Ocean venue mixes up standings at Snipe Western Hemispheres

San Diego, CA (September 9, 2014) – The second day at the Snipe Western Hemisphere & Orient Championship provided beautiful skies and a solid breeze, though there was no home water advantage for any of the local competitors. While both the top two positions after day one were held by San Diegans, a new group has now risen to the top of the scoreboard.

Unlike the inside bay venue of day one, two races today took place on the open waters of the Pacific off of Coronado Island. The wind was from the west at 9 – 12 kts and was paired with a two foot swell and one foot of wind chop for great sailing conditions. The new course brought more than just a change of scenery; it also brought some serious competition.

Skipper Raul Rios and Fernando Monllor sailed fast and smart in order to climb their way up the ranks. “Today was more of a speed day,” Rios said of the racing conditions. “Yesterday, if you weren’t on the correct side then that was a big mistake. Today, if you were the fastest boat you were probably going to make top ten.”

Rios and Monllor proved just how fast they could be in Race 3, when at the start of the race they weren’t even among the first five boats to round the first weather mark. They quickly made up for lost time, stealing fourth place around the gate, third by the second weather mark and finally finishing the race in first. This was their second first-place finish of the regatta, and an overall total of 12 points left them sitting in the top spot after day 2.

In Race 4, Brazilians Breno Bianchi and Flavio de Castro stole the lead after rounding the first weather mark, holding on to their top spot all the way up to the finish for their first race win of the regatta. Their fast sailing in Race 4 secured them second place overall position at the end of day two. Skipper Luis Soubie and crew Diego Mini Lipszyc from Argentina are currently third, followed by the Alexandre duo of Tinoco and Niederauer from Brazil. United States competitors Augie Diaz and Aine McLean Fretwell rounded out the top five, pushing yesterday’s first place competitors Randy Lake and Kate Sheahan into sixth.

Two races are scheduled daily through September 12, but with two different course locations in consideration, competitors are never sure which of the two courses the next day will bring. The Organizing Authority will announce each morning whether racing is set to take place inside the bay or on ocean waters.

The Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship is held on alternate years with the Snipe World Championship.

Day Two Standings (Top 5 of 43; 4 races)
1. Raul Rios/Fernando Monllor (PUR), 9-1-1-3- ; 14
2. Breno Bianchi/Flavio de Castro (BRA), 6-2-7-1- ; 16
3. Luis Soubie/Diego Mini Lipszyc (ARG), 3-8-8-2- ; 21
4. Alexandre Tinoco/Alexandre Niederauer (BRA), 12-4-5-10- ; 31
5. Augie Diaz/Aine McLean Fretwell (USA), 5-7-17-7- ; 36

Event website – Complete results

Report by event media. Photo by Bob Betancourt.