Can champions relax and win?

The 15-foot Sandpiper is known for its stability and classic New England aesthetic, and in 2025 this classic catboat will be on the national stage as it is raced September 11-13 in the Championship of Champions in Dartmouth, MA.

This gathering of 20 National, North American, or World Champions have been invited to see who can best master the gaff-configured sail plan which powers its 1,050-pound hull. Chris Snow, who will be crewing for Chuck Sinks, did some reconnaissance to prepare for the event.

“The Sandpiper doesn’t have the same sensation as a sloop,” he says. “For those of us unfamiliar with the boat, it will require a good amount of feel and getting a handle on the angles. It was flat water, and a couple of times we stopped the boat completely. So now we know it takes a long time to get going again. I think the people who will do well will not stress out too much.”