Reports Day 2

HOGS BREATH Hobie Cat Nationals WA - January 2 - January 7, 2006

Nedlands Yacht Club - The Esplanade, Nedlands - Perth WA

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Day 2 Report

LIGHT WINDS FOR NATIONAL TITLES

Five heats of the 2006 Hogs Breath Hobie Cat Nationals which commenced yesterday at the Nedlands Yacht Club on the Swan River in Perth have been sailed in light easterly winds.

The 8 – 12 knot winds are frustrating some of the total fleet of 56 Hobie 16’s, 17’s and the high performance Tiger catamarans which generally prefer stronger winds for better speed and excitement but have had to adjust to the unseasonal light winds.

Competition is tight in all fleets with the large Hobie 16 fleet providing a spectacular and colourful sight when they cross the start line.

Local Western Australian team Darren Smith and Natalie Hill have the narrowest of leads in the Hobie 16 class and have some experienced sailors just behind them on the leaderboard with Queensland team Bob Engwirda & Brad Wilson, New South Wales team and 2005 Hobie 18 catamaran world champions Brad Sumner and Belinda Walkom and local veteran team Phil and Amber Smythe within 4 points of the outright lead.

Experienced Victorian sailor Ron McDonald is leading the Hobie 17 class with an impressive 4 wins out of the 5 heats sailed thus far. McDonald is favoured to continue with his current form to win this class.

Another former world champion, Steve Fields and Peter Dubbelaar from New South Wales are encountering strong competition from young Victorian team Lachlan Gibson and Josh Fugill in the Hobie Tiger class. So much competition, that the Victorian team currently lead Fields and Dubbelaar by the narrowest of margins. A total of 14 points separates the entire fleet, so racing is expected to be tight for the entire series.

Sailing continues each day on Melville waters on the Swan River through to Saturday with an expected layday this Thursday.
 

Day 2 Report

Hobie’s were alive with colour again on an overcast day on the Swan River, Perth. Day two of racing was hard fought in a light Easterly all day. Three races were held today in winds of 8 to 12 knots.

Hobie 17’s with the first start were competitive with Ron McDonald from Victoria winning two of the three races from Livius Payne and Adam Rees of Jervoise Bay Sailing Club, WA. Adam went on to win the last race of the afternoon in fine form.

General recalls were the order of the day with the 16’s. Everyone fighting hard for a good start. The old salty dogs were showing the young guns how to do it. Bob Engwirda and Worst News Hughes won the first and last race with Mick Butler and Susan Etherington claiming second with Darren Smith with Natalie Hill in another. Star performers of the grey beards were Phil and Amber Smythe taking first over Kerli and Ali Corlett in second place in race two of the day. Wind gusts filling in at the top of the course made the finishes tight and the front runners sweating with little wind on the lower half of the course.

Nothing separates the Tiger fleet with Lachlan Gibson and Josh Fugill from Victoria took first place in the last two races with only meters between second place Steve Fields and Peter Dubbelaar of NSW when they crossed the line in race three. Steve and Peter took the first race of the day over Lachlan and Josh. Michael Burdack and Craig Greenaway from Victoria sailed a great race to finish second in race two of the day.

Tonight’s function is a pool party at Emma’s house with some interstate games likely to come to fruition later in the evening.

Tomorrows forecast is for the ever reliable Freo Doctor to provide a sea breeze in the afternoon which should have the locals licking their lips.
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