Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships – Day 1

by Gordon Burgis on 5 Jul 2017 The Championships venue, St. Aubin’s Bay, was a blaze of colour from the bright Hobie Cat sails on the first day of racing last Saturday morning.

The fresh north westerly wind gusting to 23 knots at times, kept crews focused with a few taking an early bath after capsizing in the lively conditions whilst sailing their boats to the max.

The 26 Hobies entered in the event sailed to the start line near Elizabeth castle on Sunday for the second day’s action in what can only be described as champagne sailing conditions held under a blue sky with warm sunshine.

The wind moving more westerly, provided flat water and allowed a greater expanse of the bay to be raced for the participating Hobie Dragoons (Juniors) Hobie 16’s and Wildcat and Tiger classes.

Three races were held each day providing the teams with exciting sailing especially on the fast reaching legs. All in all the weekend saw excellent Championship racing conditions for those entered in the 26th year of the Channel Islands major Hobie event, kindly sponsored by Bob Le Neveu Limited.

Hobie 16 ‘A’ class
Peter and Kate Scriven were leading the largest entry class after the first day, just ahead of Grant Neale and Karen Larose, Aaron Le Cornu and new crew Kasia Solomon were in third, with the ‘A’ Fleet teams revelling in the fresh conditions.

The next day, Sunday, saw Neale and Larose applying pressure, firing two wins in the first two races. At the end of the days racing both crews ended on an equal 8 points each. After count back it was Neale and Larose who lifted the Trophy from the Scriven’s.

Gordon Burgis and crew Kenny Snell had placed fifth on the first day after a disqualification by an over early on the start line, they picked up the pace on the second day and although on equal points with Le Cornu and Rachel Smith crewing on Sunday, winning the last race gave Burgis and Snell third overall. David Elgie and Robert Cooper, former ‘B’ Fleet sailors, performed well over the two days with a deserved fifth position.

Hobie 16 ‘SPI’ class
This class with the Hobie 16’s carrying spinnaker was also hotly contested. Luc Richard and Thomas Harris came away with two firsts on day one after fast pin end starts gave them good leads, following in second were Youth team Leo Marshall and Chloe Swetenham, then another Youth team Ollie Voak and Elsa Swetenham, all performing well in the first days blustery conditions.

Day two saw Marshall crewed on Sunday by brother Oliver come to the fore in the flatter conditions making good use of the reaching and downwind legs with their spinnaker to wrap up first place. Richard and Harris came second overall, Voak and Swetenham who had charged around the course on Sunday, taking two spectacular wins, then experienced a dismast in the third race which put paid to their chances of the top spot. David Carter crewed by Rosanne Mitchel raced on the Sunday only, placing fourth on the day.

Hobie 16 ‘B’ class
The ‘B’ Fleet class saw teams relatively new to Hobie racing participating. Saturdays racing saw some spectacular capsizes in the stronger conditions as crews experienced a steep learning curve. Everything settled down more in the superb sailing on Sunday. It was Peter Culnane and Clive Russell who triumphed over the weekend with Paul Smigla sailing with son Michael taking second place.

Hobie Tiger and Wildcat combined
With both classes on similar handicap racing together. At the end of the first day’s fresher conditions, it was Darren Stower and Graeme Monks on their Wildcat who had blasted off the start line with three impressive firsts. Adrian Jesson and Paul Martin also on a Wildcat were providing close competition placing second in the first three races.

Andy Hart sailing with Yvonne Winspear were in third place. Stower and Monks Domination didn’t change in the second days racing with a first and second taking them to the title. Hart sailing with regular crew Michael Kinross on Sunday upped his game to come third just one point ahead of Jesson and Martin. Steve Longstaffe crewed by Matt Ruane raced their Wildcat on the Sunday, they enjoyed good boat speed to place fourth overall. Rob Moy and Mick Doleman were the first Tiger after a retirement during Saturday’s racing.

Hobie Dragon class
Racing was very tight amongst the junior teams racing the Hobie Dragoons. Declan Flambard and Megan McDonagh set the pace on the first day showing a clean set of transoms to win the first two races, an unfortunate rig failure meant they couldn’t finish the third race. They came out on Sunday with all guns blazing, posting three firsts, winning the H/Dragoon class in the process.

Gemma Newman crewed by Will Dengate performed well over both days to come a well deserved second. Finlay Arenz and Else Blakeley weren’t far behind placing third after good win in race three on Saturday. Tom Hunt and Alex Cooper sailed well in the stronger conditions on the first day, but dropped back on Sunday when the wind eased, coming fourth overall.

The Prize Giving Presentation took place at the host club, the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club on Sunday evening, where thanks and appreciation were expressed to the Race team, Safety boat and mark laying crews, the Beach team and to Bob Le Neveu Limited for their valued sponsorship of a highly successful Championships.

Overall championships results

Hobie 16 ‘A’ class (Top six)

First - Grant Neale and Karen Larose
Second - Peter and Kate Scriven
Third - Gordon Burgis and Kenny Snell
Fourth - Aaron Le Cornu and Kasia Solomon/Rachel Smith
Fifth - David Elgie and Robert Cooper
Sixth - Jeremy Smith and Alastair Lambotte

Hobie 16 ‘SPI’ class (Top four)

First - Leo Marshall and Chloe Swetenham/Oliver Marshall.
Second - Luc Richard and Thomas Harris.
Third - Ollie Voak and Elsa Swetenham
Fourth - David Carter and Roseanne Mitchel

Hobie 16 ‘B’ (Top two)

First - Peter Culnane and Clive Russell
Second - Paul and Michael Smigla

Hobie Tiger and Wildcat combined (Top five)

First - Darren Stower and Graeme Monks
Second - Andy Hart and Michael Kinross/Yvonne Winspear
Third - Adrian Jesson and Paul Martin
Fourth - Stephen Longstaffe and Matt Ruane
Fifth - Rob Moy and Mick Doleman

Hobie Dragoons

First - Declan Flambard and Megan Mc Donagh
Second - Gemma Newman and Will Dengate
Third - Finlay Arenz and Else Blakeley
Fourth - Tom Hunt and Alex Cooper

Hobie 16 Masters
Grant Neale and Karen Larose

Hobie 16 Grand Masters
Gordon Burgis and Kenny Snell

Hobie 16 Women's
Yvonne Winspear and Sandra Coleman

Hobie 16 Youth
Leo Marshall and Chloe Swetenham/Oliver Marshall