Spain wins Snipe Junior World Championship

Talamone, Italy (September 18, 2015) – After five days of racing and six races with one discard, Antonio Lopez-Montoya and Gregory Belmonte Cuenca (ESP) are the 2015 Snipe Junior World Champions with 19 points. Second, Felipe Rondina- Luis Felipe Boani (BRA) with 21 points and third Michele Meotto-Alberto Cassandro (ITA) only one point behind.

A pivotal and very technical day on the water. Pivotal, because the decisive sixth race would have allowed competitors to discard their worst result and therefore had the potential to change the rankings completely. Technical, due to unstable and shifty weather conditions.

On Friday morning, the 36 crews from 11 countries sailed onto the racecourse a sunny skies with very light wind from the west. During the first beat, the sky became completely overcast and the wind shifted sharply to the right. The Race Committee chaired by Fabio Barasso decided to abandon the race just before 2 p.m. and lay the course again once the wind had stabilized again in intensity and direction. Around 3 p.m., the sky opened and the long-awaited thermal breeze settled in from the northwest at 12-15 knots. It is a Start!

The fleet crossed the line favoring the starting mark on starboard, but the Brazilian crew formed by Nicholas Grael and Babio Kohler was quick to tack and head out to the right side of the course, crossing ahead of the whole fleet. A winning choice that allowed Torben Grael’s nephew and Lars Grael’s son to remain in the lead for the whole race and the win Race 6. Second over the finish line, Brazilian Felipe Rondina -Luis Boani who also closed the Championship second overall. Third on the line Noguera-Vallespir (ESP).

Meanwhile, in the middle of the fleet Montoya-Cuenca (ESP) and Meotto-Cassandro faced off in a private match race to secure the highest position of the podium overall. Meotto- Cassandro crossed the finish line in 12th position but without enough margin to beat the Spanish opponents Montoya- Cuenca who won the Snipe Junior World Champion title.

A good number of the participants of the Open Snipe World Championship that will be held in Talamone 19-26 September were also present. So far, 83 teams from 18 nations have entered the regatta.

Event website – Results

Report by Event Media