Snipe US Nationals: Serious Sailing, Serious Fun

Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, California is preparing for the arrival of over 40 Snipes for the 2015 National Championships. The fleet for the Senior Nationals is the largest in recent years with multiple World Champions, three 2015 Pan American Games Participants, and the defending National Champion. The event schedule is as follows:

♦ US Junior & Special Junior National Championships, August 8-9
♦ US Women’s National Championship, August 8-9
♦ US Senior National Championship, August 10-14

The racing for the Juniors, Special Juniors, and Women is scheduled to take place inside Mission Bay to the east of the clubhouse. The racing for the Seniors is scheduled to take place in the Pacific Ocean immediately west of the clubhouse.

The winners from the Junior’s and Women’s Nationals as well as the top three teams from the Senior Nationals will earn berths to the 2016 Snipe Western Hemisphere & Orient Championship scheduled for Brazil in late summer 2016. The top US Teams in each event will be named the 2015 US National Champion.

The SCIRA USA National Championships are among the oldest one design class championships in the United States. The first edition of the Senior Nationals was held in 1934 and for the 11 events it was also the SCIRA World Championship. In 1947 then SCIRA Commodore Charles Heinzerling announced that he would design a separate trophy for the USA champion, while retaining the Hub Isaacks Trophy for international competition. Since 1947 it has been held every year alternating venues around the country and once in Canada.

The first Junior Nationals was held in 1937, and except for a break in 1943 & 1944 for WWII and unfavorable conditions in 2001 it has been held every year since. Many of the past Junior Nationals participants have gone on to become international champions in multiple classes, Olympians and America’s Cup sailors.

The Women received their own Nationals in 1997 and five of the past champions will be competing in this year’s championship.
How:

The Snipe class is known for stiff competition, and also good times ashore. This year’s Nationals will include a plethora of San Diego’s famous craft beers, three different live bands, a beach bonfire, bocce tournament, and the world-famous GFU “24 Hour” Snipe Regatta following the Trophy Dinner.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook