Summer 2008 - United States Snipe Sailing

US SNIPE SAILOR
Volume 3, Number 2
Summer, 2008
Published by SCIRA USA
P.O. Box 83866 Lincoln, NE 68501
Editor/Publisher:
John Buckley
(402) 796-2510; buckley@inebraska.com
Editorial Board:
Rick Arneson
rick.arneson@gmail.com
Susan Odell
seodell@yahoo.com
Merrill Varn
orts77@gmail.com
Advertising:
Mary Buckley
(402) 796-2505; direx@inebraska.com
SCIRA USA
Board of Directors:
David Odell (National Secretary)
david.wanderer@gmail.com
Bob Ewoldt (Chief Measurer)
rewoldt@neb.rr.com
Jack Gannon (District 1 Governor)
jgmarineN10@comcast.net
Doug Swenson (District 2 Governor)
kswenson@interfold.com
Chad Coberly (District 3 Governor)
ccoberly@yahoo.com
Tom Henderson (District 4 Governor)
thenderson@princeminerals.com
Adrienne Korkosz (District 5 Governor)
korkosz@hotmail.com
Steve Stewart (District 6 Governor)
stewcon@san.rr.com
Dick Loomis (District 7 Governor)
sailmrfun@sbcglobal.net
Mike Blackwood (Member At Large)
firewood@wi.rr.com
Lee Griffith (Member At Large)
lee.griffith@contextgroup.com
Don Hackbarth (Member At Large)
dhackbar@bellsouth.net
Kay Voss (Member At Large)
kkilpatrick@rsmas.miami.edu
Non-Voting Board Members:
Mary Buckley (Executive Administrator)
(402) 796-2505; direx@inebraska.com
Ken Culver (Director of Finance)
kculver@mo2inc.com
Andrew Pontious (Legal Counsel)
apontious@collette.com
The US SNIPE SAILOR is published quarterly on
March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1.
The deadline for material submission is the 10th
of the preceding month.
The Snipe Silhouette, the International Snipe
Class Crest, and the slogan Serious Sailing,
Serious Fun are trademarks of the Snipe Class
International Racing Association, and are
registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.
On the cover: Juniors James McKeever and Bryce
Whitehill at the 2007 Nationals, Lake Dillon, CO
Photo: Fried Elliott
www.friedbits.com/PhotoBits/Sailing/Snipe/index.php
US SNIPE SAILOR Summer 2008
From Our
National
Secretary
Hello Snipe Sailors!
Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to attend Snipe regattas in
Jacksonville, Clearwater, Miami, Nassau and Seattle (417 inches of snow here in
Park City this winter requires one to travel extensively to sail Snipes). With this
many opportunities to sit on a bar stool and talk Snipe sailing, the one theme that
rings loud and clear is just how much excitement, energy and enthusiasm there
is in the Class right now. And the one question I hear over and over is “Dave,
what can I do to get involved and help the Snipe Class grow?” We’ve had great
brainstorming discussions about this over the past few months, and it seems that
the answer differs to some extent for every individual. Nonetheless, I thought
this would be a great forum to share some of the ideas that have been explored
because many of you may be asking the same question.
Introduce somebody you know to Snipe sailing. If you have ever talked up
how much fun Snipe sailing is with a friend, colleague or neighbor, and then
followed up by taking them out for a fun sail, then you have already discovered
the joy of sharing sailing. As we head into the summer sailing season, extend that
invitation to someone you know who has expressed an interest in sailing, and
turn them onto sailing just as somebody did for you many years ago.
Travel to an out of town regatta. Sure, it can be a bit of work to drop the mast,
tie the boat down and get out of town early on a Friday. But the rewards are
tremendous – often the road trip is as much fun as the sailing. Plus, you’ll get to
race at a new venue: different sailing conditions, different clubhouse, different
beers on tap, different people tacking on your air, all the elements that make
Snipe sailing fun. I promise, however, that the most memorable aspect will be
the new friends you make, and how much fun it will be to see them at the next
regatta.
Buy a new Snipe. Seriously, the Snipe Class cannot grow without a supply of
good, quality used boats. I receive lots of emails from prospective Snipe sailors
looking to join the Class but unable to find a good used boat. JibeTech is building
great boats at a reasonable price, so if you’re thinking about it, go ahead and pull
the trigger. You’ll get a great new boat and put a quality used boat on the market
to enable a new member to join. If your spouse/partner pushes back, have them
call me.
Get more involved with your local fleet. I have observed that most highly
successful fleets have a core group of three leaders: (1) the Fleet Captain who is
great at motivating, organizing and leading, (2) the new member catalyst who is
great at welcoming prospective new members into the fleet, organizing a loaner
boat, helping them rig and figure it all out, and then assisting them with their first
Snipe purchase, and (3) the tuning/speed expert who is both an accomplished
Snipe sailor and a great communicator willing to openly share with anybody
See National Secretary, page