Fall 2011 - United States Snipe Sailing

Fall 2011
US SNIPE SAILOR
The Offi cial Magazine of the Snipe Class International Racing Association, USA
US Nationals
And Women’s Nationals
Know Your Trophies
e Griffi th and Slauson Trophies
e Traveling
Snipe Fleet

2012 Snipe Winter Circuit
Midwinters, Clearwater «» March 12–14 «» Dick Boblenz : boblenzrb@aol.com
Don Q Rum Keg, Miami «» March 16-18 «» Gonzalo Diaz Sr. : gecmdiaz@gmail.com
Bacardi/Gamblin, Nassau «» March 20-24 «» Lori/Jimmie Lowe : lorijim@coralwave.com
Fried Elliott photo
2 www.snipeus.org

US SNIPE SAILOR
Volume 6, Number 3
Fall, 2011
Published by SCIRA USA
P.O. Box 83866 Lincoln, NE 68501
Publisher:
John Buckley
(402) 796-2510; buckley@inebraska.com
Editorial Board:
Rick Arneson
rick.arneson@gmail.com
Merrill Varn
orts77@gmail.com
Julia Marsh
juliamarsh@gmail.com
Advertising:
Mary Buckley
(402) 796-2505; direx@inebraska.com
SCIRA USA
Board of Directors:
Gene Soltero (National Secretary)
gene-snipe@soltero.org
Martin Bebb (Vice National Secretary)
martinrb@swbell.net
Eric Reinke (Chief Measurer)
ereinke@comcast.net
Jack Gannon (District 1 Governor)
jgmarineN10@comcast.net
Rick Scofield (District 2 Governor)
scofield@tconl.com
Tug Townsend (District 3 Governor)
tugtownsend@gmail.com
David Muhlhausen (District 4 Governor)
snipemon@yahoo.com
Doug Hart (District 6 Governor)
dbhart@cox.net
Kirk Smith (District 7 Governor)
kirksmith01@msn.com
Lee Griffith (Member At Large)
lee.griffith@contextgroup.com
Art Rousmaniere (Member At Large)
art.rousmaniere@gmail.com
Aimee Heim (Member At Large)
aimeegraham@msn.com
Tom Henderson (Member At Large)
thenderson@princeminerals.com
Non-Voting Board Members:
Mary Buckley (Executive Administrator)
(402) 796-2505; direx@inebraska.com
Ken Culver (Director of Finance)
kculver@mo2inc.com
Andrew Pontious (Legal Counsel)
apontious@collette.com
John Buckley (USSS Publisher)
buckley@inebraska.com
The US SNIPE SAILOR is published quarterly
on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December
1. The deadline for material submission is the
10th of the preceding month.
The Snipe Silhouette, the International Snipe
Class Crest, and the slogan Serious Sailing,
Serious Fun are trademarks of the Snipe Class
International Racing Association, and are
registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011
From Our
National
Secretary
AFantastic Week!!! – for the 37 competitors who made it to North Cape Yacht Club for
this year’s Nationals in late July. With outstanding organization by Terry Timm as
Regatta Chairman and Dave Shaffer as PRO, the racing and shoreside activities were
terrific. Many thanks also to Brainard Cooper for running the measurements and Jack
McGrael for taking on the responsibility of SCIRA Representative during the regatta. Congratulations
to Augie Diaz and Kathleen Tocke. Next year we look forward to seeing more of you at
Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami in late June.
The Traveling Snipe Fleet made it to Dallas for the week prior to the Southwestern Championship
at the end of May. As I write this now in mid-August, I can tell you that I still have
non-Snipe sailors from our local clubs at White Rock contacting and wanting to know when the
fleet is going to come back. Those who attended the clinics want more and those who didn’t get
a chance to attend are lining up for next year. I am hearing that the response has been the same
in many of the other venues visited by the Traveling Snipe Fleet. Let’s all work at helping to
raise the $20-25,000 we need for next year so we can continue the program.
As part of our program to appeal to other sailors, your board recently approved a new modern
logo developed by our Media Manager, Maria Badia. You will be seeing it everywhere soon.
We found one of the two volunteers we are seeking to publicize our regattas and post regatta
results and reports on a timely basis. Kevin Hetherington will be your new Regatta Scheduling
Coordinator. We will have information soon on the website on how to interact with Kevin. We
are still looking for a Regatta Results Coordinator and now are also looking for an Assistant
Publisher for US Snipe Sailor. Please send me your recommendations for people to fill these
slots and I will make the contacts and ask them to join the leadership team.
Fair winds and following seas,
Gene Soltero
SCIRA USA National Secretary
On the cover: Jessica Claflin & Bridget Wiatrowski at the 2011 Women’s Nationals, Jubilee
Yacht Club, Beverly, MA. Dan Neiman photo.

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Index of past US Snipe Sailor articles.
From time to time we get requests from people wanting to know which issue a certain article appeared in. Here’s a
list of most of our past “how to” articles. Past issues are on the website at www.snipeus.org:
Lake Sailing Tips Advice from Jim Bowers, John MacRae,
and John Tagliamonte. Compiled by Art
Rousmaniere.
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011
Fall 2006
Snipe Sailing 101 - The Racing Compass Spencer Wiberley, McLaughlin Boat Works Winter 2006
Measurement Corner - Jib Tack Location Proper location of jib tack. By Bob Ewoldt Winter 2006
Measurement Corner - Centerboard
Measurement
Proper dimensions and marking of
centerboard. By Bob Ewoldt
Jiffy Rigging a Snipe A tongue-in-cheek look at tips for quickly
getting your Snipe in the water. By Joel
Zackin
Measurement Corner – Bands on mast and
boom; centerboard retention systems
Proper placement of marking bands
on mast and boom; legal and illegal
centerboard retention. By Bob Ewoldt
Snipe Sailing 101 – The Boom Vang Basic set up and use of the boom vang,
plus tips from experts. By John Buckley and
Merrill Varn
Trailer Maintenance Tips Trailer problems and how to avoid them. By
John Buckley
Spring 2007
Summer 2007
Summer 2007
Fall 2007
Spring 2008
Sailing in Swell and Chop Tips for boat handling in non-flat water. Spring 2008
Trailer Maintenance Tips – Part 2 Follow-up on previous trailer article. By
John Buckley
Snipe Sailing 101 – The Mast Puller Basic tips for rigging and using the mast
pusher/puller. By Rick Arneson
Heavy Air Tuning Tips for trimming sails and using mast
controls in heavy air. By George Szabo,
Quantum Sails
Snipe Sailing 101 – Spreaders The hows and whys of setting up and
adjusting your spreaders. By Rick Arneson.
Heavy Air Gybing Advice from a super crew on gybing in
heavy air. By Sheehan Commette
Snipe Sailing 101 – Less Rudder, More Speed A little physics on what makes a boat turn
– and how to use it to your advantage. By
Merrill Varn
Snipe Sailing 101 – A Guide to Courses A guide to the basic race course
configurations approved by SCIRA. By Rick
Arneson
Downwind Speed Tips Getting the most out of your boat on the
downwind leg. By Brian Bissell, North Sails.
Choosing The “Right” Gate Tips for handling leeward gates. By Carol
Cronin
Strategies For The Last Upwind Leg Tips for sailing the last, and often deciding,
leg of a course. By Rick Arneson.
Ask The Snipe Experts – Changing Gears Tips for sailing when the wind is up and
down.
Ask The Snipe Experts – Starting Strategies Tuning and boat handling techniques for
getting off the line fast.
Summer 2008
Fall 2008
Fall 2008
Winter 2008
Winter 2008
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
Spring 2010
Summer 2010
Fall 2010
Winter 2010
Summer 2011

