Competitors in the U.S. Snipe Nationals faced yet another different weather scenario on day three of their regatta. The team of Ernesto Rodriguez/Kathleen Tocke stepped up to the challenge and won both races of the day to stake their claim at the top of the leaderboard.
Rodriguez/Tocke have 11 points now that a drop race has been factored in. Raul Rios/Andrea Reifkohl Gonzalez slipped back to second with 18 points, and Enrique Quintero/Charlie Bess and Augie Diaz/Barbie Brotons are tied for third at 37 points.
The 52-boat fleet competed in a highly variable 5-12 knots that started out of due west, lightened significantly during the last two legs of the second race of the day, then died completely. The wind filled in out of the south, and PRO Steve Podlich and his Severn Sailing Association Race Committee set a course at 195 degrees.
RC and sailors alike made a valiant attempt to make that third race work–but the wind shifted back to the west. The Snipe class has a guideline for Nationals-level regattas that a race cannot stand if there is a shift greater than 40 degrees on the first lap, so the race was abandoned near the top of the second weather leg.
With highly unstable winds, the afternoon getting late, and an ice cream truck waiting for sailors back at the dock, the fleet was sent in for the day. The final day of racing is tomorrow.
Annapolis Snipe Fleet 532 
Kim, I have greatly enjoyed your reporting on this year’s Snipe Nationals at SSA!! Nicely done! Jon
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Thanks a bunch Jon, it was fun and easy reporting on such a great fleet! We all hope to see you soon at SSA!