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Snipe Week in Atlanta – a once
in a lifetime experience!
By Peggy Davis
Not
counting crews, there were 70
competitors / exhibitors
present! 36 sailed the US
masters National Championship,
10 wood snipes were displayed,
29 skippers took part in Greg
Fisher’s racing clinic, and 55
sailed in the Halloween Regatta.
We had sailors from 26 states,
the Virgin Islands, and Brazil.
Without doing a scientific
search, I know of 7 prior
Halloween winners who sailed,
past Nationals winner Dick
Tillman, past US National
Masters Champions, Don
Hackbarth, and Jerry Thompson
(who has won it 7 times!), a
former member of the US Olympic
team, Tarasa Davis, about half
of the SCIRA officials, and a
roster that read like a who’s
who in sniping.
But what made this week so
special was the tremendous
warmth of the old time sailors.
Of those who spotted the sheets
to sign if they were at early US
National Championships, we had
11 people who were at the
Nationals in the 1950’s. There
were 13 who were at the
Nationals in the 1960’s. This
all got started when John Rose
of Tacoma, Washington spotted 7
people here who sailed in the
Nationals at Lake Chautauqua in
1978. Just getting these old
friends together guaranteed a
special week.
Then there were the 8 wood
snipes. I had no idea they would
generate such interest and be so
spectacular. There was a nearly
new one, and three – yes, that’s
three – snipes with 4 digit
numbers in perfect condition.
Some snipes were maintained with
original fittings, and others
had been modernized to be
competitive. It was quite a
sight!
Everything got started Monday
night with a Welcome Aboard
party by Marianne Hackbarth.
Tuesday morning there was a
seminar updating rules – some of
our Masters had not sailed in
quite a while. Then we tried to
get in two races. The wind gods
did not smile on us – not even a
chance to start a race. The
weather was perfect otherwise,
warm with crystal clear skies.
(Yes, we were sitting directly
under a high.) Luckily, Tuesday
night was fun. We played SNIPE
(most of you know it as Bingo)
with the clues being people and
events and snipe modifications.
Layline and North Sails donated
gift certificates, so the
winners were well rewarded.
Everyone either remembered facts
they had long forgotten or
learned a lot more than they
know about our class. Typical
clues were like ”When was the
first international fleet
established?” 1933 “Who built
Snipe #1?” Jimmy Brown who was
14. “What was the maximum price
for a legal snipe with sails
originally?” $350 ”When did the
snipe become the world’s largest
racing class?” 1936
We had hopes of Wednesday being
better as the high was shifting
to the east, but we only got in
one light air race late in the
afternoon. Again, we were saved
by the fact that by the time you
are a Master, you realize that
you can’t be bummed by the
weather. That night we moved to
Means Davis’s barn, ate fried
chicken, and danced to the
bluegrass band Sassafras
featuring a very gifted Washtub
Bass player. (How can he be in
tune with just the angle of the
broomstick to get the note?)
Thursday morning the wood boat
owners and all others interested
went to a seminar led by Joe
Norton of Green Lake Wisconsin
about wood working techniques
and boat building. That
afternoon we finally got in the
two more races required for a
legal championship. Lee Griffith
of Yardley, PA won as the top
Apprentice Master. In 2nd
was legendary sailor Bibi Juetz
of Brazil, the top Grand Master.
Our own Don Hackbarth in 8th
was the top Master.
Friday we shifted weather and
activities. It was drizzling
with light winds most of the
day, but 29 snipe skippers and
their crews learned a lot from
Greg Fisher’s clinic. Greg is
not only one of the top
one-design sailor in the
country, but he has the ability
to teach across a span of skill
levels. Very few people are
gifted in being able neither to
bore the advanced sailor or
confuse the beginner. In the
late afternoon a little breeze
picked up so that we were able
to get on the water for
technique drills. That night the
kid’s costume party and trick or
treating at the cabins enlivened
the evening, followed by more
instruction by Greg.
Saturday, all the wind we
hadn’t had came at once, and it
was cold. In the morning Robert
Mitchell ran 3 races for
juniors. As the wind was so
high, only one all-junior team
competed and won, our team of
Sally Williams and Caroline
Schmitt. Other kids had adults
crewing. Our own Max Irvine
with his father crewing was the
winner of that division. Addison
Hackstaff of the Virgin Islands
had his father as crew and took
second.
Saturday afternoon the real
Halloween Regatta began with
upside down boats and equipment
failures common. There were lots
of ties and everyone was looking
forward to Sunday. The Saturday
night party was wonderful -
lots of and costumes. Those of
you who didn’t come are really
missing an enjoyable regatta.
See you next year?
Sunday was a little warmer with
a light breeze. The race started
with no problems, but the sun
came out and the wind went away.
There was no option other than
cancelling. (Of course, Monday
was gorgeous with winds of
12-15.) We raffled off the
remaining prizes donated by our
sponsors, APS, Coral Reef, and
spectacular snipe bags made by
Quantum sails.
When the results were in, one
of our own families ended up
dominating the silver. Lee
Bradley was a trophy winner in
the Wooden Snipe Competition
with snipe 12021, sailed for
years by his father-in-law, Herb
West. Winner of the Goblin
Division was his daughter,
Kelley Mickler. Winner of the
Top Female Skipper award, the
Top Junior award, and overall
winner of the Spook Division,
was his daughter, Anna Lee. Not
bad!!!!!