Fleet 554 Hosts 2011 Snipe Women’s Nationals
A collection of quotes and photographs by participants and volunteers.
By Julia Marsh
Photos by Dan Neiman
John Tagliamonte, Chief Judge:
“Fledgling Snipe Fleet 554 located at Jubilee YC
in Beverly, Massachusetts hosted a moderate to breezy
Women’s Nationals this past July 16-17, which is the same
weekend that Fleet 554 has hosted the New England’s and
District 1 championships in recent years. There were nearly
20 teams of all varieties at the event. There were teams
with combined ages of less than 25 years to over 100 years;
Olympians to first time skippers; Snipe veterans to those
brand new to the class. All of the competitors enjoyed great
racing and a lasting camaraderie. Sure proof that ‘variety’ is
the spice of life! Several teams had their own ‘boat boys”
who in many cases chartered their boats for next to zero
cost and were at the beck and call of the sailors to help tune,
launch, repair and tow their boats.
“SCIRA rules limit Women’s events to a max wind speed
of 18 knots, so reports of gusts in the 20-25 knot range atop
a nearby J37 still were not enough to halt racing. When
one team went swimming after their rudder popped off, the
skipper said to the crash boat “Aw, the water’s almost 70
degrees, I can stay in a bit longer”. Two boats lost masts in the
penultimate race but who’s to say these weren’t about to fail
anyway. Kerry Sullivan and Stephanie Muto were ultimately
thrilled with their exact mid-fleet final result since it was
rewarded with a new pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. Several of
the ladies mentioned “the food at women’s regattas is much
better” and healthier too. One travelling team made it a point
to have lobster each of the three days in town since they
couldn’t easily get it back home.”
Harry Levinson, SCIRA Rep:
“The regatta organizers requested permission from SCIRA
All the Juniors get a Cool Shirt.
to run modified W courses with the start/finish line 1/3 of the
way up the beat, and they also had shorter courses approved.
Without these changes it is likely the series would have only
been three or four races instead of seven.
The breeze was light and shifty Saturday afternoon, despite
reports from a cruising boat and SailFlow(r) that the seabreeze
was blowing 10-12 knots only a few more miles out to sea and
it looked like it was
moving towards the
fleet. Unfortunately,
the gradient winds
were too much
for the sea breeze
to overcome, but
after 20 minutes of
drifting and some
swimming, the PRO
hoisted AP over A
and the competitors
were towed in.
Sunday saw a
lot more breeze
out of the SW.
The first race saw
8-12 knots with
forecast for 20+ for
the afternoon. The
PRO and SCIRA
rep watched the
Champions Carol Cronin and crew Kim
Couranz.
wind readings, since
SCIRA women’s
www.snipeus.org

events have a
maximum sustained
wind limit of 18
knots. The winds
occasionally gusted
to 18, but did not
hold steady. The
modified W courses
proved a little dicey
for some of the less
experienced skippers
and unfortunately,
several masts were
lost. The last race
was changed to a
double triangle in
an effort to keep
the poles down, but
the reach legs were
Sarah Levinson and Briana Grenier. deep enough that the
leaders still popped
up their poles. With a big gust, Cronin/Couranz and Shore/
Marsh took off on a great planing leg. After the races Kim
Couranz said they had a lot of fun. It sure looked like they
did! Further back in the fleet, it was a mix of poles and jib
reaching. There was enough wind that it didn’t seem to hurt
those that elected to keep their poles down.”
Sarah Levinson, Winchester Fleet:
“I enjoyed meeting all of the new people, and sailing with
Bri.”
Jack Gannon, Winchester Fleet:
I was not there, but I heard through the grapevine that
Kerry may have pulled the wrong line, on the run Sunday,
andooops!! (i.e. broken mast?)
Jessica Claflin, Newport Fleet:
“In the final race of the regatta, I managed to rip the port plate
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011
that holds the traveler for the main sheet. Not rip out of the
deck mind you…no, I managed to rip the whole thing in half.
Needless to say, our pointing ability on port tack was a bit
lacking. So, Bridget and I decided to do what any tactically
sound sailor would do, sail 95% of the race on starboard tack.
It ended up working surprisingly well due to a 30 degree
lefty we caught, allowing us to point as well on port tack in
a huge lift as others could when the wind was centered. This
kept us in the hunt and enabled us to finish 5th in the race
despite a minor inconvenience like reaching on port tack when
everyone else was at close hauled. All in all, it was a very
interesting race and a great lesson: Under no circumstances
should you stop fighting and to always finish what you start, in
this case, a sailboat race.”
Kerry Sullivan, Boston:
“This was my first major event as a Snipe skipper and I was
sailing with Stephanie Muto, who is also new to Snipes. I was
so happy that we didn’t quit! It was really windy on Sunday
and we were overpowered, but we never gave up! As a result,
we ended up winning
the mid-fleet award!
Thank you, Maui
Jim!!!”
Stephanie Muto,
Winchester Fleet:
“My favorite part of
the regatta was the
Boat Boys! It was
great to see a lot of
male Snipe sailors
come out to the event
and support us. It
really meant a lot.”
Bob Coyle , Official
Boat Boy, Team
Sullivan/Muto:
“Well…That’s what
she said!!!”
The youngest team: Katie Bresnahan and Ally Kramer. Kerry Sullivan and Cinderella.

