Today's Race Report

Open Hobie 16 World Championships
Saturday, March 2nd, Round 1 - Day 2 of 3


Results Home Page | Report | Regatta standings as of today
There are 191 teams, all vying for about 25 - 30 spots in the semi-finals which start Monday.
There will be four races tomorrow, giving everyone 4 races and one throwout. The action has been fast and furious both on the water and on the beach.
With a change of boats after each race, and six races both today and yesterday there is not much time in between.

Today: Onshore breeze with the start line less than 100 metres off the beach.
Downwind finish, with the finish line only 50 metres off the beach. The beach bar and pool overlooks the competitors and start/finish line and is a popular spot for spectators and seeded sailors who don't have to sail until Monday.
The conditions were light early, but built up to about 15 knots of good solid breeze. The first race started about 9:30am, and the last race finished at 6pm.

It gets dark 6:15 here, so the stragglers were packing up in the half light.
The Race Committee are working hard to get in enough races in the three days, so General Recalls are avoided and Individuals are much more common. With 45 minute races a return to the start is a waste of time, so almost no-one returns on the recall, hence the large number of PMS results.

Race leader at present is Sparky from Scotland (he will be impossible to live with if he wins the first round) and works for the Welsh Yachting Association as a sailing coach. With a 470 sailing background, Sparky discovered Hobies about three years ago with a view to sailing in the 1994 IYRU Worlds in La Rochelle. He also competed in the British Olympic Trials recently coming a close 2nd.

The jury are currently deliberating on the 20 odd protests from today's six races. Most are minor incidents and all there has been no serious damage to any of the boats.

There was a spectacular opening ceremony Sunday evening with representatives from all 56 countries raising their country flags and the Sheik raising the sail on the traditional sailing Dow in front of the club. It was televised live on local TV who have taken a very strong interest in the event.

Tent City Gossip.

There are over 500 sailors camped behind the club in tents provide by the Dubai International Marine Club, our hosts for the event.
Bad News Hughes from Australia was making so much noise in his sleep (both ends were offending) that his teammates picked up his bed with him still asleep in it and took it out and placed it in the open aread in the middle of the tented area, away from any sleepers.


Results Home Page | Report | Regatta standings as of today