The official Danish Sailing Hobie Cat 16 SPI Championship (DS-DM) was after a COVID-19 postponement a couple of months successfully conducted here in the past weekend on the waters of Odense Fjord outside the hosting club, Sejlklubben Egensedybet.
And what a blast. With winds in periods gusting up to around 30 knots and an average between 15-20 knots over the two days of the event, the scene was set for some thrilling and challenging action. Add the current HC16 Vice-World Champion team, a former HC16 World Champion, some other great HC16 sailors, competent race management, and you have a bang, fun, and excitement for every cent of the entry fee.
Fourteen teams showed up to the event—a pretty good turn out for our part of the world and with the COVID-19 restrictions in mind.
Nine races were sailed over the two days. And it became an epic battle for the title between Nicolaj Bjørnholt/Michelle Jensen and Daniel Bjørnholt/Thomas Faurbye with Peter Måhr/Mia Chandler Hansen trying their best pushing from the behind and just waiting for mistakes from the two teams in front. Peter/Mia suffered from a breakdown happening before the start of race #1.
The battle for the title was open until the end of race 9, the championship’s last race. Here Nicolaj/Michelle crowned their splendid efforts by taking a bullet and the title in front of Daniel/Thomas, who came second. As revealed in the result list, the decision was incredibly close, providing competitors and audience nail-biting moments underway.
It was all topped up with excellent food, cakes, and drinks served throughout by our hospitable hosts, Sejlklubben Egensedybet. An event the true Hobie Way!
Danish Sailing GOLD medals:
Nicolaj Bjørnholt/Michelle Jensen
Danish Sailing SILVER medals:
Daniel Bjørnholt/Thomas Faurbye
Danish Sailing BRONZE medals:
Peter Måhr/Mia Chandler Hansen
Photos: Anders Lund
