Brascat 2023 (Brazilian Hobie National Championships)

The Jangadeiros Yacht Club in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul hosted Brascat, the Brasilian Hobie Cat 14 and Hobie Cat 16 national championship regatta. Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brasil, which is larger than the 48 states of the United States.

Nearly 100 sailors participated, and more family members enjoyed the week-long event.

Sailors from many Brazilians states travelled from as far north as Ceara, which is 400 kilometres south of the equator, while Rio Grande do Sul is next to Argentina. Porto Alegre is 3,340 kilometres south of the equator. Our friends from Ceara travelled 3,000 kilometres as the crow flies, and substantially more by car.

Nearly 100 sailors from many countries, including Argentina, Mexico, and the United States, contributed to the camaraderie and enjoyment of the Hobie Way of Life. Mother nature offered a dose of nearly all conditions, with the exception of snow.

For the first day of races, Mother Nature collaborated with the sun and cool breezes. Heading into the after-races festivities, Reinaldo Bernardes led the Hobie Cat 14 class in both General and Grand Master categories, while Geisa Frey & Renata Meneghello took bullets in the two Woman’s Hobie Cat 16 races, Joao Brito & Beatriz Duarte took three bullets in the Youth races, and Igor Guimaraes & Nara Rocha took two bullets in the Open Class.

For the next couple of days, Mother Nature did not collaborate. This year, the South of Brasil has suffered from an extended period of rain. Normally, the change of seasons brings a couple of weeks of rain. This year, the rain has enjoyed its stay in the southern region for nearly two months, with rains, often strong, nearly every day. Interestingly, during these two days of rain and no wind, the states to the north, like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, were dealing with record-breaking heat.

Finally, the wind returned, although the rain did not leave. The sailors competed in a total of 8 races under mostly light to moderate winds.

In the Hobie Cat 14 Class, both Open and Grand Master, Ricardo Arantes Dubeux stood at the top of the podium and Reinaldo Bernardes, also in both Classes, followed just one point behind Ricardo. in the Hobie Cat 14, in the First Timers Class, Jurgen Didjurgeit won the honours. in the Super Grand Master class for the Hobie Cat 14, Aldo Kirsten stood at the top of the podium in the first place.

In the Hobie Cat 16 Open class, Felipe and Geisa Frey competed fiercely and with two bullets in the last two races, won the honour at the top of the podium. In second place, Rodrigo Julian and Renata Meneghelo took second in the Open and 1st in the Master class. Igor Guimaraes and Nara Rocha closed out the top three in the Open Class. Claudio Teixeira and Ana Paula Dias took 1st place in the Grand Master and 4th in the Open class.

Special thanks to Mario Dubeux for his leadership, determination, and professional organization of Brascat 2023. Mario is the heart and soul of Hobie Cat in Brazil, and a passionate leader of the Hobie Way of Life movement around the world. Mario, everyone in Brazil loves you! – Thank You!

In summary, everyone, including local media, (see videos below) had several Hobie Days and are looking forward to many more.