Justin Callahan and Trevor Davis bested 52 Snipes from across the country for the US Snipe National Championship at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, MD June 11-14, 2026. The fleet consisted of Collegiate All-Americans, College Sailors of the Year, Rolex Yachtsmen, previous National and World Champions, and Olympians. After four days of challenging conditions, close competition, and classic Snipe camaraderie, the dynamic duo clinched the title with a race to spare, winning their second Snipe National Championship.
Breeze came from all 4 cardinal directions over the 4 days as PRO Steve Podlich and his team ran 9 quality races, allowing different sailors skills to come to the fore in each condition. Day 1 had 2 races abandoned and 1 completed in a light Seabreeze from the SE. Much of the race was led by Andrew Keane and Kristen Jabonoski, sailing their first regatta in a newly purchased Snipe, the legendary Lee Griffith’s “Manage a trois” , before Callahan, Ernesto Rodriguez and Enrique Quintero passed them on the last lap. Day 2 was a wild day as a SE thermal gave way to a WSW front and the 3rd race was finished in puffy conditions gusting 18kts. Annapolis Juniors Trey Waters and Charlotte Stites sailed an amazing race to finish 2nd, just behind Ernesto Rodriguez/Andrea Reifkol.
Day 3 was all about the current, with a light northerly and the Conowingo Dam opening a deluge into the Chesapeake Bay. Sailors found themselves “Sailing on the Treadmill,” with the P Flag Vakaros system allowing for experimentation with ‘dip starts’. Carter Cameron / Madeline McGrath won the day decisively with at 2,3,2 scoreline, Carter using his experience sailing in Charleston to play the current effectively. Things tightened at the top as Justin and Trevor’s 5,5,9 scores put Ernesto/Andrea in striking distance, and Owen Fretwell/Colin Krebs, Arthur Blodgett/Grace Howie and Augie Diaz/Ciara Rodriguez – Horan sat within 3 points of each other for the final podium spot.
Off the racecourse, there was ’Serious Fun’ to be had in the town that calls itself “America’s Sailing Capitol.” After collaborative daily debriefs by Carter Cameron of Quantum Sails and tasty regatta dinners there was music – John Fretwell jamming on night, and Enrique Quintero turning the SSA deck into a Miami nightclub the next. There was leis and flip cup, and bar crawls that began at Davis Pub and ended in Narnia. Yoga instruction was provided each morning by Megan Kelchner. Snipe culture was in full effect – no protests filed, and fleet elders (Augie and Ernesto) helping newcomer Andrew Keane straighten his mast when it inverted. Loaner boats and trailers and open sharing of knowledge is how the Snipe fleeters keep growing and taking care of each other!
For the final day Annapolis showed up with glamour conditions – 12-15 knots from the South, turning the Snipes into surfboards downwind in the last race. Callahan and Davis attacked the day, winning both races to take the title. Callahan, who just won his second College Sailor of the Year Honors, continues to use the Snipe to cross train as he sets his sights on helming the American 470 in 2028 Olympics. After a summer of campaigning at the 470 Worlds in Japan with Lara Dallman Weiss (who also skippered this regatta to cross train), Callahan and Davis will reunite for the Snipe Worlds in Mallorca this September.
Rodriguez/Reifkohl hung on to second place as the Junior Team of Owen Fretwell/Colin Krebs showed their heavy air prowess with a 3,3 scoreline. Blodgett/Howie and Diaz/Rodriguez-Horan followed for the top 5 overall. Blodgett was the top local boat a week after winning the 49 boat Colonial Cup, and fellow SSA members Bradly Adam/Thomas Walker shook off some tough breaks to climb up to 6th ahead of Enrique Quintero/Lorena Fundora in 7th.
The Top Women were one of the surprises of the regatta as Annapolis Yacht Club Junior Sailor Grace Crespin made a rapid ascent in the Snipe class (here first Snipe regatta was last November) with new Snipe crew Eleanora Lawrence. The duo are part of the Annapolis Yacht Club Snipe Program, pioneered and sponsored by Mr Andy Skibo and the Annapolis Junior Sailing Fund, which has given local Junior’s access to 4 new Snipes in the last 1.5 years, growing the sport and their skills in this technical class. The success of these very young Snipers was remarkable – Trey Waters and Charlotte Stites were the 2nd Juniors behind Fretwell/Krebs in 14th overall, banking 2 top 3 finishes! Bruno Mello provided elite coaching for the AYC Junior Team. Crespin and Waters will be sophomores next year at Severn and Key School, respectively.
The Chesapeake Yacht Racing Association sponsored outstanding media coverage by Lexi Pline Photography – videos, drone footage, and photos can be found on the USA Snipe Class Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Thank you to the Severn Sailing Association, Regatta Chair Devon Feusahrens, PRO Steve Podlich, the many volunteers and sponsors who made this regatta possible, and competitors from all of the country who made this an epic Nationals.
Scores: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/hBqFhuhX25/results
Photos by Lexi Pline Photography: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mPVvDMxgENuUxGN89
Annapolis Snipe Fleet 532 