U.S. Multihull Championship to be raced in Hobie 16s in San Francisco

Top doublehanded teams in the country and several international teams will be competing in Hobie 16 catamarans next week for a chance to win the historic Hobie Alter Trophy, as the 2013 U.S. Multihull Championship adds to the excitement this summer on San Francisco Bay. This year's U.S. Multihull Championship coincides with the America's Cup Finals. This US Sailing National Championship will be hosted by the Sausalito Yacht Club. Racing takes place Thursday, September 5 through Saturday, September 7 and a special guest expert clinic for participants and welcome party will be held on Wednesday, September 4.

The Hobie 16 is iconic to the world of multihull sailing and one of the largest classes in the world. America's Cup spectators will have a special opportunity to watch additional multihull racing as teams competing at the U.S. Multihull Championship will race on the America's Cup course on September 7, as the opening act to the first race of the America's Cup Finals.

Sarah Newberry (Miami, Fla.) made history at last year's U.S. Multihull Championship in Pensacola, Fla. by becoming the first woman skipper to claim the Hobie Alter Trophy. Newberry and Kenny Pierce won the title in impressive fashion by winning all 14 races on Santa Rosa Sound in the Formula 16. Newberry is currently running an Olympic campaign in the Nacra 17 and won the gold medal at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami in February with John Casey. In 2012, Newberry won the F16 National Championship in Panama City, Fla. She will sail next week with Emmett Moore (Miami, Fla.) as crew.

One of the headline competitors this year will be five-time Hobie 16 National Champion Hobie Alter Jr. (San Juan, Calif.), who will be sailing with son Scott Alter (San Juan, Calif.) as crew.

Enrique Figueroa and crew Carla Malatrasi of San Juan, Puerto Rico won the 2012 Hobie 16 North American Championship and has represented Puerto Rico in four Olympic Games. He is the only Puerto Rican sailor to win four gold medals in the Central American Caribbean Games. They finished fourth at the 2013 ISAF World Cup Miami.

Patrick Porter (Garden Valley, Calif.) finished second at 2013 Midwinter West event in April. He is sailing with experienced crew John Williams (Long Beach, Calif.) who has participated in 10 U.S. Multihull Championships, winning as crew in 2009 and 2007.

Mike Montague (Santa Rosa, Calif.) and Kathy Ward (Sacramento, Calif.) will make a bid at their second Hobie Alter Trophy. They won the 2004 event, also sailed in Hobie 16s. In July, they won the Summer Multihull Regatta in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Youth multihull sailors have been a part of this championship for many years. Ben Brown (Los Altos, Calif.) placed third at the 2012 ISAF Youth Worlds Qualifier and won the 2011 Hobie 16 Youth North American Championship. He will be sailing with crew Andrew Wilkinson (Woodside, Calif.).

Visit the official event website throughout next week's championship for a full roster, standings, Notice of Race, video highlights courtesy of Chris Love Productions, real-time Twitter updates, daily recaps, photos, and more.

The U.S. Multihull Championship is a US Sailing National Championship regatta and sponsored by Hobie Polarized, Gill North America and Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. The championship is a Sailors for the Sea – Clean Regattas certification event.