> US SAILING Media > Sailor of the Week > 2013 > Sailor of the Week - February, 2013 > Kathleen Tocke
Kathleen Tocke
Sailor of the Week: February 14-20, 2013In January at US Sailing’s 2013 One-Design Symposium in Ohio, Kathleen Tocke (Newport, R.I.) was presented with the Leadership Award for her efforts in the development of the Miami Snipe Invitational. The event was a huge success in attracting new sailors 30 years and under to the Snipe class, while providing quality instruction in a fun, exciting atmosphere.
Kathleen has a history of success in the Snipe and knows a thing or two about the benefits of Snipe sailing. She earned a silver medal in the Snipe Class event at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. Kathleen is a five-time Snipe Class National Champion and two-time North American Champion. She sailed competitively in college for nationally ranked Hobart & William Smith Colleges. She also competed on the ski and women’s ice hockey teams. Kathleen was born in Buffalo, N.Y. and at the age of ten, started sailing at Buffalo Canoe Club, a yacht club on the Canadian shore of Lake Erie.
Over the past 15 years, interest in the Snipe class among young sailors has diminished. This encouraged a group of post collegiate aged sailors, including Kathleen, to up their efforts in engaging young sailors to try the Snipe. The Miami Snipe Invitational had the goal to be an educational, user-friendly event that reduced the work for the participants by providing transportation to and from the airport, proper housing, meals, and reasonable charter boat cost, sails fee and class membership fee. The dates conveniently chosen for the event followed the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta. A clinic was also offered, with Kathleen as an instructor. New skippers were paired with experienced Snipe crew, and new crew were paired with experienced Snipe skippers.
“Young sailors don't need fancy dinners, t-shirts, or a lot of rules,” said Kathleen. “They want no-frills, efficiently-run races with quality competition and a low-key post-race atmosphere, similar to college sailing.”
Learn more about the Miami Snipe Invitational.