Castro de la Cruz (CUB) finished 2nd and Gonzalez/Sanchez finished 3rd, securing their title. Second overall was still to be determined, and Paradeda/Kieling crossed in 7th with Rodriguez/Tocke in 14th which created a tie for 2nd overall with Paradeda/Kieling winning the tie breaker.
With 17 nations represented, the 87 teams was the largest Snipe Worlds held and the competition was fierce with the best team winning. Congratulations to all competitors for a hard fought week.
The 50th Snipe World championship first contested in 1934 and held bi-annually, came to a close with a fantastic closing ceremony held by Club Nautico Cascais. The Race Management and organizing team are to be congratulated for a fantastic event as well as the Portuguese Snipe Class.
Full results can be found here...
2022.snipeworlds.org