News - Tuesday 1st November

PRESS RELEASE

DELIUS/WIESE-DOHSE WIN THIRD SEMI-FINAL RACE HOBIE 16 WORLDS

On Tuesday November 1 st 2005, Ingo Delius and Katrin Wiese-Dohse from Germany won the third race of the semi-finals for the 17 th Hobie 16 Worlds in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. They were first at the upwind mark and never lost their leading position in the battle with the US team of Bob Merrick and Mike Huang. Apparently, the Americans had bad luck with an OCS (early start). The South-Africans William and Lucinda Edwards took over the second place, followed by Paul Lagesse and Tyran Kerford (RSA). The fourth race, today's second, had to be cancelled again, due to a lack of wind.

Golden tack

According to the local weather forecast, the wind would set in at 2pm and it did. The race committee put in a short course of 3/4 of a mile, since they had to catch up on the racing schedule. Four teams were early over the line. Ingo Delius, Belgian and German Hobie 16 Champion 2005: “Today's strategy was to have a good start and we did. We had clean air, went outside and tacked at the right time, not too far out.” They rounded the weather mark in first position, followed by the Americans and the Brasilian team of Ricardo Navarro and Mequias Queiroz. Delius: “It was very tough to defend our place, because the Americans are very good sailors. The wind dropped already on the first beat. We went from double trapeze to floating. It picked up a little bit on the way down to the finish. That is why we gibed twice, because we wanted to go to the other boats that were further out on the ocean. They had more pressure.” Enrique Figueroa and Carla Malatrasi from Puerto Rico, yesterday's winners, came back from a nineth to a fourth place.

European competition

When Delius and Wiese-Dohse left Germany for the Hobie 16 Worlds in South-Africa, their goal was a top ten position. Delius: “We had a bad race yesterday, so it will be hard. But the score between us and the French boys Cédric and Yann is tied. We beat them in France and they won the Europeans in Germany. We read on the internet that they are aiming for a top five result here, so we actually have to do the same.”

A 30 knots wind has been reported from Cape Town, about 650 kilometers to the south. It is heading down to Port Elizabeth and will probably arrive tomorrow morning. The windy city will once again live up her name.

Today's result from race three:

1. GER - Delius / Wiese-Dohse
2. RSA – Edwards / Edwards
3. RSA – Lagesse / Kerford
4. PUR - Figueroa / Malatrasi
5. RSA – Fine / Wichardt

/// End

COLIN WHITEHEAD CONTINUES FAMILY TRADITION

As a 12-year old boy, Colin Whitehead from South Africa won the second Hobie Worlds ever, sailed in Texas in 1978. He crewed for his father Mick Whitehead at those days. Twenty-seven years later, Colin is competing with his own son Matthew, who is in the same age as his dad was at his first Hobie Cat 16 World Championship. According to Colin, H16 sailing has become a lot more competitive and serious: “I don't think the attitude has changed. It is still a fun loving fleet, but in order to win, you need to spend more hours on the water. The youngsters have become semi-professional, so it requires training to keep up with them.” What about the sailing techniques? “The boats have advanced and the crews know better how to sail them. We used to sail the mast more upright, but nowadays we depower. We are able to rigg properly.”

Former Worlds Champions remain competitive though. Colin: “The top fifteen to twenty hasn't really changed over the years. Many of the old guys are still good.” Is that a good or bad sign in terms of youth sailing? “In South Africa we do have a problem with youth, since there is no multihull program for them. That is different in Europe. Young French and British sailors are coming through now. My son is the youngest South Africa sailor.” Matthew just turned 12. Colin: “My daughter Kelly Michele cannot wait to get on the boat with me as well. I will probably sail with her, when Matthew has his own H16. Or she will team up with mam Tracy.” Colin and his wife participated in five Hobie 16 Worlds together.

What does Hobie 16 sailing mean to you? “It is a way of life”, responds Colin immediately. “It has always been that, and it will always be. Everybody else says the same, but it is true.” Can you explain this life? “It is about outdoors, adventure and excitement. It is a clean sport that can be joined by all people. If you don't know the scene, come to the beach and experience it yourself. Meet the sailors.”