Julio Alsogaray & Malena Sciarra win the 2024 Snipe World Championship at Yacht Club Argentino
by Snipe Class International Racing Association 3 Nov 10:47 NZDT
26 October - 2 November 2024
Day 5 of the 2024 Snipe World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina © Matias Capizzano /
www.capizzano.com
After 29 years since Santiago Lange and Mariano Parada won the Snipe Worlds (1995), Julio Alsogaray and Malena Sciarra (ARG) sailed a conservative but well-managed regatta to win the 2024 Snipe World Championship in their own waters.
Years of training proved fruitful as they were able to secure the championship in front of family and friends and fly the Argentine flag just after crossing the finish line! The final day they were one of a few teams able to understand the fickle breeze that was oscillating not only in direction, but also velocity ranging from 11-20 knots as a weather system rolled through.
Several of the top teams sailed a great final day, moving the standings around and bringing the final race down to a 2-point lead by Alsogaray/Sciarra with Ernesto Rodriguez/Taylor Scheuermann (USA) closing in. The Argentines posted a 6-19 while Rodriguez/Scheuermann sailed an 11-6. Bernardo Peixoto/Gustavo Baino (BRA) made up points and jumped to third on the podium with a 2-4 day.
Race 7 began with a black flag carryover from the AP posted the prior day, so 7 boats stayed ashore for the first race of the day while the fleet sailed in an 11-12 knot double windward/leeward. The final race, 8, saw the wind increase to 18-20 knots, but also had several lulls and seemed to settle in the 12-14 knot range providing nice hiking and planning conditions for the final race.
Crossing the finish line, Julio and Malena proudly waved the Argentine flag to their waiting spectator fleet. Malena is now the third female to add her name to the O'Leary crew champion trophy, and they are also winners of the Bibi Juetz Mixed team trophy. Ricky Fabini and Lore Fundora (URU), winners of the last race, win the Earl Elms Perpetual trophy. The Hub E. Isaacs trophy - emblematic of the winning team, was first awarded in 1934.
Final results at www.snipeworlds.org