With the 21st Hobie® 16 World Championships under two months away and the northern hemisphere about to start their racing it is all Hobie action now. The hotel rooms for the 21st Hobie 16 World Championships at the official hotel start at $99 USD plus local taxes. This includes breakfast, lunch, and a shuttle to and from Shenzhen airport. There is a page for non-competitors to assist them in obtaining a visa to travel to China. Have a look at the hotel gallery to see the accommodation. The organizers have tried to make everything as easy for everyone to enter, book their accommodation and bring your friends and family. More details at HobieWorlds.com.
Hobie Cat Worldwide and the International Hobie Class Association have released the planned schedule for Hobie World Championships till 2020. This was done to show the sailors the support Hobie Cat Worldwide continues for the Hobie sailors. Also to show the strength of the Hobie Class.
2016 Hobie 16 Worlds – China
2017 Hobie 16 Europeans / Hobie 14 Worlds & Hobie Wild Cat Worlds – Europe
2018 Hobie 16 Worlds – Europe
2019 Hobie 14 Worlds & Hobie Wild Cat Worlds – TBA (may be held as separate events)
2020 Hobie 16 Worlds – TBA
(TBA = location To Be Announced at a later date)
With the 22nd Hobie 16 World Championships not scheduled till 2018 the best time to enter and train is NOW at the 21st Hobie 16 World Championships.
South Africa recently held their Tiger and Hobie 16 Womens’ National Championships. It is not often that 7 current and past Hobie champions race in one fleet. That is how strong the Hobie Tiger racing is in South Africa. There are many spectacular photos of both series on the IHCA Facebook site.
South Africa over Easter held their Hobie 14 National Championships in Durban. 41 Hobie 14s turned up to race. Reigning Hobie 14 World Champion Blaine Dodds won 6 out of the 10 races. Can the Europeans at Lake Neusiedl in Austria have a larger fleet Hobie 14 fleet racing? The challenge has been put down by the South Africans.
The America’s Cup Endeavour Programme on Hobie Waves is growing. What is the Endeavour Programme? As described by Dr. Harvey Schiller, commercial commissioner for the 35th America’s Cup,“The goal of this community project is to utilize the power of sailing to provide unique athletic and educational opportunities to youths across all socioeconomic backgrounds, through both classroom and on-water experiences.”
The Hobie Wave will also be sailed during the America’s Cup World Series New York, Chicago, Toulon and during the America’s Cup in Bermuda. What do the Bermuda kids think?
“The Waves are just like the Americas Cup boats but smaller, so you can get to experience how the Americas Cup catamarans feel,” says Rose, a Bermuda High School student. “It takes a crew to go fast so you can build team work.” Just like on the AC45. The Endeavour Programme will continue after Americas Cup to ensure the young sailors have access to sailing.
There’s much more! Click through for the full International Hobie Class Association April newsletter.
