In the build-up to the Hobie Tiger and Multi-Worlds to be held Lake Garda in July next year the Hobie Tiger class hosted their first official Northern Region Hobie Tiger Provincials Championships, with eleven entries.
This class is growing fast inland and there are close to eighteen boats in Gauteng with two new boats being sold in South Africa this year.
The Hobie class has had a busy beginning to summer with five weekends in a row of Hobie sailing.
It was great to see great talented top dinghy sailors debuting on Tigers and nine youth in total competing at this event.
Nicolo Marcia and Thomas Sutherland from Amtec racing on Mike Hayton’s boat and Youth Laser Champion Marcello Marcia also from Amtec racing crewing for Mike Goodyer.
Tornado sailor Vernon Brown also made a debut with youth Dart sailor Vihan Veldmann.
The bridge attempted one race and had to abandon due to lack of wind.
While the bridge was re-setting the course an awesome gust came through, which saw the Tigers putting their spinnakers up and going for a blast, with some of them been slightly late for the next race, but not without a big smile on their faces.
Talented youth sailor Brandon Wijtenburg skippering for his father Mark won the first race with after a very crafty Port start.
Race two was a very light wind race with Charles Girard and Gary Hubach from LDYC using their local knowledge to be the only boat taking advantage Port side of the course which gave them a good win.
The bridge did an excellent job getting in two races before the wind died to nothing.
The bridge sent the boats back for lunch around two o clock and kept them on standby as the wind was forecasted to clock around and pick up which it did only after five.
In the typical Hobie way of life the braai came out with some refreshments and music while the war stories were told.
On Saturday evening there were three boats tied for first on the same number of points and four boats tied for second on the same number of points.
Sundays forecast was dismal, but the bridge made a good call sending the fleet out in miserable overcast conditions which improved.
The wind kept cycling from the South East all day and produced eight races back to back, allowing for the competitors to discard two races.
Unfortunately talented youth team of Ewald Erasmus and Douglas White had to retire with from the last four places due to a tear in their Mainsail. Giving the seniors a better chance ?
The regatta came down to a thrilling last race with the lead changing five times between the two boats with Charles Girard and Gary Hubach Green Team Girard Racing winning the event by one point and Amtec Racing: Nicolo Marcia and Thomas Sutherland taking second place and in third place veteran Hobie sailor Mark Kopel who just won the H16 Provincials and Julian Powers who won the H14 Provincials last month. In Fourth was Team Microtronix of Michael Goodyer and Marcello Marcia.
In fifth place and first youth team was Kyle Boman and Dylan Segers also from Green Team Girard Racing.
Introducing a new event with such success brings me much excitement as I watch the Hobie racing scene grow even more!
Charles Girard
See the results
