Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships at St. Aubins Bay
by Gordon Burgis 3 Jul 2012 14:56 BST
23-24 June 2012
Racing conditions couldn't have been better for first day of the Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships organised by the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club. With blue sky and sunshine prevailing the steady 13 to 17kt westerly wind provided exciting and spectacular action for the 25 boats entered in the event. St Aubin's bay was a blaze of colour as the Hobie classes competed on the Championship courses set by Race Officer Rodney Waller and his team on the Committee boat.
After the excellent conditions on the Saturday a front came through early the following morning, along with consistent rain, none the less after a one hour postponement the wind had settled from the North west at 15kts, more than enough to allow fast and enjoyable trapezing sailing in Sundays wet and misty conditions.
Hobie 16 'A' Fleet
A battle Royal commenced from the start between Gordon Burgis crewed by Kenny Snell and the husband and wife team, Peter and Kate Scriven in the Hobie 16 ‘A' Fleet. It was race for race with one crew winning then the other. Burgis and Snell were leading at the end of the first day, after four races sailed. But it was the Scrivens who came out with all guns blazing on Sunday and sealed their first Hobie 16 Channel Islands Championship with two straight wins, leaving the competitive veterans just two points behind in second place. Grant Neale and Karen La Rose had sailed consistently well on the first day, their third position in the last race secured them 3rd place.
Youth helm Peter Graham crewed by Dad Mike put in very good performance on Sunday, posting a second and third to give them fourth overall and Peter the top Hobie 16 Youth Helm prize. The Masters title was won by Gordon Burgis and Kenny Snell and Best woman's Hobie 16 helm went to Yvonne Winspear.
Hobie 16 'B' Fleet
Two crews were the main contenders in the Hobie 16 ‘B' Fleet, Youth helm Lucy Chapman with new crew Jamie Le Signe sailed well on the last day to edge the title from the women's team of Rachael Morris and Sam Flambard.
Hobie Tiger and Wildcat
It was an eventful weekend of racing for the Hobie Tiger and Wildcat class with a Tiger spinnaker being blown out on its first hoist just prior the first race and a Wildcat having to retire because of a de masting. The Wildcat of Darren Stower and Laurence Carter was leading the pack at the end of day one's four title races, followed by Adrian Jessons and Bruce Steedmans Tiger in second, then David Carter and Simon Le Huray also racing a Tiger who had unfortunately missed the first race because of the spi problem. A capsize at the start of Sundays racing effectively put the Tiger team of Andy Hart and Michael Kinross out of the running. Jesson and Steedman were the ones mixing it with Stower and Carter at the front of the Fleet on the second day, sharing the honours with a win each in the two final races. It wasn't enough and Stower and Carter won the class convincingly, gathering four 1sts and a 2nd in the 5 counting races, on their way to the title. David Carter and Simon Le Hurays two third places on Sunday gave them 3rd place.
Junior Hobie Dragoons
The young relatively new Dragoon crews coped well with the fresh conditions in Saturdays racing. The more experienced team of Lilly Carter and Mary Perkins led from the start and couldn't be beaten, winning the Dragoon class with four straight 1sts. Robin Stuart crewed by Bella Voak showed excellent potential in her first race to come second overall, followed by Tom Newman and Declan Flambard another rookie team new to Dragoon sailing who sailed consistently well to place third.
Prize Giving was held at the RCIYC on Sunday evening with an excellent turnout and the presentation of special medals with a nod to the Olympics was well received by all. Thanks were given to the Committee boat race team, safety boat crews and the organisers for a very successful event which was also took the form of a rehearsal for the forthcoming British Hobie Cat National Championships being held in the Island for the first time in August.
Overall Results:
Hobie 16 ‘A' Fleet (top 6)
1st Peter & Kate Scriven
2nd Gordon Burgis & Kenny Snell
3rd Grant Neale & Karen Larose
4th Peter Graham & Sue/ Mike Graham
5th Helen Holmes & Peter Warrell
6th Yvonne Winspear & Paul
Hobie 16 ‘B' Fleet
1st Lucy Chapman & Jamie Le Signe
Hobie Tiger & Wildcat (top 3)
1st Darren Stower & Laurence Carter
2nd Adrian Jesson & Bruce Steedman
3rd David Carter & Simon Le Huray
Junior Hobie Dragoons
1st Lilly Carter & Mary Perkins
2nd Robyn Stuart & Bella Voak
3rd Tom Newman & Declan Flambard
Hobie 16 Masters
Gordon Burgis & Kenny Snell
Best H16 Woman Helm
Yvonne Winspear
Best H16 Youth Helm
Peter Graham