SDYC hosts this summer's 2022 Snipe National Championship

2022 Snipe National Championship © San Diego Yacht Club

San Diego Yacht Club is proud to host the 2022 Snipe National Championship this summer, July 11-15, 2022. Four full days of racing in what promises to be tight competition in the Snipe Fleet will be paired with five days of on-land festivities - a week not to be missed!

An expected 50+ boat fleet will be making their way to San Diego for the Monday, July 11 check-in followed by Tuesday's 1200 Warning Signal. The regatta will be held on two courses: the Pacific Ocean course (southeast of Point Loma) and the South San Diego Bay course. It is anticipated to sail in eight races throughout the week.

Each year, the Snipe National Championship chooses a new location for the event to be held. Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, MD hosted last year's event. Ernesto Rodriguez and Kathleen Tocke, a well-known Snipe duo and SSL Snipe World Ranked no. 1 team, won the regatta on the East Coast by one point over Raul Rios and Andrea Riefkohl Gonzalez. Rodriguez and Tocke sail for the Miami Snipe Fleet and are planning on making their way to the West Coast for the Nationals before competing in the Worlds in Portugal in late August.

"With bigger events in fickle venues like Annapolis, being consistent is most important. We lost weight for the light wind in Annapolis which helped. We have been sailing light for a year, but are working on getting a little heavier for the Worlds this year. Ernesto told me to go to the gym and eat chicken. I was 118 lbs. this spring with the goal of being 130 for the Worlds...that's a lot of chicken for me and I am mostly vegetarian, so we'll see how that goes," joked Tocke.

"The Snipe Fleet is one of the few non-Olympic dinghy classes that has a true international circuit, so you have the opportunity race around the world as a recreational racer or you can campaign hard to win the Worlds, so it makes for a great mix of people in the class and lends itself to having fun off the water," she added.

Rodriguez commented, "We're excited to defend our National Championship title in beautiful San Diego. The sailing will be awesome on the water and we're excited for some serious fun off the water!" Rodriguez is returning from a very strong 2nd place finish at the 2022 ILCA 7 Master's Worlds in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico at the Vallarta Yacht Club.

2021's third-place finishers, Enrique Quintero and Charlie Bess, are also returning to the San Diego starting line. The two started sailing together in the beginning of 2020. Bess explained that she is looking forward to this year's Nationals with the class motto "serious sailing, serious fun."

Bess explained, "You can see us working hard to do the best we are capable of on the water...but you will see us working equally hard to have fun and make some great memories with our Snipe friends through the entire event."

Of course, a good day on the water always finishes with a good night on land, which is why Co-Chair's Evan Hoffman and Joanne O'Dea have a full week of activities planned for sailors, guests, and volunteers. Upon arrival on Monday, teams will be greeted with hors d'oeuvres and drinks on SDYC's Sail Wash Lawn to kick off the week.

Each day after racing will be a hosted keg at the hoist when sailors come off the water. On Tuesday, all will enjoy your typical San Diego "Taco Tuesday" on the Lawn with live music. Thursday will feature burgers, hot dogs, and more live music. On Friday is the Awards Banquet and Ceremony, with live music by Band Overboard!

Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 skippers and crews. The Commodore Charles E. Heinzerling Trophy will be awarded to the winning skipper. To see all the trophies being awarded, please visit the Notice of Race (.14).

Prior to the Snipe US National Championship, SDYC will be hosting the Junior Snipe National Championship on July 9-10, 2022. Junior eligible skippers must be under the age of 22 the weekend of the race. There will be a Junior Division and a Special Junior Division in which a Junior Skipper may compete with an adult crew. Races will be sailed in Coronado Roads, just southeast of Point Loma in the Pacific Ocean. Junior Snipe sailors are encouraged to register and be a part of this great week of Snipe sailing at SDYC!

Co-Chairs Evan Hoffmann and Joanne O'Dea invite you to join in on this week of sailing. "Come enjoy the best America's Finest City has to offer in sailing! Compete in not just one, but TWO world-class sailing venues throughout the week, top-tier regatta management, and great times with friends while enjoying three nights of meals and entertainment! I'm excited to see you all at THE regatta of the year," said Hoffmann.