1994 SNIPE WESTERN HEMISPHERES CHAMPIONSHIPS

Twenty six boats from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Japan, Uruguay, and the
United States sailed a seven race series from the Yacht Club Uruguayo
in Montevideo, Uruguay.  Guillermo Parada from Argentina sailed very
impressively to win the event.  Cal Leme from Brazil was second and
Luis Calabrese (current world junior champ) was third.  The U.S. was
humbled in a big way with the following finishes:

Jack Franco/Mike Sturman	10th
Henry Filter/Carol Newman	15th
Hal Gilreath/Allan Carscaddon	17th
Doug Clark/Alex Stout		20th
Jerry Thompson/Dee Schilling	25th

The racing was extremely competitive and mirrored the intensity found
in the top ten of a Heinzerling fleet throughout the 26 boat fleet.
There were a variety of conditions but mostly tended to be on the
breezy side.  The South Americans just sailed a little tougher, a
little faster and a little smarter to dominate the event.  It's hard
to explain but the U.S. wasn't that far off the pace but it didn't
take much to finish 25th instead of 1st.  The fleet would finish
within 1-2 minutes after a 1 1/2 hour race.  The South Americans tend
to push the rules to the extremene and have a different value on the
integrity and honesty issue of sailing.  The first day was 12-15 kts,
the second 18-22 kts, the third 10-15 kts and the last day was 12-15
kts.  The seas were very choppy reminiscent of Biscayne Bay but with
steeper waves.  The Rio de Plata is 50 miles wide and about 12-15 ft
all the way across.

The fleet was comprised of South American Persson's, Thor's, Rosindo's
and a Jibe Tech (Doug Clark sailing one of Peter Commette's old
boats).  The Persson's were the boat of choice for the Argentinians
and the Brazilians used Thors.  Fabini was fourth using his Rosindo.
Their rigs were more forward than the U.S.  (21' 4") and they sailed
with longer spreaders (17 1/2"- 18"/ 28-29").  They sail mostly with
center cleated mainsheets and don't use the traveller.  My boat didn't
even have a traveller.  They pull it in cleat it and hike hard.
Parada was very impressive.  It was obvious that his training and
talent were very high.  He would sail along very flat and the boat
would be stable through the puffs.  He would only feather a little bit
and harldy ever ease the main.  That takes some work in choppy seas.
Those guys also use the pole on almost every downwind angle.  Their
pole systems are heavier and stronger than the standard U.S. model.
With their setup they usually sail at 315-335 and go very fast in the
breeze.

We couldn't hang that well in the breeze upwind (11/13 in the windiest
races) with them.  Henry and Carol (9/10) of the U.S. in the breeze.
You have to understand that even when it gets light these guys are
fast because they are excellent sailors.  The crews were all guys
because the typical breeze requires more crew strenght and crew weight
than available with your standard model woman.  I'm not making a
political statement but when you sail at 320 and you are a 160 pound
guy there just aren't too many 160 pound women to sail with.  Overall
the U.S. is not far off the pace and we can do well in the lighter
breezes.  However, to improve our performance at this level will
require a more dedicated effort than we gave for preparation for this
event.  Those guys work at it and are good and deserve everything they
won.  Bottom line is time in the boat, hard work and smart sailing
will win.

--Hal Gilreath