The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) have conducted the Multihull Evaluation Trials at Santander, Spain for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The Hobie Cat Manufacturers put forward two excellent choices, the Hobie 16 with a furling third sail (the Olympics must be sailed with a 3rd sail) and the Hobie Tiger with spinnaker. The trials produced some interesting results. The evaluation panel recommended two boats but didn't exclude any boats. They did recommend excluding boats with the womens skiff trials conducted at the same time. So all boats must have been acceptable by the panel. The Hobie 16 and Hobie Tiger were scored in and tested in all areas where some of the boats were not tested or marked. It is uncertain how ISAF will reconcile or compare those boats with no scores in some tests against those that were scored. One entry is a new design and only two boats exist in the world. Since one of the criteria put forth by ISAF was the boat have "universality" (be available in many regions of the world) it will be interesting to see how this boat viewed by ISAF.
The report from the evaluation trials will go to the ISAF Council that convenes in early May for their vote. The ISAF Council will then have to make the important decision select a catamaran to be used at the next Olympics. Do they put in a new boat which only few nations can compete at Olympic qualifying races? Or do they include the Hobie 16 or Hobie Tiger that gives them the universality they set as a criteria when they adopted the Olympic Commission? This important decision may decide whether the sport goes forward and includes thousands of sailors and many countries, or causes a decrease in world participation for multihulls at the Olympics.
It is important that Hobie sailors ask their sailing National Authority to support the Hobie bid for the inclusion of a Hobie Cat at the 2016 Olympics.
North American Championships dates< br/>
Hobie 16 and Hobie 20 North American Championships
Sausalito Yacht Club, Sausalito, CA
June 18-22, 2012
Hobie 17 and Hobie 18 North American Championships
Cottonwood Cove Resort, Lake Mohave, NV
October 20-26, 2012
Website NOR
The European Hobie Class Association has announced the Hobie Europeans,27th July to 4th August, Arzon, France. Notice of Race is available on the official web site with a lot of information about accommodation and assisting you to attend check the website for all updates. There are limited charter boats available from Hobie Cat Europe. Please contact Hobie Cat Europe directly for charter boat information. The racing calendar for the European Hobie racing has been released.
The British Hobie Championships has offered the first 20 non Channel Islands entries completed before the 20th May will have their entry fee reimbursed in cash at the Clubhouse registration on the first evening of the Championships
Fiji Challenge Fiji Youth Challenge and the Oceanic Championships 2012 has released their Notice of Race the Youth Challenge can be found here and the Oceanic Challenge here . The Youth Challenge has again attracted many young sailors from the Pacific Islands.
2012 Asian & Pacific Hobie16 Championships August has a date change to the 14th to August 23rd and will still be held in Weihai, China. Good quality Hobie 16 available so no need to worry about your boat just pack your trap harness and life jacket and enjoy a lovely beach and good Hobie friends. There are more hotels and restaurants to choose from to make your Hobie stay even more enjoyable. More details to announced soon.
Australian Hobie Nationals are at Port Melbourne, racing 29-30-31 December, New Years Eve Party, 1st Jan rest day, Racing 2-3 Jan. Their new web site is online. Don't forget to subscribe to their newsletter to get all the latest news.
The universality of the Hobie Class shows the popularity of the Hobie world wide. Hobie sailing just keeps getting stronger. The Hobie 16 remains the undisputed largest multihull class in the world.
The Hobie Facebook page has had more updates added.
The IHCA web site www.hobieclass.com has all the latest Hobie news around the world.