The Griffith and
Slauson Trophies
By Merrill Varn
This is the fifth in a series of articles on the history
of major trophies in the US Snipe Class.
The Harold Griffith Trophy is awarded at Snipe
Nationals to the overall winner of the combined
Crosby and Heinzerling Series.
The Griffith family settled on the shores of
Chautauqua Lake in Jamestown, New York before
the Revolutionary War. Harold Griffith (“Griff”) was born
there in 1904 and lived in Jamestown nearly all his life.
The Chautauqua Lake Yacht Club (CLYC) had been
founded in 1894 as a canoe and sailing club. Griff joined the
club in the late 1920s and learned to sail in an E-Scow. He was
lured to Snipes in the late 1930’s because they were easy to
launch and only had a two-man crew. There were a number of
active Snipe sailors at the club, and Fleet 124 was chartered in
1941. After World War II, the club hosted what was still called
the Snipe World Championship in 1946. The Chautauqua
Worlds was the first that was actually an international event,
and the last one before Snipe Nationals and Snipe Worlds
became separate events.
Griff purchased his first Snipe, #2727 Tell Tale, in 1938. In
1945, he bought a new Emmons Snipe #5524 Tell Tale II, and
Edward “Red” Garfield (L, 1960 SCIRA Commodore) and
Harold Griffith (R, 1949 SCIRA Commodore) with the 1954
Wells Trophy which they won at Mentor Harbor, OH. Garfield
skippered the winning Snipe (Mills #8570 “Tell Tale III”) in that
event. Photo from Griffith family photo albums, provided by
Cindy (Griffith) Koski.
in 1951, two years after he was SCIRA Commodore, he and
his crew bought a new Mills Snipe #8570. Tell Tale III. Griff’s
daughter Cindy remembers sailing Tell Tale III in many junior
races on Wednesday nights, and at the Snipe Junior Nationals
in Green Lake Wisconsin in 1952.
Griff competed mostly locally, at CLYC and in District
1 regattas, but he did go to 1952 and 1954 Snipe Nationals,
where he placed second and first respectively in the Wells
Division. Of course he competed in and had a hand in
planning and hosting the 1946 Snipe Worlds at Chautauqua.
His crew was Edward “Red” Garfield, and the two sailed
together well into their 70s. They also co-captained Fleet
124, and started and ran the CLYC junior sailing program for
years. Jack Wahlberg, a CLYC junior under their tutelage,
says of Griff: “We learned life skills as much as how to sail;
we learned how to compete as sportsmen”. He also remembers
one day “when Griff and Red were driving all of us to sailing
lessons, Griff screeched to a halt, jumped out of the car to
resuscitate a small boy who had drowned, and then jumped
back in the car and drove off to sailing lessons as though
nothing had happened.”
Griff had a handsome smile that could be spotted across
the room and an energetic laugh that could be heard across the
lake. He dressed smartly, could talk to anyone about anything,
and loved a good party. Griff had his own graphic design
business, but headed outdoors whenever he could. Besides
sailing, he played badminton and golf and spent the winters on
the ice, skating and iceboating.
See “Griffith” on page 13
www.snipeus.org
Vince Becker

Vince Becker
Awarded to the second place skipper and crew in
the Heinzerling Series, the Slauson Trophy was
established in 1961 in memory of Cleve Slauson.
For the thirty years after World War II, the
lakes of the upper midwestern United States were
one of the hotbeds of Snipe sailing.
Fleet 131 was chartered at the Illinois Valley Yacht and
Canoe Club, nicknamed the Ivy Club, in Peoria right after the
war. Cleve and Dottie Slauson joined the Ivy Club in 1950,
and learned to sail in the world famous Snipe. Cleve, a color
separator for a lithography company and Dottie, a secretary to
the bank president, were newly married and had no children
to “distract” them. Snipe sailing was their passion outside of
work. The club had a fleet, but no sparkplug. Cleve and his
magnetic personality was just what the fleet needed. Bright,
witty and enthusiastic, he was the kind of guy that everyone
wanted to be around. Slauson started his fleet building by
July 1953 issue of Snipe
Bulletin showing (l to r) Cleve
Slauson, Dan Wesselhoft and
Hattie Carver getting ready
to launch Carver’s 1948 Mills
Snipe #6938 “Dehattra” at
Peoria, IL. This is the classic
“Crosby” designed Snipe
Bulletin Cover
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011
This August 1953 issue of the
Snipe Bulletin used the cover
designed by Cleve Slauson. It
was used for that issue only.
attracting local athletes to the fleet.
“We had wonderful fleet parties, we’d meet at different
member’s homes, and everyone would bring something to
eat”, said Dan Wesselhoft, a retired Fleet 131 member. As
the fleet grew, they had the manpower to launch and host the
annual Peoria General Star Invitational Regatta. Cleve won for
the first time in a tie-breaker with Buzz Levinson in 1955, and
then again in 1959 and 1960. By then, Cleve was the perennial
Fleet Captain, and his close friend Stan Salzenstein (“Shorty”)
the perennial regatta chair. During its heyday, Fleet 131 also
hosted the Snipe Nationals twice.
The Slausons owned two Varalyays. The first was #9361,
Amigo, which they bought in 1952. In this boat, they finished
second in the Wells at the 1955 Nationals and qualified for
the Heinzerling in 1957. They bought a new Varalyay in 1960
(#12321 “Adios”)
and finished ninth
in the Wells that
year.
In the 1950s
and 1960s there
were much larger
Snipe fleets in
Indianapolis,
Springfield,
Diamond Lake and
Syracuse. Cleve
was instrumental in
getting his fleet to
travel to these other
areas for regattas,
saying “If we want
them to come to
our regatta, we’ve
got to go to theirs”.
And travel they
did throughout
District 3, to
Cleve Slauson. Photo Courtesy SCIRA.
neighboring districts, to Midwinters and to Nationals. All their
travel attracted talent to the General Star and talent in turn
attracted interest. Wesselhoft said there were often upwards of
80 boats split into green, red, yellow, and blue fleets.
Cleve was also active beyond his fleet. He was District 3
Governor several times and worked closely with Bill Crosby
on the layout and printing of the Snipe Bulletin. In fact,
Slauson was responsible for the redesign of the cover for one
issue in 1953. He was on the Board of Governors from 1959
until his untimely death in 1961.
Sailing was a seasonal sport in the upper Midwest. Winter
came and the Snipes were packed up for a few months and
sailors abandoned the softwater and took to the ice. There was
little friction between the three runners and the “hardwater”
and the boats quickly accelerated to speeds greater than the
wind. Cleve Slauson, Fred Schenck, and Eddie Williams
were all great fans of iceboating. Cleve, only in his mid 30s,
drowned in a iceboating accident early one January morning
in 1961. He left behind his wife and a new daughter.
See “Slauson” on page 13

