THE 2008 (XXXIX ANNUAL) COMODORO RASCO SNIPE REGATTA

HOSTED BY THE COCONUT GROVE SAILING CLUB AND THE MIAMI SNIPE FLEET #7

14 Snipes competed in the XXXIX Comodoro Rasco. What about the Bay? Biscayne Bay at its best! The only way to put it. We had SE winds 10 to 12K on Saturday and NE on Sunday starting at 12 and building up to 18 K.  What a beautiful Regatta and what a performance by the Coconut Grove Sailing Club Race Committee! Excellent courses! The satisfaction of conquering the winds made all of us the winners of this Regatta.

Our Snipe National Champion Ernesto Rodriguez repeated his 2007 performance winning the regatta for the second time but this time he had David Harrison crewing for him (I wondered if they could understand each other but apparently, that did not matter). And they had quite a regatta with 3-2-1-1-1.

Second place, all the way from Annapolis was Eric Reinke and Kim Couranz with 1-3-4-5-3.  Third Place from St. Petersburg Florida Gonzalo Crivello and Tim King with 5-6-2-2-2.

The Aicardi Trophy awarded to the best mid fleet competitor fulfilling special qualifications (newcomer, etc.) was won by Doug Broeker and Connie Commette (he borrowed my crew).

Coconut Grove Sailing Club Comodore Marc Buller welcomed the Snipe competitors and awarded trophies to the first 3 places and to the Aicardi trophy winner. Right after the award we celebrated “La Bomba” This now the climax of the Rasco Regatta. It’s a tradition. The winners drinking a mix of wine and cider in a big cup while the sailors sing La Bomba va, La Bomba va, La Bomba va! You can’t miss it! The winners did a pretty good job of drinking La Bomba but Kim Couranz drank the damn thing down!

As I already mentioned, the Race Committee did a super job under the directions of Larry Whipple and with the help of an excellent team: Juan Torres, Jeanne Bunten, Jim Waldron, Vicki Rosenbloom, Sandra Carey, Marvin Schenker, Jo Ann Mathieu and her apprentice, Nelly Sagastume, Henry Bernstein, Bill Stites, Rafael Abella, Phil Kellet, Susan Walcutt, Kristin Chapin, and Dottie Rostorfer. The RC used Juan Torres’ Beneteau. Thanks Juanito! Judges Vlad Stroleny and Jane Ann Pincus stood by in case of any protest. Kay Voss did the scoring and also raced! Thanks, Coconut Grove Sailing Club Race Committee!

A feature of the COMODORO RASCO SNIPE REGATTA is the LASAGNA DINNER Saturday night by my wife Carmen. Snipe Sailors and Race Committee attended. She is not only a great cook but also a marvelous host! You have to come and enjoy the Lasagna and then go ready next day to meet the challenge of Biscayne Bay. Thank you, Carmen.

Gonzalo Diaz Sr., Fleet Captain, Miami Snipe Fleet # 7

2008 (XXXIX ANNUAL) COMODORO RASCO SNIPE REGATTA

FEBRUARY 9-10 REGATTA RESULTS

Series Standing - 5 races scored Division: Snipe (14 boats) (top)