Upsets at the 60th Annual Snipe Colonial Cup
A deep, multigeneraltional fleet of 49 Snipes contested the 60th Colonial Cup this weekend in Annapolis, with 7 quality races run with Vakros Race Sense. Arthur Blodgett/Sara Shumann won the event sailing for the Severn Sailing Association, snapping the 3-year winning streak of Ernesto Rodriguez. Annapolis sailors Bradley Adam/Thomas Walker of SSA were only one point behind in second with Enrique Quintero/Lorena Fondora of Coral Reef Yacht Club in 3rd . Owen Fretwell/Colin Krebs (San Diego) were the top Juniors and Katie Bornarth/Darby Capellin (Norfolk/SSA) the top Women! The fleet featured Olympians, World Champions and All-Americans as the Snipe continues to attract elite young sailing talent. The 60-year-old annual regatta served this year as a test event for next week's US Nationals, also hosted by Severn Sailing Association.
Saturday’s sea breeze was slow to build but climbed to 11 kts in the early afternoon as a haze lifted over the Chesapeake. Crews were happy to be full hiked at times to power through the classic Chesapeake Bay chop. The ebbing tide made for a long starboard tack and helped push many sailors over the line, but PRO Steve Podlich and his team set exceptionally square courses and got of 4 races of about 45 minutes each, the Vakaros negating the need for general recalls. Enrique Quintero and Lorena Fondora led with a 1,3,2,2 scoreline followed closely by Bradley Adams and Thomas Walker who went 2,1,4,3. Blodgett and Schumann were the 4th different boat to win a race taking the 4th contest to move into 3rd. Hungry sailors were treated to an Italian dinner and Crab Cakes (a local delicacy) as soon as they were off the water.
Sunday was breezy from the North-West and quite shifty. Annapolis challenged all sailors with chop, puffy oscillations and current. Arthur Blodgett and Sara Schumann put it together to sail a 3,1,3 line and edge Adam and Walker by 1 point. The 49 snipes were a tight fleet and there were some wild races!
Blodgett is the first SSA member to win Colonial Cup since 2019 snapping a 3-year win streak by Ernesto Rodriguez. Teams traveled from San Diego and Miami, and the local fleet has grown as well with 4 Junior boats from Annapolis Yacht Club sponsored by Andy Skibo and the Annapolis Jr. Sailing Fund. AYC sailors Mason Cook/Catherine Kammeier were second Juniors in 12th overall, and AYC Snipers Grace Crespin/Emily Julian were the 2nd overall Girls!
Photos by James Ronayne: Day 1; Day 2 + Awards (link TBD)