Snipe Nationals at North Cape Yacht Club
Augie Diaz and Kathleen Tocke repeat as Champions; Raul Rios and
Fernando Monllor of Puerto Rico win Juniors.
The Snipe Class descended on
North Cape Yacht Club in
LaSalle, MI the weekend of July
23rd and set down roots for a
week. This gorgeous location
became the setting for an event and a
vacation to remember. The hospitality
extended to us from the moment
we arrived at the club was simply
unparalleled. I have never met such
friendly, helpful, and accommodating
people as I did that week. Leslie Hill,
Terry Timm, and countless volunteers did
everything in their power to assure that
all participants felt personally welcomed.
We are fortunate to have been taken care
of so well. The affection was mutual and
apparent. When I asked Commodore
Duane Burgoyne what his impression
of the Snipe Class was, he was quick
to answer. “I’ve never met a friendlier
group of sailors. I expected you guys to
By Kerry O’Brien
Photos Courtesy of Terry Timm
show up, sail, and then disappear (back
to our hotels, tents, etc.). It was really
different from other Classes. I didn’t
know what a gracious and fun group
you would be. It was a perfect fit for
us.” Duane’s excitement about hosting
our event was made clear by his actions,
especially when he facilitated multiple
bonfires on the beach, even offering to
turn a blind eye if we wanted to burn a
couple of picnic tables (we didn’t need
to – he had provided plenty of firewood).
Duane was also impressed with the
character of our most talented members.
He was moved by the generous actions
of Augie Diaz and Kathleen Tocke. The
two eventual winners of this year’s
Snipe Nationals took the time to work
with the young members of the youth
sailing program at North Cape Yacht
Club — teaching, coaching, and leaving
a lasting impression of what it means
10 www.snipeus.org

Old Man
Diaz chalks
up another
Nationals.
to be champions, and Snipe sailors.
Commodore Burgoyne was always
checking in with us, making sure we
were having fun, and that we always
had whatever we needed. He embodies
the values of everyone we met at the
club that week, from the members to the
bartenders. They truly made us feel like
honored guests, and I speak for many
who can’t wait for the chance to return
to North Cape. They set the bar high for
future Nationals.
There are always stories from every
regatta. Some stories should be told
because they remind us why we are
members of the Snipe Class. For many
of us, it is because we know that we are
different, that this Class is made up of a
unique and special collection of people.
It is why you see many generations of
sailors participating in regattas. It’s why
people drive for days to get to an event.
This is the Class to get into for the young
and talented collegiate sailors, who are
looking to continue the competitive
sailing that they enjoyed as undergrads.
One story to which I allude occurred on
the first day of the Crosby series this
year. Scott Irwin, a novice to the Class,
was sailing a Snipe for the first time,
having borrowed a friend’s boat from
Detroit. After being frustrated for the
first few legs of his first race in a Snipe,
Scott found himself in great position on a
run, sidled up next to Ernesto Rodriguez,
former Snipe National champion.
According to Scott, suddenly, Ernesto
began coaching him, advising him about
how to make his boat faster-adjusting his
rake, tweaking his jib halyard. This was
a first for Scott, “In 35 years of sailing,
never has that ever happened to me…
never has another competitor coached
me, on the race course, during a race.”
That this occurred is not as surprising to
many who have been a part of the Class
for a while. It’s what makes the Snipe
Class different. When Scott told me this
story, I was reminded of a quote from
the interview with Tyler Sinks in this
summer’s US Snipe Sailor magazine.
Sinks said “There [aren’t] any secrets
[in the Snipe Class], everyone [makes]
each other better.” That seems to be
what sets our Class apart. All you have
to do is sit around the dinner table, or a
keg, after racing, and you hear sailors
sharing their strategies, and experiences,
offering suggestions and tips to others
still figuring things out. There aren’t
secrets in the Snipe Class. It is evident
that every sailor who wins wants to win
against other sailors who are performing
at their best. The most satisfying win
comes out of the scenario where the bar
is high and all are sailing at the top of
their game. On Wednesday night, Scott
took Ernesto and others, myself included,
out on his Tartan 10 to race, and we
earned a victory in the evening’s contest.
See “Nationals” on page 12
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011 11

Nationals - from page 11
Cole Tillson scores some hardware at
his first Nationals.
A new Snipe sailor
was gained in Scott,
and friendships
were born from the
events of the week.
This was just one of
many stories worth
telling from the
week on Lake Erie.
This year’s
Nationals was all
about having a good
time. From hotel
parties to fireworks
to making s’mores,
to posing with your
skipper or crew for
Prom-style photos
on the final night,
this year’s event
was a collection
of great times with
extraordinary people.
Why go to the Snipe
Nationals? Because it’s worth it. Where else will you get
the opportunity to sail against the best, be schooled by the
best, and leave knowing you are a better sailor than you were
when you arrived? Those who were there know what a good
time was had. Those who skipped this year…you missed out.
For some, the Snipe Nationals is an opportunity to leave the
concerns and responsibilities of your “real life” behind, and
to throw yourself into all that the regatta has to offer. Many
jokingly refer to
Snipe Nationals
as summer camp
for adults, and it’s
sort of true. It’s
more, though. In
some ways, it’s
like going home.
In a sense, it’s like
seeing relatives
who live far away,
or reconnecting
with family
members that you
hadn’t realized you
missed so much.
See you next
year in Miami,
where more
memories are sure
to be made, and
where there will be
more stories to live,
and to tell.
Regatta Chairman Terry Timm (r) and
Leslie Hill.
The Nationals: A SCIRA
Representative’s Perspective
By John McGrael
At the recent US Nationals, I served as SCIRA
Representative. It was a great experience!
Gene Soltero, the 2011 National Secretary, joined
me for lunch in June before the regatta to review
my role and duties. He explained the SCIRA rep is an
extension of the National Secretary and the regatta
chairman, and serves as an advocate for the sailors.
The focus during the racing would be the intent of
the rules rather than the technical construction of
the wording. My role would be to provide a sense of
fairness and understanding of the experiences that
sailors go through on the water.
Brainard Cooper, the former SCIRA Commodore
and a seasoned race manager, wrote a note of
suggestions to Harry Levinson, the SCIRA rep for
the US Women’s Nationals in early July. Brainard’s
comments were most helpful. I can recommend his
suggestions be reviewed by anyone interested in
race management and SCIRA duty.
Terry Timm, our host chairman, and Dave Shaffer,
the PRO at North Cape Yacht Club circulated the
sailing instructions for a few rounds of editing and
simplifying. Then we were ready to race! The five
days of the regatta, the Crosby Series and Heinzerling
Championship, started exactly at 11:00 am each day
and were tightly managed.
The race committee, headed by Dave and Barb
Shaffer, was assisted by its regular teammates, Lew
and Marty Johnson. They ran a smooth and seamless
operation. The wind was monitored for velocity and
direction so the windward gates and leeward gates
could be moved as needed. Some of the legs were
also shortened. There were a total of 17 people and
6 boats engaged in managing the races. The second
race on Thursday was abandoned when the wind
collapsed. After about 30 minutes it was started
again, and we completed olympic and windward/
leeward courses to get in 3 races.
The Shaffers and Johnsons run major regattas
at North Cape in the summer and work the winter
circuit in Florida from November until April. They
are very good at what they do. It is no wonder
that watching and working with them is such
a pleasure. If you have a chance to serve as a
SCIRA representative, I hope your days will be as
memorable as mine.
12 www.snipeus.org

