RCIYC Hobie Fleet Love Wine 'Summer Breeze' Series at St. Aubin's Bay, Jersey
by Gordon Burgis 8 Aug 2018 23:06 NZST
May - August 2018
Hobie 16 start during the Love Wine 'Summer Breeze' Series in Jersey © Elaine Burgis
The RCIYC Hobie Fleets Love Wine 'Summer Breeze' series came to a close last Sunday. The last two races were held in almost perfect sailing conditions, with a temperature of 27 degrees the crews revelled in the force 3 to 4 warm easterly wind flying along at speed just off the beach in St. Aubin's bay, providing almost stadium type racing for the watching beach goers.
A fully attended BBQ and Prize giving on the Sun Terrace at the Club in the afternoon, certainly made it a day to remember. The 12 race series which started in early May produced mostly light to moderate wind sailing conditions over the period. This year's event saw a record 30 boats entered in the various Hobie Classes.
HOBIE 16 'A' FLEET CLASS
In this the largest class entry, four teams were in the mix for a podium position after the half way point, Gordon Burgis and crew Kenny Snell, Grant Neale and Karen Larose, South African helm Stuart Mc Cue and Julia Dziegiel and Elsa Swetenham and Owen Harper. Racing was close and competitive with all teams posting firsts and other good results at times during the series, but it was Burgis and Snell who emerged triumphant, with four winning races and several seconds helping cement their win. Neale and Larose were second, McCue and Dziegiel third, Youth team Swetenham and Harper sailed well throughout to place fourth and win the Hobie 16 Youth prize.
HOBIE 16 'B' FLEET
The 'B' Fleet ended up very much a two boat race with two Youth helms competing for the top prize, Declan Flambard and Megan McDonagh and Gemma Newman crewed by John Vautier. Flambard and McDonagh set a fast pace winning every race, with a impressive nine counting firsts it was an empathetic victory which also catapulted them into the 'A' Fleet for the forthcoming Winter series. Newman and Vautier sailed well and were close at times, but couldn't pass the leaders. Newcomers to Hobie sailing, Jonathan McDonagh and Nick Holt showed promise mixed with determination to come third in their first racing series.
HOBIE WILDCATS & TIGERS COMBINED
With both classes on a similar handicap racing together, It was Andy Hart and Mike Kinross on their Hobie Wildcat who edged the hotly contested racing, winning the Hobie 18 event from Darren Stower and Graeme Monks also on a Wildcat who had achieved seven first places and a second, they missed a counting race which pushed up the score and out of top spot contention by just one point. Adrian Jesson and Paul Martin sailed consistently into third closely followed by Jimmy Fullerton and Perry Stone, again only a point separating the two teams.
HOBIE DRAGOON CLASS
The Junior racing turned out to be very close, with the leader board changing regularly as the series progressed. It was Finlay Arenz sailing with Juliette Walton who set the pace and eventually sealed top spot. Will Dengate and Archie de Carteret were on their tail, just one point behind them in second. Brothers Archie and Jamie Willetts have improved their racing skills and did well to come third after missing some races. Else Blakeley and Lena Holden upped their game in the latter races giving them a fourth overall.
Prizes were presented at the RCIYC Hobie Fleet Summer BBQ where the Race team, Guard boat crews and the Beach team were thanked for their support during the series, appreciation and thanks were also extended to Sponsors Love Wine for once more supporting this major event in the Fleets sailing calendar.