As the boats were packing up,
everyone was tired but happy
that they had participated in
such a spectacular event.
Several people made comments
like “I’ve heard of Halloween
all my life, but I had no idea
it could be this much fun. I’ll
be back next year for sure.”
June 2009
Snipe Fleet Update
Regatta Wrap Up
By Terry
Bihary
The AYC
snipe traveling contingent has
been putting some miles on the
trailers this spring. Here is a
wrap up from some recent road
trips to Valdosta, Charlotte and
Birmingham
Charlotte
Snipes are
back in Charlotte at Lake Norman
where 11 Snipes participated
with 7 boats from AYC. Hal
Gielrath from Jacksonville won,
teaming up once again with our
own Clayton Dixon. The remaining
AYC contingent was made up of
Tom Henderson; Anna Lee and Kate
Hodges; Lee and Courtney; Don
Hackbarth and Bruno; and Chris
Stang.
3 races
were completed on Saturday in
light to Medium conditions.
Light wind sent the teams ashore
mid-day and beverages were
distributed accordingly.
However, the race committee
wasn’t finished. They blew the
horn and a mad scramble ensued
as everyone scrambled to get
back to the line.
Anna Lee
celebrated her 20th
birthday on Saturday night but
the big winner was Tom
Henderson. He had a profitable
night winning 5 raffle prizes.
The usual suspects, Jack Smith,
Bruno and Clayton made sure all
that wanted to stay up a bit
later would have company. Sunday
brought 2 races with heaver air,
cold and rain. Anna Lee claims
18 mph plus with chop and gusts
but Tom was thinking more like
16. Don and Bruno shined in the
heavy air. There are unconfirmed
reports that Henderson was
harpooned by a J-80 named The
Pequod, skippered by someone
called Ahab; some claiming Tom
was looking to pick up a ride
downwind but no one is really
talking so it will remain a
mystery.
Valdosta - Round 2
Bad weather
in February cut short the
Georgia State Championships so
the good folks at the Valdosta
Yacht Club invited everyone back
for another go.
7 Boats
made it out including Don
Hackbarth, Tom and Marie
Thompson; John Muhlhausen and
Rita Fullick; and Clayton and
Bruno from AYC making the tip.
Hal Gilreath from Jacksonville
took top honors with Don taking
second.
Saturday
was great blowing 6-8 allowing 2
races to get completed with 1 on
Sunday. Tom, John and Clayton
were battling out for 4th
although allegations have been
made that that Tom should have
been awarded better than 6th.
Reports of RC officials taking
bribes could not be
substantiated.
Another
great band was provided on
Saturday night with fresh
oysters on the half shell with
big time fish fry. Once again
the Valdosta boys have shown
they know the meaning of serious
fun!
Birmingham
– Snipe Southern Championship
Beautiful
skies greeted the participates
for the renewal of the Snipe
Southern Championships at
Birmingham. Rick Bensyl and is
daughter Juliette; Alex Padgett;
the Bradley clan, Anna Lee,
Kelly and Lee and Courtney; Tom
and Amy Benner; and Terry and
Adam Bihary all made the trip
west to Lake Logan.
Saturday
was pretty light stuff with the
mega shifts we have all become
used to on Allatonna Rick and
his family are new to AYC and
this was there first snipe road
trip and we are pumped to have
them along for the fun. Mike
Papp, who was the main man
hosting the event displayed his
local knowledge, and was one up
on Anna Lee and Kate at the end
of day one. Tom showed great
speed in the light stuff and was
only two points out at the end
of the day. The finish of the
third race was really crazy,
with Tom hanging out no more
than a boat length or two away
from a second place finish as 4
boats wallowed at the finish
with no wind and a small current
pushing the boats back. Anna Lee
and Kate scrambled over to grab
the 2nd spot.
The
sportsmanship play of the
weekend was without a doubt Lee,
Courtney and Tom who provided
between race assistance to Rick
with a pesky halyard.
Sunday
morning had more of the same.
The Bradley’s had to leave early
on Sunday due to prior
commitments so it turned out to
be a duel between Tom Henderson
and Mike Papp, with Tom taking
race five in convincing fashion
to take the championship.
Birmingham Sailing Club were
great hosts and they are looking
to make this an even better
event next year.
New Crew Member
Arrives
Anyone
looking for crew please contact
Dustin or Abbie Kays. Although
Stephen has little experience he
is a fast learner and you can’t
beat the weight. Here are his
stats:
Stephen
Lucas Kays was born on 5/13 at
3:36 p.m. He was 7lbs 12 oz.
and 18 3/4 inches long.
Congratulations
Abbie and Dustin!
Measurement
Clinic
As part of
the march to the Nationals,
Snipe Fleet 330 hosted a Spring
Measurement Clinic on April 18th
. We measured masts, rudders,
centerboards and weighed boats
on the official SCIRA scale and
jigs . Brainard Cooper, our
SCIRA certified measurer was on
hand with SCIRA stickers.
Brainard had his hands full
because of the great turnout.
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