Griffith - from page Slauson - from page
Griff was also a humble man. Cindy remembers his
surprise when the Fleet gifted the National Trophy in his
honor in 1958, “I don’t think he ever really understood how
much he had done for the Fleet,” she said. He did what he did
because he loved Snipes, he loved sailing and he loved kids.
The Junior program was a family affair; Griff and his
wife Betty were known to several generations of young
Snipe sailors as “Uncle Griff” and “Aunt Betty”. In 1993,
following his wife’s death and when his health began failing,
Griff moved to Delaware to live his last three years with his
daughter Cindy. She says he was still his wonderful self, but
never adjusted to leaving his beloved Chautauqua. At the
weekend cabin on the Chesapeake Bay, she said, her Dad
would spend the days sitting on the deck “waiting for a Snipe
to sail past”.
The Griffith Trophy has been won eight times by Augie
Diaz, seven times by Earl Elms, and several times each by
Bob Huggins, Steve Suddath, Hal Gilreath, Craig Leweck,
George Szabo, and Ernesto Rodriguez.
Thanks to Cindy Koski, John Rose and Jack Wahlberg.
Members of the fleet changed the name of the General
Star to the Slauson Memorial Regatta, and SCIRA collected
donations for a trophy, which Dottie awarded for the first time
in 1961.
Long after his death, stories of Cleve have turned to
legend. “He was quite the partier,” said Dick Schusler, another
former Fleet 131 member. “One time down at Midwinters,
there was a team from Bermuda. They were kind of health
nuts…eating right and going to bed early every night. They
weren’t doing as well as they had hoped at the regatta. One
night Cleve had a little more party than usual, but as always
the next morning when he got behind the tiller, he was
sharp as a tack. In fact, he won the first race of the day. The
Bermuda team asked him how he did it. Good clean living,
said Cleve. So the Bermuda boys partied the next night and
won the first race of the next day. Some things never change.
Did someone say “Serious Sailing, Serious Fun”?
Thanks to John Rose, Dan Wesselhoft, Dick Schusler, Buzz
Levinson, and Brainard Cooper.
SEATTLE SNIPE FLEET 444 HOLDS A MEMBER REUNION
By John Rose
An impromptu social reunion
of current and former
members of Seattle Snipe
Fleet 444 was held in
mid-June. The Fleet was
chartered in 1957, and has hosted
Snipe US National Championships in
1962 and 1983. Sailing is held on Lake
Washington and Puget Sound.
The event was hosted by Paul and
Martha Smith of Kirkland, Washington,
a suburb of Seattle. Martha is the
daughter of well-known 1950s Michigan
Snipe sailor Nate Whiteside. SCIRA
US District 7 Governor Kirk Smith and
wife Katia also welcomed the guests and
provided updates on current activities,
while “old-timers” brought scrapbooks
and news clippings to share the past
with others. Many stories were told
of the old days, to the delight of those
attending.
Dave North (a Snipe sailor from
the Sequoia YC Snipe fleet in Tulsa,
Oklahoma) was the charter member of
the Fleet, and his daughter Patty North
attended the reunion to keep the family
memory alive. Other early members at
the reunion were Willard and Evelyn
Wright, and John and Sharon Rose.
They were joined by ten other former
members and five current members,
including Clifford Wright, Dick and
Judy Buckingham, Dick Schusler, Pete
and Libby Bristow, Bob Sanders, Bill
and Pat Leffler, Ted Garman, and Carol
Kane. Several of the current and former
members have previous ties to Snipe
fleets in other states.
It was a fun way to support and
encourage local Snipe fleet activities,
and something that other Snipe fleets in
the US should consider doing to raise
the interest level “off the race course.
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011 1

Remembering Mills-Built Snipes
By John Rose, SCIRA USA Classic Snipe Editor
In the years from 1947 through 1961, wooden Snipes
built by Clark Mills at Dunedin, Florida (and later
at nearby Clearwater, Florida) became popular with
top sailors in the United States. These Snipes were
noted for their fast performance, especially in heavy
winds, and the quality of construction. Early production
Snipes built by Mills featured varnished planked hulls
and mahogany plywood decks, and were admired for the
beauty of the wood and quality of construction – and their
unique hull shape. More about that later.
Clark Mills (1915-2001) had a long history in boat
building, starting at age 10 by building a small skiff, and
later many other boats for fishing and pleasure sailing
in the Clearwater area. During WWII, he worked in
Navy shipyards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the
Panama Canal Zone, and returned to the Clearwater
area after the war and started building boats again at
Clark Mills Boat Shop in Dunedin. In 1947, he started
building Snipes, the first of which (#6480) went to the
Snipe fleet at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Word spread that
these were fast, beautifully built Snipes and early orders
Below - 1951 Mills Snipe #8570 Tell Tale III with skipper
Harold Griffith (1949 SCIRA Commodore) and crew Edward
“Red” Garfield (1960 SCIRA Commodore ) from Chautauqua
YC, sailing at Oak Orchard YC/Point Breeze, NY on Lake Ontario
in 1952, when this Snipe was almost new. Photo from
Griffith family albums, provided by Cindy (Griffith) Koski.
Clark Mills (1915-
2001), Florida
Snipe builder
from 1947-1961.
Photo courtesy
of Tom Mayers/
Lands End Marina
Inc. (Longboat
Key, FL).
poured in from well-known sailors such as Hazel (Hattie)
Carver, Francis Seavy, Don Cochran Sr., Cliff McKay
Jr., Clark King, and Birney Mills (no relation, SCIRA
Executive Secretary 1953-1970). Further acclaim was
solidified when Mills-built Snipes won the 1950 and 1956
Snipe US National Championships (Clark King, #7876)
and the 1951 Nationals (Francis Seavy, #6995).
What was special about these Snipes? Not only was
Mills an accomplished builder of wooden boats, he also
became proficient as a boat designer. After studying the
plans and specifications and tolerances for the Snipe hull,
Mills developed a hull shape that utilized the tolerances
in such a way that a long waterline length and flat keel
profile in the fore and aft ends of the hull, made for a
fast, quick planing boat when the wind piped up and for
open water sailing such as in the Gulf of Mexico. This
“tweaking” of the tolerances was not favored by the
SCIRA Rules Committee, and later rules changes were
enacted in the 1952-1954 time period to control the stem
profile and reduce tolerances for overall length of the
hull (effective with #9100 for the bow and #9800 for the
length tolerances). However, a number of fast Mills Snipes
with planked hulls were built before the changes to the
tolerances took effect.
In 1954, Snipe rules were expanded to permit
construction of hulls with fiberglass and also plywood.
Mills and well-known Snipe sailor Frank Levinson went
into partnership and started Clearwater Bay Marine Ways
(CBMW) in Clearwater. Levinson ran the day to day
operation of the business, Mills built Snipes with plywood
hulls (#9870 was the first Mills plywood Snipe), and Joan
(Mrs. Frank) Levinson took over the Snipe sail making
1 www.snipeus.org

