Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
Things are looking brighter for the RSA contingent racing in the Hobie 16 Gold Fleet and in the Hobie Wildcats.
After being in 3rd spot after the first day Blaine Dodds and Charles Girard climbed to second spot on the podium, but not after starting the day with an OCS! Fortunately they managed to get 4 races in and had sufficient races completed to discard that OCS. From there on they steadily improved and finished the day by winning the race.
It’s tight at the top of Wildcats, so Dodds and Girard will have to sail exceptionally well, and use all their many years of experience to stay on the podium.
Kyle Boman & Stephen Van Niekerk lie in 14th spot overall.
The Hobie 16 Gold Fleet is a tough one, and while the RSA teams did well in the qualifiers, the sudden harsh realities of top-flight competition and how unforgiving it can be has been realised.
The top RSA team in 16th spot is Ewald Erasmus & Stephanie Goodyer, with the next team of Dylan Albert & James Butler in 44th, having finished the day with three DNC’s. No reasons are yet known.
Then come John & Andrea Ryall, followed by Nicholas Ryall & Justin Butler.
The second day of the racing saw sailors treated to some excellent Hobie sailing conditions with the last races of the day sailed in an average of 18 knots with a gusts of 22 knots. With a small swell running the sailors had some of the best downwind sailing conditions so far.
Two courses are used ,Wild Cat, Tiger and Hobie 16 Silver on one course and
The Hobie Wild Cat World Championships had four races, which tested the limit of the sailors.
Former Hobie 14 & 16 World Champion Blaine Dodds said “when the wind was pumping it was fun, though my crew Charles may be feeling a bit tired now”!
The leader board has the top three placegetters are all Hobie World Champions.
Results HERE
