Savills Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships 2025 at Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club
by Gordon Burgis 6 Aug 02:52 NZST
2-3 August 2025
Local crews took on the world's best for sailing supremacy at the 34th edition of the Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships. The event was sponsored by Savills Jersey for a seventh year running and hosted by the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club.
A constant north easterly wind of 11 to 13kts along with blue sky and sunshine provided a buzz of anticipation as the Hobie teams rigged and prepared their boats at the Gunsite beach ready for the first of three races starting at 10:00am for each Hobie class participating: Hobie 18s, Wildcats, Tigers, Hobie 16s and Hobie Dragoons Juniors.
Sunday's racing, though cloudy, provided even better and faster racing conditions with the wind having turned completely and coming from a westerly direction blowing 15 to 17kts enabling the two handed crews to double trapeze around the long Championship courses in the wonderful sailing arena of St. Aubins bay, set by Race Officer Elaine Burgis and the race team on the Catamaran 'Spirit of Variety.'
Overall, conditions couldn't have been better for the six scheduled races to determine the winning teams in each racing category which included a world number three Hobie 16 team.
HOBIE 16 'A' FLEET
This was the largest class racing, after the first day it was the World number 3 team, Australians, Darren Smith and Claire Bisgood showing their racing pedigree in winning the three races, they went on to dominate the class taking all three races on Sunday, a clean sweep to give them the title, behind them there was battle royale between local crews Luke Paxton - Garnier with Steph Egan, Ollie Voak and crew Megan Roworth and Kai Surcouf and Liv Forbes.
At the end of Sunday there was only one point separating each team, the racing between them couldn't have been closer. Paxton-Garnier and Egan sailed into second with Surcouf and Forbes mounting a late charge on the second day to place third with Voak and Roworth just one point behind in fourth.
HOBIE 16 'B' FLEET
Oliver Cadin racing for the first time on a H16 with his experienced crew Kyla McDonagh, the Youth team put in a fine performance to win the 'B' Fleet. Bart Tkacz crewed by Paula, both sailing together for the first time upped their game on the second day to come second, in third was Ollie Haslam crewed by Dad Marc, in spite of a spectacular capsize in Sunday's racing they managed to retain their position.
HOBIE WILDCATS & TIGERS
At the end of the first days racing the top three teams were all on 8 points, Adrian Jesson and Paul Martin, Andy Hart and Antoine Bacquet, Simon Martin and Andy Frigot, this set a highly competitive scenario for Sundays racing which was fast and tight with the boats making full use of their big spinnakers on the downwind legs.
Jesson and Martin set the pace on Sunday winning the three races to take the trophy, Hart and Bacquet came in with three seconds to place second, Simon Martin and Andy Frigot achieved a credible third place. Graeme Monks and Julian Adamson on a Hobie Tiger were only a couple of points behind in fourth.
HOBIE DRAGOONS
This was Championships racing at its best for the young Junior teams competing on the 13ft Hobie Dragoons. With 4 firsts and a second Henry Edwards and brother George sealed victory in the class. Ava Martin sailing with Nat Winchester sailed well to come second. Cameron Castle with Rafael le Marquand and Luke Hayden and Charlie Hewgill sailing together for the first time, both teams finished on equal points with Castle and Le Marquand establishing third after countback.
Prize Giving took place at the RCIYC on Sunday evening where thanks and appreciation were extended to Savills for their wonderful support over the years and to the race, safety boat and beach teams who all contributed to make it a highly successful Championships.
ITV covered part of the event in a 2m37s video
HOBIE 16 'A' FLEET (top 6):
1st Darren Smith & Claire Bisgood
2nd Luke Paxton - Garnier & Steph Egan
3rd Kai Surcouf & Liv Forbes
4th Ollie Voak & Megan Roworth
5th Grant Neale & Karen Larose
6th Aaron le Cornu & Rachael Smith
HOBIE 16 'B' Fleet (top 3):
1st Oliver Cadin & Kyla McDonagh
2nd Bart Tkacz & Paula
3rd Ollie Haslam & Marc Haslam
HOBIE WILDCATS & TIGERS (top 3):
1st Adrian Jesson & Paul Martin
2nd Andy Hart & Antoine Bacquet
3rd Simon Martin & Andrew Frigot
HOBIE DRAGOONS Junior (top 3):
1st Henry Edwards & George Edwards
2nd Ava Martin & Nat Winchester
3rd Cameron Castle & Rafael le Marquand
Other awards:
HOBIE 16 YOUTH: Olly Hunt & Jamie Washington
HOBIE 16 WOMENS: Karen Roworth & Malin Martin
HOBIE 16 MASTERS: Aaron le Cornu & Rachael Smith
HOBIE 16 GRAND MASTERS: Grant Neale & Karen Larose