usiness from Guy Roberts of Clearwater and started
Levinson Sails in the loft at CBMW.
Continuing the winning ways, Mills plywood Snipes
won the 1959 Snipe US Nationals (Dick Tillman, #10350)
and the 1960, 1961 and 1965 Nationals (Harry Levinson,
#12192). Mills Snipes also finished “in the money” at
other Snipe US Nationals, under the skillful handling of
Frank Levinson, Morris Whitney, and Harold Gilreath;
and were often winners of regional and local area
championships in many other Snipe events. Other notable
Snipe sailors who have raced Mills Snipes include Carl
Zimmerman, Tom Lundquist, Edward “Red” Garfield and
Rare photo of Francis Seavy and Mike McLaughlin (crew)
sailing 1948 wooden Mills Snipe #6995 Honey. This boat
has a planked hull and has been modified slightly from
the original configuration, including updated rigging and
equipment. Photo by Dennis Kelly; photo courtesy of Bob
Foster (Clearwater, FL).
1951 Mills Snipe #8653
Texan II originally owned by
Harold Gilreath (1956 SCIRA
Commodore), showing nearly
original configuration. Note
flat keel run in fore and aft
sections, and “long waterline,”
full bow profile for enhanced
performance in higher wind
and wave condtions. Photo
from Gilreath family collection.
Harold Griffith, Alan “Buzz” Levinson, Bud Hook, and
Dr. Don Cochran, Jr. The last measured Mills plywood
Snipe in the SCIRA boat database is #13331, built in 1961
for an owner in the Bahamas.
Mills also is well-known for designing some other onedesign
sailboat classes; most widely known is the 7’-9”
International Optimist pram which is used around
the world as a youth sail training dinghy; and the 16’
Windmill – a fast, easily-built plywood sharpie-type open
sailboat with a Snipe rig. Mills also designed the popular
ComPac series of daysailers and cruising sailboats built in
fiberglass by Hutchins Co., Inc. of Clearwater.
Of the 54 Snipes that Mills built during the years 1947-
1961, only about 10 have been identified currently with
known owners or locations. Mills Snipe #6995 Honey,
owned since new in 1948 by Francis Seavy and updated
and restored to top condition, is slated to be donated to a
historical museum at Heritage Village in Largo, Florida
(near Clearwater), where it will be displayed in a replica
of Clark Mills’ Dunedin boat shop, which is planned to be
built on the museum site.
Information for this article was derived from many
sources including articles by Cindy Goebel for Southwinds
magazine (January 2002); Tom Mayers (Lands End
Marina, Inc./Longboat Key, FL); Jim Flannery (staff
writer for St. Petersburg, FL area newspaper); Daniel
Mills (draft biography of Clark Mills, father); and
personal contacts and correspondence with Barbara
(Levinson) Werder, Dr. Barry Cochran, Harry Levinson,
Bob Foster and Gene Fleming.
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011 1

My Summer as the Nomad Snipe Coach
By Austin Kana
Introduction by Don Hackbarth
The US Snipe Class Traveling Snipe Fleet was based on the concept of ‘take your
product on the road to your target market’. The idea was originally proposed
several years ago by then National Secretary David Odell on a much larger
scale, and appropriately called ‘Project Grand Slam’. Tempered by the realities of
financial resources and management time, the plan was implemented on a smaller
scale this past May with donated funds, three boats, a triple trailer, a van and a
coach/ driver who travelled over ,000 miles from mid May to mid August visiting
11 sailing clubs and introducing the Snipe sailboat to over 100 prospects.
When I accepted the job as the Traveling Snipe
Fleet coach back in May, I had no idea what kind
of summer lay ahead of me, and to be honest, I
don’t think those who voted for this program
did either. Despite some uncertainties in the
beginning, the overall goal of the summer could not have been
clearer; attract new sailors of all ages and all sailing abilities
to the Snipe. To this end I can happily say that this summer
was a huge success.
We were able to introduce the boat to over 60 individuals
for the first time, with 13 of them becoming new members to
the Class. Of those, we had roughly three who expressed clear
interest in purchasing a boat of their own in the near future,
with one of them actually doing so!
The summer began when I picked up boats in both Atlanta
and Jacksonville in mid May, then drove down to Miami for
the Master’s Nationals. After a weekend there I took the rig to
Dallas for two weekends where they were hosting both their
centennial celebration regatta and the Southwesterns. The fleet
then went north to Annapolis and Surf City for the Colonial
Cup and District 1 Championships, respectively. New Haven,
Connecticut was the next stop on the tour, where the fleet took
part in a new team race event, followed by the Whittemore St.
John regatta at Quassapaug Lake, CT.
After Connecticut, the boats continued on to the Winchester
Boat Club in Winchester, Massachusetts for two weekends,
where they hosted the annual Winchester Invitational. The
following weekend, only a few miles up the road in Beverly,
Massachusetts, the boats were used at the Women’s National
Championship at Jubilee YC. After Women’s Nationals, the
boats were packed up and shipped off to La Salle, Michigan
for the Nationals at North Cape Yacht Club. After a short
clinic the Sunday after Nationals in Clark Lake YC near
Jackson, Michigan, the boats traveled west to Lake Manawa
in Iowa for a long weekend of clinics and fleet races to end
the summer. The summer concluded after dropping the boats
in Atlanta in mid August after adding nearly 9,000 miles to the
van.
During these ten stops I always tried to fill the boats
with local sailors (non-Snipers) first, before extending the
invitation to any individuals interested. Roughly half of the
time I was able to use the local Snipe fleet’s network to fill
all the boats, while the other half I needed to do some more
extensive outreach. On three occasions we had sailors cancel
on using the boats at the last minute, leaving the local fleet
and me no time to find a replacement. While times like this
I had trouble filling all the boats, other times I had excess
demand, and had to ask current Snipe sailors to sail with new
sailors or use the a local fleet boat to make sure everyone was
able to sail. The local fleets were obviously very happy to help
out in these ways.
Sometimes I found sailors were even willing to travel
across the country – literally – to come try out the Snipe. We
had Mike Wilson and Lisa Spitz fly from Dallas to Annapolis
and Surf City, NJ to go for a second test drive, while Allie
Rowe flew from San Francisco to Beverly, MA to try out the
boat for Women’s Nationals. We even had Joe Petrucci fly
from Seattle to Michigan to sail for the week at Nationals.
This does not even mention all the sailors who drove up to six
hours to try out the boats for the Colonial Cup or the Quassy
regatta. I am pleased to announce that all sailors told me their
efforts were well worth the trip.
After getting to know Mike Wilson and Lisa Spitz in Dallas,
it did not take much to compel them to come up for both the
Colonial Cup and the Surf City event. If you haven’t read it
already, Mike wrote a great article about his trip up north to
1 www.snipeus.org

