Hobie Nationals conclude in Islamorada

by Ric/Cat Sailor on 11 Dec 2013 At the Hobie Wave National Championship, held the first weekend in December, Miami sailor Kenny Pierce dominated a talent-loaded class of catamaran sailors from all over the USA at the Islander Resort in Islamorada.

Pierce is new to the class but found the groove to take five first place finishes of the thirteen races sailed, with his worst finish being a third – awesomely consistent racing. Pierce was pushed hard by two-time North American Champion, Tom Whitehurst of Pensacola Beach, Florida.

Going into the last day of racing, Whitehurst was only seven points behind Pierce, but in the last four races on Sunday, Pierce held off Whitehurst, going on to win by nine points overall.

From New Jersey, Wally Myers who has been a National Champion in other classes, sailed the Wave for the first time in warm up races on Thursday. He wasted no time in learning the boat and ended up the regatta in third place overall.

Winds were 12-17 mph every day, which made for some excellent sailing off the beach of the resort on the Ocean Side of the Keys.

Ray Matuszak of Put-in-Bay, Ohio won the Masters Division (over age 65), followed by Jim Glanden in second and Nelson Wright in third.

Sharon Woodruff of Tampa area won the Womens Division, With Andrea Zern-Pedersen taking second spot and Elizabeth 'Whizzey' Burrowes taking third.

This National Event has been held in the Florida Keys area on the first weekend of December for sixteen years now, bringing lots of sailors and their friends to this great sailing venue during the off season time for the Keys. The visitors always enjoy the great sailing in our warm and clear waters.

Next year the event is again scheduled for the Islander the first weekend in December. For more information go to www.catsailor.com or email rick@catsailor.com.