Series 1
Day 1
Unfortunately, only one race on the first day of the competition for the Hobie 14, Hobie 16 Grand Masters, Hobie 16 Youth, Hobie 16 Women, Hobie Tiger and Hobie Wild Cat. With the wind gusting to 28 knots it was too dangerous to continue racing.
In the Hobie 14 current Hobie 14 World Champion Fletch Warren-Meyers was outsailed in the heavier winds by Campbell Weddell. While in Hobie 16 Youth Leo Belouard and Tom Picot from New Caledonia won convincingly. The Hobie 16 Women had Bonnie Butler and Chilli Engel winning in a close contest. Local sailor Danny James and Craig Dredge enjoyed the local conditions to win in the Tiger. In the only fleet that didn’t have a capsize, the Wild Cats Richard Quinn and Peter Dubbelaar past Pete and Bailey Skewes on the last leg. They were the only Wild Cat to carry a spinnaker on the last leg as the winds reached their peak.
Day 2
Lighter winds greeted the sailors on the second day of racing with four races managed to be completed today.
In the Hobie 14 class reigning Hobie 14 World Champion Fletch Warren-Meyers had a better day and has a 1 point lead of young Zak Rowdon. Zac is showing great skill in the lighter winds. In the Hobie 16 Youth Leo Belouard and Tom Picot from New Caledonia continued to dominate the sailors with another impressive day of racing. Local sailor Danny James and Craig Dredge continued their winning way in the Tiger. With Kerrie and Andrew Driver tied for second place with Phil Epps and Peter Redway. The Hobie 16 Women had Bonnie Butler and Chilli Engel have two firsts and two second places. Though they only have a one point lead over Emma and Zoe Morris. In the Wild Cat Peter and Bailey Skewes had a great day with three first and a second
Day 3
With a gentle sea breeze starting the day slowly building to about 18 knots racing got underway for the penultimate days racing.
In the Hobie 16 youth New Caledonia team of Leo Belouard and Tom Picot have built a 9 point lead over fellow countrymen Auxence Thomas and Jean de Sola in the youth fleet. The Hobie 16 Women racing today was tight all the way to the finish.
The final day of racing will decide the Women’s national Champions – after three days, there is still just one point between the Vincentia girls Bonnie Butler and Chilli Engel, and the mother/daughter team of Emma and Zoe Morris. With only one point separating them.
The Wild Cat father and son team of Peter and Bailey Skewes had a good day with two firsts and two seconds. Though Richard Quinn and Peter Dubbelaar closed the gap with and moved into second place winning two races today. While in the Tiger fleet Danny James and Craig Dredge won three out of the four races to keep the lead.
Reigning Hobie 14 World Champion Fletch Warren-Meyers had a great day on the water winning three out of the fur races and finishing second in the other race.
With one day of racing to go leaders can change so it will be hard racing tomorrow.
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Day 4, Series 1 concludes
After series that had all the conditions the racing has concluded. On the last day the carbon copy of yesterday 8 knots building to 18 knots as the day progressed.
Hobie 14 World Champion Fletch Warren-Meyers retained his Australian Championship but was pushed the every race. In the Hobie 16 Youth the New Caledonian team shone through. Leo Belouard
and Tom Picot sailed consistently from their New Caledonian team mates Auxence Thomas
and Jean de Sola in second place. The Toger fleet loca team Danny James and Craig Dredge won th first race and never relinquished the lead of the championships.
Hobie 16 Women was a close battel between Bonnie Butler and Chilli Engel. With mother and daughter team Emma and Zoe Morris. It was down to the last race to determine the winners. While father and son team of Pete and Bailey Skewes sailed consistently to take out the Wild Cat.
North Haven Surf Lifesaving Club turned out the hospitality to the Hobie sailors and Adelaide the weather.
New Year’s Day is a lay day and then series 2 starts for the Hobie 16 Open.
