Six titles at Hobie 16 World Champs

The 2022 Hobie 16 World Championships were September 15-29 in Sant Pere Pescador, Spain. As is tradition, the Hobie Cat Company provided 50 new identical boats to be used for the championships which had 15 days of racing, 60 races, and 353 sailors from 22 countries participating in this event together.

Here are the titles decided (age limit for skipper with crew age open):

• Cam Owen/ Susan Ghent (AUS) are the new masters champions (45+ years, 37 boats), followed by Darren Smith/ Claire Bisgood (AUS), and Stefan Griesmeyer/ Caterina Degli Uberti (ITA)

• In the Grand Masters (55+ years, 24 boats), Rod Waterhouse and Kerry Waterhouse (AUS) are the new World Champions, They were followed by William Edwards and Lucinda Edwards (RSA) in second and Jens Goritz and Michela Piu (GER) took third.

• In the Great Grand Masters (65+ years, 12 boats) it was USA for the top three spots with Peter Nelson and Holly Deuterman (USA) being crowned Champions followed by Michael Montague and Kathleen Ward, and Blair Wallace and Sasha Wallace respectively in second and third.

• In the Women’s series (13 boats), Caterina Degli Uberti and Diana Rogge (ITA) top the top spot, followed by Bella Zanesco and Juliet Bates (AUS), with Carmen Andrews and Haylie Andrews(AUS) picking up third.

• For the Youth series (under 21 years, 17 boats), Valerio Tomassi and Eva Orsolini (ITA) were number one, with Ben Jochims and Paula Deppenbrock (GER) coming second, and Morgan Smith and Annabel Luxton (GBR) in third.

The overall open championship was held at the end in which 50 teams pre-qualified through their home country with another 74 teams hoping to advance through on-site qualifiers on September 22-24.

For those able to qualify, the championship group competed in a Semi Final stage on September 25-27 to advance the top 48 for the Finals and the open world title on September 28-29.

Winds on the opening day started out on the lighter side but quickly built to 10-15 knots, and it was one of those days where a small mistake didn’t cost a position – it could cost 20 positions that you couldn’t get back. The right side of the course seemed to be favored but getting there in the crowd and keeping your lane clear was easier said than done. Five races were completed.

The lead positions shuffled with Cam Owen/ Susan Ghent (AUS) holding the lead followed by Yamil Saba Fuentes/ Gonzolo Cendra Falcon (VEN) and Darren Smith/ Claire Bisgood (AUS).

For those hoping to improve their standing, the second and last day of the finals was not to be. Clouds, intermittent rain, and light winds held sailors on shore. However, the breeze did fill in afternoon with more rain, but an attempted race was abandoned shortly after the start when the wind quit again, confirming Owen and Ghent as the 2022 Hobie 16 World Champions.

• Details: https://hobieworlds.com/
• Results: https://sailingresults.net/?id=81406