Surf City that is still posted on snipeus.org. He used the words,
“fantastic”, “not to be missed”, and “we will be back in 2012”
to describe his experience.
Jamie Landi, a recent college sailing graduate and one
of the sailors who tried out the boat for the fi rst time at the
Colonial Cup had this to say about racing Snipes, “it was the
most fun I have had sailing in many years.”
On top of accolades from new Snipe sailors, we even had
long time Snipe sailors sing the praises of the program. Art
Rousmaniere, an active Snipe sailor from the Winchester fl eet,
wrote this about the program after traveling to New Haven
for their inaugural team race, “the program is a success on
numerous accounts because it: 1) enabled the New Haven
team race event to happen and hopefully serves as the kick-off
to future events, 2) elevated the presence of the New Haven
Snipe fl eet, and 3) exposed late-teen early-20ish sailors to the
Class via the cool game called team racing.”
Everywhere I traveled fellow Snipers and non-Snipers
welcomed me with open arms to their homes, and helped
make this program the success that it was. I do want to give
a big thank you to everyone who hosted me along the way,
including (in chronological order): the Gilreath family, Brian
Kamilar, Gene Soltero, Cameron Adams and Kathy O’Neal,
Lee Griffi th, the Sampson family, Joel Zackin and Celeste
Suggs, Josh Parks, the Croteau family, Paul Earl, the Dieball
family, Lee Nowak, Phillip Lee, and Don Hackbarth. I also
want to thank everyone else who has helped fund, support, or
otherwise contribute to the success of this program; however,
they are too numerous to list here. I look forward to seeing
everyone I met along the way again soon on the Snipe circuit.
Spring 2011
R US SNIPE SAILOR
The Offi cial Magazine of the Snipe Class International Racing Association, USA
Your Photo Here
Austin Kana, now 24, grew up on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland where he sailed at Tred Avon Yacht Club. He moved
away when he went to college in upstate New York at Hobart
and William Smith Colleges, where he spent signifi cant time
sailing with Morgan Commette. Since Morgan grew up in
a Snipe family, Austin got introduced to the Class that way.
After a short time away from the boat after graduating college
in 200 , Austin purchased his own boat in the fall of 2010,
and will be in the Class for many years to come. He will be
attending the University of Michigan in the fall to do graduate
work in naval architecture.
Traveling Snipe Fleet Update
The Traveling Snipe Fleet is back at Home Base in
Atlanta now until next May. Visits for clinics and events
in the east can be arranged with the coach/driver on a
volunteer basis (Guess who!) Many thanks to Austin
Kana for a great job as driver/coach this summer. Austin
is off at graduate school at the University of Michigan.
The Board has approved the operation of the Traveling
Snipe Fleet program in 2012 for the period May through
August, subject to our raising $25,000 to $30,000 in
donations to properly operate the program. A fund raiser
will be conducted this fall. Donations can be made to
SCIRA USA and mailed to Mary Buckley. For further info
regarding visits and donations, contact Don Hackbarth
at dhackbar@bellsouth.net.
We Need YOU!
to send us your photos
With the proliferation of digital cameras in
recent years, we know there are lots of good
(and bad) sailing photos out there. If you think
you have one of the good ones, send it along
and we’ll try to use it.
For an example of some good amateur
photography, just look at the cover of this issue.
Or see the cover of the Fall 2010 issue.
If you have a good story to go along with any of
your photos, send it as well.
Send your photos to John Buckley (contact info
on page 3).
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011 1

Learning the Ropes
By Kathleen Tocke
Line is often one of the most overlooked and undervalued equipment I see on racing boats.
While new sails and a smooth tefloned bottom certainly contribute to speed, if you can’t
fine tune sail shape because your jib cunningham or your vang doesn’t run freely, then you
lose speed and distance. You need to maintain your lines and be sure you have the best line
for each application.
In addition to having the proper line
for each application, be sure that
the blocks you are using are not
too small; line turns more easily
around larger blocks. The easier
and more efficient your lines run, the
more you will play them.
The more knots and the larger the knot
in your sheet, the more apt it is to knot
more while you are racing. No double
eight knots! Also, splice when you can
– knots reduce the breaking strength of
your line.
Diameters can differ. Despite the
listed diameters, one 1/4 inch line is not
always the same size as another. Often
line diameters stray from their specified
diameter, sometimes by several
millimeters. You can have a “fat” 5/16
mainsheet.
Rope 101:
Cover: This is the part of the line your
hands touch.
Core: The inner part of line. Usually the
cover is braided over a pre-made core.
The core is what gives line it primary
strength.
Stretch: The temporary amount a line
will stretch under tension.
Creep: The inherent permanent stretch
of a line
Strength: The breaking strength,
determined by the maximum load a line
can handle.
Construction: The type of braid used
to make a line, and the combination of
fibers used:
• Single Braid: No core – Maffioli
Swiftcord or New England Ropes
(NER) Salsa or Buzz Line.
• Double Braid: Lines with a braided
cover and core.
• Double plait: non-smooth cover. i.e
Marlow Pre-stretch.
Common Fibers:
• Polypropylene: light weight, high
stretch, low UV resistance, low cost.
• Polyester: all purpose fiber, heavy,
medium-strength, good UV resistance,
very chafe resistant, long-lasting and
low cost.
• Dyneema/Spectra (same fiber,
different manufacturer names): very
lightweight, high strength, less UV
resistant, expensive
• Vectran: light-weight, very strong,
poor UV resistance, very poor chafe
resistance, does not react well to knots
or making tight turns, very expensive.
• Spun: the tiny fuzzy fibers blended
into cover material to make the line
comfortable on the hand.
Mainsheet
There is a lot of personal preference
when it comes to mainsheets, and
probably the largest choice of any
application. Choose a line that is both
low-stretch and lighter-weight. Some
people prefer a larger sheet because it
is more comfortable on the hand. If you
are going with a larger diameter (5/16,
8mm), be sure then that you are using a
lightweight cover with a strong core, so
that the line will not sag/sink in light air.
If your ratchet is worn on your
mainsheet blocks, replace them so that
your lines run efficiently.
Recommended line: Samson Ultra-lite
(polypro cover with a Dyneema core).
Budget conscious choice: NER Sta-Set
Jib sheets
Many jib sheets I see are too big.
Crews may like them because they can
be comfortable, but they don’t run well,
are heavy, and don’t fly well across the
boat when tacking.
I prefer not to use single-braids like
NER’s Salsa Line or Maffioli Swiftcord.
1 www.snipeus.org

