Category: Regatta Reviews

BRITISH UNBEATABLE IN BOTH HOBIE YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004
Duinbergen / Belgium, July 31st 2004 – The British teams were unbeatable in both Hobie Youth Championships organized in Duinbergen / Belgium from Tuesday July 27th until July 30th 2004. On Friday July 30th, Richard and Andrew Glover became the first Hobie Dragoon World Champions ever. Tom Phipps and Jonathan Cook won the Hobie 16 genaker Youth Europeans 2004. The prize giving was a party with lots of gifts for all competitors. The three medallists in both classes received their awards on stage in front of Hobie Catsy’s with the national flags in top.

The wind conditions varied from light to moderate, the sky was blue all week long and the temperature was almost sub-tropical. On the second racing day, a sea breeze came up and increased to force four. Capsizes, some damage to the equipment and bruised limbs were the result, but the younsters had great fun. “I liked the stronger wind with many waves coming over me”, said nine year old Nicolas Sarlet. The Hobie Dragoons completed eleven races and the Hobie 16’s ten, while the parents on the beach used field glasses to watch their children racing.

A healthy fleet of catamarans turned up on the Tay on 3rd & 4th May, despite very mixed weather reports for the first Typhoon International Catamaran event of the year. A new Stealth and Spitfire appeared on the scene amongst the usual suspects of Hurricanes and Hobie Cats, with an A Class, Tornado, and Dart 18.

By Barby MacGowan

St. Thomas, USVI -- It was the Caribbean, but that didn't mean sailors were laid back when they hit the starting line at St. Thomas Yacht Club's 2003 International Rolex Regatta in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tough competition, warm tropical breezes, blue-water courses and a mix of island culture and energy were on tap from March 28-30 as the annual event celebrated its 30th edition with a new look and a notable increase in entrants-97 to be exact.