Hobie 16: Still delivering a ‘Hobie Day’

Launched as the bigger Hobie 14, the Hobie 16 revolutionized the multihull scene when it first appeared in 1971. For the next two decades, this little catamaran was found throughout beaches and boat years, and is among the top boats that introduced people to sailing.

While modern catamaran design has moved far from this beachcat with its banana-shaped hulls, the Hobie 16 Class continues to excel through its culture. All types of people are attracted to the simplicity of its standardized equipment and design, and to its casual and friendly vibe. It’s not a ‘yacht club’ class. It’s a people’s class.

In 2022, the Hobie 16 World Championships head back to Europe after a 25-year hiatus. Following its last World Championship in 2019, there was a strong desire to return to Europe, but this didn’t come easy as the pandemic complicated every aspect of event planning.

Despite having to reschedule a few times, the Costa Brava region of Spain will host 225 teams for an its 6-event schedule – Masters, Grand Masters, Great Grand Masters, Women’s, Youth, and Open – on September 15-29, 2022.

Located in the province of Girona along the Mediterranean Sea, its coastal line is about 200km and extends from the French border on the North up to Blanes on the South where the Maresme Coast begins in the province of Barcelona.

The Hobie Cat Company provides 50 brand new identical boats that are used in a round robin format throughout the event. Sailors only need to bring their personal gear as all the boats are identical and are exchanged between races.

Provided boat events have been a long-standing approach to World Championship racing in the Hobie class going back to the first Hobie 16 World Championships held in Hawaii in 1976.

Over 50 years later since it first hit the beach, this 16-footer is still delivering a Hobie Day!