Final Day - USAs Callahan Brothers secure World Title

Justin and MItchell Callahan-USA - secured the 2024 Snipe Junior World title winning by 13 points, but with an all American podium.  2nd: Liam O'Keefe and Noah Zittrer followed by 3rd with Peter Foley & Henry Tindall.  Noah Zittrer and Justin Callahan had finished 4th in the 2022 Snipe Junior Worlds despite being near the top spot all regatta.  The final race was a double triangle due to the windy conditions. 

Justin and Mitchell Callahan Win 2024 Snipe Junior World Championship

After five days of competitive racing on Biscayne Bay, Miami, Americans Justin and Mitchell Callahan captured the 2024 Snipe Junior World Championship title. The pair sailed a consistent event despite the wide range of conditions, with only one race outside the top ten. 

“Winning this championship is just incredible,” said Justin Callahan, winning skipper. “Two years ago I finished fourth, so it’s amazing to come out and win the trophy on our home waters and in front of all our family and friends.” 

Callahan teamed up with his twin brother, Mitchell, for the event. The two grew up sailing i420s and C420s in Coconut Grove. They are only the third American team to have their names on the Vieri Lasinio Di Castelvero Trophy.

“Sailing with your brother, especially your twin brother, is one of the most special things you can do,” said Justin “We haven’t sailed together since 2020, so it’s cool to come back four years later and jump right back into it. We couldn’t be happier to win this together.” 

“Our key was constant communication in the boat,” said Mitchell. “We stayed consistent, stayed levelheaded, and that really prevailed.” 

The Callahans topped an all-American podium. Miami locals Liam O’Keefe and Noah Zittrer took second after starting the event with a UFD in race one. They were able to drop that score after race 7, catapulting them to podium, finishing with 39 points overall. 

Americans Peter Foley and Henry Tindall rounded out the top three. With only two scores outside the top ten, the pair finished third with 53 points, just barely edging out the Spanish team of Carlos Bermudez de Castro Castro and Cesar Herrero Baspino. 

Americans Audrey Foley and Avery Baldwin captured the top female team trophy, finishing sixth overall. Both Foley and Baldwin are Laser sailors who have only recently started training in the Snipe. Foley was the US representative in the girl’s ILCA 6 at the most recent Youth World Championship. Spaniards Juan Fernandez Maldonado / Martin Fresneda Gazquez earned the top U-18 trophy, finishing fifth overall. 

Biscayne Bay treated competitors to a wide range of conditions, from light and variable on day one to 16 knots gusting 20 on the fourth and sixth days of the championship. Sailors that rose to the top were able to handle everything the Miami weather threw at them. 

This year’s Junior World Championship was the largest iteration of the event since its inception in 1973. 46 boats from 19 countries and five continents took to the water in Miami, 

“None of this would be possible without the amazing race committee at Coconut Grove Sailing Club and without the support of the Miami Snipe fleet,” said Andi Hoffman, Regatta Chair. “Coconut Grove has hosted three world championships in the 2023-2024 season, and I have to say this was the most inspiring.”