by Kate Sheahan
West Coast Tour Coordinator
The Snipe
class has a long history of world-class members with a wide range of ages,
including many Olympians. Carol Cronin who competed in the women’s
triple-handed keelboat at the Athens Olympics in 2004 explains that, “The Snipe
was originally designed in 1931 for a contest in Rudder Magazine. 80+ years
later the class is still going strong, with active fleets around the U.S. In
South America, it’s the default double-handed racing dinghy. In Europe, Spain
and Italy are the powerhouses, though Scandinavia also boasts several active
fleets. And recently fleets in the UK and Menorca have been reestablished, proof that this classic hard-chined sailboat still
provides a challenge for sailors of all ages.”