Yale Maxibraid
NER Sta-Set
NER Spyderline
Samson Amsteel Blue
NER Vectran
First, they absorb a lot of water and their
diameter increases over time, resulting
in a heavy, fat line that doesn’t run well
through blocks. These single-braids
are “low stretch,” but only after they
are fully tensioned. They have a lot
of “slack.” To illustrate this, imagine a
slinky made of a high strength, lowstretch
material. Due to the construction
of the slinky, you will never break it,
until the slinky is fully straightened.
The single-braid construction acts in a
similar manner. You cannot fine-tune
your jib trim easily with a single-braid,
due to its stretchy nature.
I recommend having light air (3/16)
and heavy air jib sheets (1/4); ideally,
a polyester or polypro cover with a
Dyneema core.
Recommended line: Samson Ultra-Lite,
Yale Maxibraid.
Budget conscious choice: NER Sta-Set
Control Lines
Control lines are the most poorly
maintained lines on most boats. You
need to pay close attention to their
wear and tear. New lines run smoothly
and make fine-tune adjustments easy.
Small lines don’t last as long because
they have more wear going around
many smaller sized blocks. Also, when
washing down boats at the end of the
day, people neglect to wash well under
the deck and reach the lines running in
the centerboard trunk. Saltwater erodes
your lines.
Boom Vang
Probably the most important control
line to maintain is your vang. Make your
life easier on the water: don’t neglect
replacing/upgrading your vang lines.
Take care – despite the coating on
Dyneema/Spectra and Vectran, they will
still deteriorate more rapidly due to their
low UV resistance.
Recommended line: 3.5 mm to 5 mm,
NER Spyderline, Marlow Excel Pro,
NER Vectran, Samson Amsteel Blue
(Dyneema).
Budget conscious choice: Marlow Super
Pre-stretch. It is not as low stretch or
strong as the line listed above, runs
great, lasts forever and is a great allpurpose
control line that comes in many
colors.
Samson Ultra-Lite
Marlow Excel Pro
Marlow Super Pre-Stretch
Pole Launcher Line:
Remember, it is not always the crew!
Many pole lines I see are either too fat,
too worn, or too thin. Lines should be
around 4-5 mm and soft to the touch,
but not too soft. Too soft or squishy
lines have a greater tendency to wrap
and get tangled. Also, beware when
replacing your pole line. Most new lines
are too slippery on the hand. Before
first use, rinse your line thoroughly in
water to rid it of the soap-like lubricant
found in the fibers of line. You can also
try lightly sanding your line with sand
paper if you don’t have a practice day to
break in your new line.
Recommended line: NER Spyderline
Budget conscious choice: NER Sta-Set.
Kathleen Tocke has crewed at the
championship level for years in the
Snipe, most recently winning the2011 US
Nationals with Augie Diaz. She is also
a skipper in her own right, in the Snipe
and other Classes. Kathleen worked
for two years as project manager at
New England Ropes, developing a new
product line for dinghies and one-design
racing boats
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011 1

Tri-fold Promotional Brochures Available From SCIRA USA
As part of our ongoing effort to provide tools and materials to help promote the Snipe
Class, SCIRA USA has produced this promotional brochure. Get a supply now for your
promotional activities. They’re FREE! Contact Mary Buckley in the SCIRA USA office.
20 www.snipeus.org

Cartoon Caption Contest
And the winner is...
This month’s winner is Adrienne Korkosz. A
past District Governor and US Board member,
Adrienne has been sailing Snipes since she began
crewing for her father at the age of eight. Her
sailing experience includes J24s and Lightnings,
and she competed in this year’s Women’s National
Championship.
Create a clever caption for this cartoon, drawn by US
Snipe Sailor’s resident tactician and cartoonist Rick
Arneson, and email it to John Buckley (buckley@
inebraska.com), by November 1, 2011, and USSS will
publish the winner’s picture and sailing biography.
“Those birds have the strangest looking feet.”
Adrienne Korkosz, Schenectady New York
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2011 21

Sep 10-11
Sep 10-11
Sep 17-18
Sep 17-18
Sep 30 - Oct 2
Oct 1-2
Oct 29-30
Mar 12-14
Mar 16-18
Mar 20-24
2011 – 2012 SCIRA USA Regatta Schedule
Michigan Open & State Championship - Grand Rapids Yacht Club, Grand Rapids, MI
Rich Grant: rgrant@fveng.com
Surf City Regatta - Surf City Yacht Club, Surf City, NJ
Lee Griffith: lee.griffith@contextgroup.com
Missouri Valley Championship - Lake Manawa, IA
Phil Lee: philipjlee@aol.com
Mystic Lake Open - Medford Boat Club, Medford, MA
Martin Fraser: mwfraser@comcast.net
Snipe North American Championship - Mission Bay Yacht Club, San Diego, CA
Doug Hart: dbhart@cox.net
Frigid Digit - Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis, MD
Kim Couranz: kimcouranz@yahoo.com
Halloween Regatta - Atlanta Yacht Club, Atlanta, GA
Lee Bradley: lbradley@weoga.com
Snipe Midwinters - Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater, FL
Dick Boblenz: boblenzrb@aol.com
Don Q Rum Keg - Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Miami, FL
Gonzalo Diaz: gecmdiaz@gmail.com
Bacardi/Gamblin - Royal Nassau Sailing Club, Nassau, Bahamas
Lori or Jimmie Lowe: lorijim@coralwave.com
Go to www.snipeus.org for updates to the Regatta Schedule
22 www.snipeus.org
Fried Elliott

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On Snipe sails ordered by October 31, 2011.
NORTH SAILS ONE DESIGN
(619) 226-1415
Garth Reynolds garth@design.northsails.com
Chris Snow chris@od.northsails.com
Photo Fried Elliott/friedbits.com
Order online at onedesign.com!
Non-Profi t
U.S. Postage
PAID
Lincoln, NE
Permit 1147