Three Hobie 16 World Champions Crowned

(February 7, 2014) – Not one, not two but three Hobie World Champions were crowned in the Hobie® 16 World Championships on Jervis Bay today.

In the Hobie Grand Masters class, it was the Australians Rod and Kerry Waterhouse from New South Wales (AUS) who took the title followed by Blain Dodds and Thorin Zeilmaker (RSA) in second with fellow New South Welshmen Kerli Corlett and Ali Corlett (AUS) taking third.

The Hobie Youth class, top spot went to Daniel Bjornholt and Felix Grech (DEN) with Guy Birchall and Tayla Woodhead (AUS) taking second and fellow Aussies Paul Darmanin and Lucy Copeland (AUS) coming in third.

Finally in the Hobie Womens class, Bella Zanesco and Jesse Dobie from New South Wales (AUS) were crowned World Champions with fellow Australians, Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes(AUS) and Pip Pietromonaco and Josie Mark (AUS) taking out second and third respectively.

Seven races in total were sailed today and it was definitely no rest for the wicked on this, the final day of the Hobie® Grand Masters, Womens and Youth classes. The Hobie Grand Masters got out first in a 10 – 15 knot nor’easter for what would be the start of a big day on the water.

Hobie Grand Masters Race 3

The Australians cleaned up in race 3 of the Hobie Grand Masters Class with overall series leaders Rod Waterhouse and Kerry Waterhouse from New South Wales, taking out another first place, making for a near perfect run of the regatta. They had fellow New South Welshmen, Kerli Corlett and Ali Corlett hot on their heels taking out second while West Australians, Phil Smyth and Brad Quartermaine picked up a third.

Hobie Grand Masters Race 4

It was Waterhouse again in race 4 with Rod and Kerry picking up another first followed by Hong Kong contenders Yui Shing Tong and Wai Sing Bendy Lee in second and Anthony Duchatel and Evelyn Curtis from New South Wales, Australia snatching third.

Hobie Womens Class Race 5

In the Hobie Womens class, again, the Australians took the top three spots in race 5 with Krystal Weir and Sarah Newman from Victoria taking the top seat while fellow Victorians, Pip Pietromonaco and Josie Mark took second while Bella Zanesco and Jesse Dobie from NSW finished third.

Hobie Womens Class Race 6

Back to back races saw Bella Zanesco and Jesse Dobie from NSW Australia, turn their third place from race 5 into a first with New Caledonians Alizee Angibaud and Alize Lugeux taking second and Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes from Victoria (AUS) in third.

Hobie Youth Class Race 5

Another first for Daniel Bjornholt and Felix Grech from Denmark in what in what has been a senstational series for the Danes. Coming in second were the New Caledonians, Thomas Enguerrand and Thomas Cyriaque with Paul Darmanin and Lucy Copeland from NSW Australia coming in third.

Hobie Youth Class Race 6

In what was a tight finish West Australians, Guy Birchall and Tayla Woodhead took first place ahead of New Caledonians Sebastien Maron and Titouan Galea in second while fellow New Caledonians Thomas Enguerrand and Thomas Cyriaque picking up third.

Hobie Grand Masters Race 5

With the Hobie Youth and Womens classes having wrapped up their sailing for the day the grand masters returned to the water for their final race of the series. Winds shifted to 18–20 knots just in time for the last race and tested the mettle of our Grand Masters.

Blain Dodds and Thorin Zeilmaker from South Africa and New Zealanders Grant Snowden and Peter Mcdougall battled it out for first place with Dodds bringing it home for the win. The New Zealanders took second with Anthony Duchatel and Evelyn Curtis from New South Wales picking up third.

Awards ceremonies were held this evening and champions crowned as the next wave of competitors arrives to start it all again tomorrow in the first day of the qualifying rounds of the Hobie® 16 Open World Championship. Story