*Ernesto Rodriguez / Marina Cano surf to victory. Photo Credit James Ronayne*

Annapolis delivered for the record 40 Snipes racing in this years Colonial Cup regatta, with 6 races being completed in wavy conditions. Ernesto Rodriguez / Marina Cano came away with the victory, with Arthur Blodgett / Gracie Howie in second and Augie Diaz / Christine De Silva in 3rd. As always, the Snipe class features great competition and races were tightly compressed with expert sailors battling for position throughout the fleet. The regatta featured a Friday clinic as well as all the things that make Snipe sailing "Serious Fun" : Friday music, Saturday Italian buffet dinner for competitors, cocktails, a beer boat to supply sailors on their sail in, and late-night carousing at the local watering hole.

Saturday began with a 2-hour postponement, but by noon the forecasted easterly was already filling, and the fleet had a nice sail out to the racecourse before the first race. A significant right shift made for some surprises in the first race as Harry and Sarah Levinson of the Winchester Boat Club took 1st place! A testament to the fleet's depth, the eventual top 2 finished 14th and 35th . The breeze remained light, about 7-8 knots, with washing machine levels of powerboat chop from all directions as the local populations took to the Chesapeake on a beautiful Spring day. Such waves require constant technique, anticipation and physicality, even in light winds. Not all powerboats were impediments: there were a number of spectators out to watch the racing action! A 3rd race was completed with winds up to 10kts before the Fleet headed in, with dinner waiting for them on shore!

*Race 3 Colonial Cup. Photo credit Jack Turner*

Sunday conditions were perfect for Snipe racing in Annapolis: 12-14 kts out of the South. With waves of about 3 feet and slightly longer swell, the surfing downwind was pretty epic. Constant hard hiking and movement were required upwind, challenging all the sailor's fitness. Going into the 6th and final race, all of the top 3 positions were in doubt with the impending drop about to scramble the scores. The race committee did an excellent job attacking the fleet tendency; as the left had been paying consistently and the fleet shifted towards the pin end, they favored the Signal boat by about 5 degrees for the final U Flag start. Peter Foley/Rees Tindal and Rodriguez/ Cano capitalized, starting near the signal and controlling the fleet as it marched left. Enrique Quintero / Hollis Barth sailed a great regatta to finish 4th, while Foley/ Tindal would climb to 5th overall and were the top Juniors, continuing their success since they claimed the Bronze Medal at Snipe Junior Worlds this past January. Womens World Champion and Olympian Carol Cronin / Kim Couranz were recognized as the top all Womens team in 12th overall.

*Sunday windward mark: Rob Ramirez/Bryan Stout lead Rodriguez/Cano, Topsail Schooner "Pride of Baltimore" in the background. Photo Credit Ted Morgan.*

A huge thank you to Severn Sailing Association for hosting this event, accommodating and entertaining 40 Snipes! Thank you to PRO Luke Shingledecker and his team of volunteers for running 6 great races! Andrew Cole and his Judge team were on hand to resolve a single protest. Thank you to regatta Chairs Nikki Bruno, Darby Capellin and Arthur Blodgett, as well as housing and charter coordinators/ local Snipe gurus Lisa and Alex Pline for making it all happen!

RESULTS

Thank you to our Photographers:

Ted Morgan https://tedmorganphotography.zenfolio.com/

James Ronayne https://www.fvporkchop.com/

Jack Turner @jack_wildlife