Sailing Magazine
KZN Hobie 16 provincials 2016, Point Yacht Club, Vetch’s Beach, Durban
Warm sunny days, enough breeze to sail all three days and get in 10 races, a race officer who turned races over without delay, close racing, 20oC water, dolphins playing between the hulls and evening bonfires on the beach – what more could we want? Not much! The 18 boats which sailed had a great time over the June long weekend, following the also-successful Hobie 14 provincials at the same venue a few weeks earlier. These events bode well for the Hobie 16 nationals set for Easter next year on the same awesome patch of water.
Race officer Rob Bell got the regatta sealed on the 1st day with four races in a light easterly, and then switched the wind off for a stunning beach evening. Reports of howling winds and buckets of rain from the Cape made us feel even warmer as we stared into the bonfire. Was the shortest day of the year only a week away? The land breeze took a while to wear off the next day, and the light variable winds kept the mark layers busy, but three more races were added, leaving sailors tensed up with anticipation for the predicted south-wester on the final day. This eventually arrived around midday, along with a two-metre swell, producing great sailing conditions – a few reaches were set for a change, reminding us just how potent these boats can be.
Peter and Sarah Hall sailed consistently to win comfortably, while Brandon (skippering) and dad Mark Wijtenberg did just enough to pip Sean Fennessy and Trent (1st time on a Hobie) Bingham. Brandon goes to youth worlds soon, and we wish him well. Several other youth were sailing, either as skippers or crew, so the future looks good for this ever-green class. The KZN team took the interprovincial trophy.
RESULTS. click on the link below:
