2010 Classic Snipe Rally Know Your Trophies Strategies for the ...

acing were a different story altogether. I was not dressed
appropriately. My waterproof shorty coveralls were no match
for the cold winds and the lashing waves. And those fingerless
gloves that I thought would be perfect for such a nice August
afternoon? They earned me ten bloody fingertips by the end
of the first day. I am not kidding. It was worth it – after a
respectable fourth place finish in the first race, we pulled out
all the stops and crossed the finish line first in the second race.
The last race of the day gave us a third and, unlike the prior
trip, we finished the first day among the top contenders. But I
couldn’t wash my own hair for the next few days, a task that
was turned over to my mother, who had fortunately joined us
for the trip.
It was approaching ten o’clock at night when we sailed
back in, bloody and cold, but feeling victorious. And very
hungry. The next morning, in order to avoid having to drag
our boats back in through the sand at low tide, we started
really early instead of really late. Armed with ten band-aids
and a borrowed pair of full gloves, I was ready to get back to
it, and hang on to our trophy position. We struggled a little
on the second day, but in my defense, I was working with a
wounded set of digits. During day three, we found our groove
again and moved back up in the pack, earning a third place
overall in the regatta and a personal victory after our previous
performance in 2003. To be honest, I don’t think the French
were all that happy to have us Americans in their trophy
lineup. Nonetheless, they were ever so gracious, and invited
us to return again, if only for another chance to kick our butts.
And even though the now famous Belgians were not in
attendance at this regatta, I regularly resorted to my favorite
saying. “Follow the Belgians” no longer meant that we
should actually follow the Belgians. Fortunately, my father
is very smart, and knew exactly what I meant. It means find
the fastest boat, the one you know is going to win the race.
If that boat happens to be you, this obviously doesn’t apply,
and there’s no need to shout it out, unless, perhaps you want
to yell it to the boat behind you as a helpful suggestion. Once
you’ve found that boat, follow it at all costs. Do not take a
flyer and try to get ahead of them. They are better than you.
At this particular regatta, the “they” in question was a French
father-son team. And they knew those waters a heck of a lot
better than we did. But we “followed the Belgians,” and we
persevered. And we’ll do it again.
Karen Soltero is a professional writer and photographer as
well as a lifelong Snipe sailor. She writes and contributes
photos for magazines and blogs including www.dishkebab.
com and www.thebrunettechronicles.blogspot.com. She has
been racing Snipes since age four and recently won the 2010
District II Championships in Denver, CO where she crewed
for her father, Gene Soltero.
US SNIPE SAILOR Fall 2010 15