October 10–11, 2026 | Severn Sailing Association | Annapolis, Maryland
The 2026 Snipe Frigid Digit Regatta, held in combination with the Thistle Oyster Roast, brought sailors to Severn Sailing Association (SSA) for a fall weekend that delivered everything from light and shifty breezes on Saturday to strong northeasterly winds and heavy rain on Sunday. While the weather ultimately limited racing to Saturday, the fleet managed to complete three races in a variety of conditions on the Chesapeake Bay.
Saturday began with relatively mild fall weather and a light northeasterly breeze. The race committee took advantage of the early conditions to complete two races, challenging competitors to keep their boats moving and make the most of the available pressure.
Following the second race, the breeze faded, forcing a lengthy postponement on the water as competitors waited for conditions to improve. Patience eventually paid off when a solid easterly breeze filled in, allowing the race committee to complete a third and final race. The shift from light northeasterly conditions to a more established easterly breeze gave competitors a different set of challenges to finish the day.
In a new twist for the Frigid Digit, the Thistle Fleet included the Snipes in their awesome Oyster Roast Saturday night including raw and roasted oysters, multiple crockpots of meatballs, and several more grazing tables.
By Sunday morning, conditions had changed dramatically. A strong northeasterly weather system brought persistent rain, increasingly challenging winds, and temperatures in the 60s. Annapolis recorded nearly four inches of rainfall over the course of the day, with gusts reaching approximately 25 mph at the local weather station during the early morning hours. With the weather showing little sign of improvement, no racing took place on Sunday, leaving Saturday’s three races to determine the final standings.
At the top of the standings, Bob and Stephanie Adam of Sail Newport claimed the overall victory with 10 points. Lisa and Alex Pline finished second with 13 points, while Junior sailors Daniel “Skutch” Tyson and Peter Shingledecker rounded out the podium with 17 points.
The competition remained close throughout the top five, with Eric Reinke and Jill Bennett finishing fourth, also with 17 points, and Greg Virgin and Nikki Bruno taking fifth with 18 points. With only three races completed, consistency proved especially important, and the final standings reflected some closely contested racing.
Despite the abbreviated schedule, the Frigid Digit once again delivered a memorable weekend of fall Snipe sailing on the Chesapeake. From searching for pressure in Saturday’s light air to watching a fresh easterly finally fill in, the fleet experienced the unpredictable conditions that make fall racing in Annapolis both challenging and rewarding.
A special thanks goes to the SSA race committee, the Thistle Fleet, and Zack & Megan Kelchner for running a fun regatta!
Full results: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/oAA3acDEQG/results
