18th Hobie 16 World Championships - Fiji

We were at the beach at 7:30 this morning. Boats were available at 8:30

10 AM Local Time. Postponement is up. Light and shifting.

Sounds like 4 knots current at some places on the course.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Still delayed...

10:20 AM here.

A bit of local info. The hotels in Suva are spread out a bit. We have been pretty tame thus far. Heats up in a few days as the main groups of sailors arrive.

They have had excellent live music every day on the beach.

The event site is amazing. Especially in that it was just a rocky cove just three months ago. The cove was filled and a beach was made. Most of the heavy party stuff is scheduled here at the venue. They erected a HUGE tent building, bar, shops, cultural displays. There is food available on site at several locations during the day. Other stuff is close by.

The rum is good and plentiful! Plenty of pretty ladies too!

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

To quote a previous beach captain:

"You come in hot to the beach, and that'll be a $20 hit to your boat deposit. No appeals."

Here are a few shots in the compound

Here is the bar. A temporary building for the event.



Shops and party place.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Hey Matt is Brett Dryland sailing solo?He would of had to put on quite a bit of weight since I seen him last.Never Mind I see his crew listed I did,t think Brett would get to 235 LBS

Brett is here and looking good! Big boy for sure, but all muscle.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

They are off the beach!

12:50 PM Wednesday the 10th. Light air still, but a beautiful day.



Here are some additional shots from around the event compound. I placed them in a gallery to help keep the thread download time down a bit...

http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/worlds/gallery10-10-2007/index.html

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Some bumper stickers spotted as the Masters leave the beach...

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Masters and Grand Masters done for the day.

They got in two races. Now the Women's and Juniors are out for ... maybe two. They have yet to finish the first. It is now 4:35 PM here.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Hey Matt...

Great coverage and pics. Much, much better than the F18 attempts so far in Galveston. Thanks for reporting out. Keep up the good work and good luck to all the competitors. Go Team USA!

John Bauldry

Awww, they take the fun out of everything

That beach looks great! Sounds like everyone is having fun.

_________________
Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

Matt,

Any way possible to show a few close-ups of the rigged boats?

Update - Thursday Morning October 11, 2007 9:15 AM

I'll work on getting a few close ups of the rigged boats.

The Juniors and Women's teams are leaving the beach. The wind is in the 10-12 kts range. Getting all the boats off with a straight on-shore breeze (Small beach area) is taking a bit of time. The carnage is on the return! Gee, can't wait for more wind! I hope the direction swings around a bit more side shore. This is, at least, a very protected spot. A long break water protects the beach. No surf... it is just the number of boats and the rocks on either side we worry about during launching and landings. Damage means late nights of repair work for the repair team.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Winners!!!

After two races this morning, Marie Duvignac has won the 2007 Womens Worlds and Jason Waterhouse has won the Juniors!

The Masters are out (12:15) they are possibly doing three.

I have placed a few photo galleries up this morning.

Pedro Colon (Puerto Rico) celebrated his birthday aboard the Air Pacific 747 on the way to Fiji last Monday. They had the entire bubble (upper level) except for a few... who I hear, left for another area of the plane. A bit to wild for them I guess.

Photos: http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/worlds/10-07_PerdosParty/index.html

Here are some shots from Andy Dinsdales birthday last night.

Photos: http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/worlds/10-10_PartyShots/index.html

Here are some people shots from the beach.

Photos: http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/worlds/10-11_BeachShots/index.html

A few detail shots of the boats.

Photos: http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/worlds/10-11_BoatDetails/index.html

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Masters on the water. Two generals then a start.



I am really liking this place (Fiji). Beautiful. Great temperatures. Super nice people all over town. VERY friendly people. We have been having great food. They have a large Indian population so, Indian food is excellent. Japanese last night. Chinese is also on the list. There is a really nice water front place where we had fish and steaks half way back to the hotel.

The language is English here in Fiji which makes things easy for us here... except we still have a hard time understanding the Australians!

Tonight's celebration for the Women and Juniors is a sulu dress party (local skirt) at 7 PM in the event building. Dinner, drinks and live music!

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)