32nd Savills Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships

by Gordon Burgis 14 Jun 2023 18:41 BST 10-11 June 2023

A flat calm sea with virtually no wind greeted the Hobie crews as they started their preparation and rigging at the Gunsite beach ready for the first races in the 32nd Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships, sponsored for a fifth year by Savills Estate Agents and hosted by the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club.

The Jersey Met Office prediction of wind filling in by 11:00am proved spot on allowing racing to get started in a light westerly breeze after a one hour delay. The wind picked up throughout the morning providing excellent racing on the long Championship courses set by Race Officer Mike Seguss and his team on board Committee boat, the charity Catamaran Spirit of Variety.

With the promise of a more wind on Sunday morning there was a tangible buzz around the beach as the crews rigged their boats in anticipation of the final days three races to decide the winners in the various Hobie Class categories, Hobie 16s, Wildcats and Dragoons. With a force 3 west to north west wind, clear skies and warm sunshine the racing proved competitive and tactical in the big wind shifts for the crews with positions changing as they played the shifts in the wide curve of the St. Aubin's Bay a wonderful sailing arena for such a Championships.

32nd Savills Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships - photo © Jack Clayden

HOBIE 16 'A' FLEET

This was the largest class with 18 boats entered. The racing was close and highly competitive over the two days, with the lead regularly changing after each race. Multi British Champion Andrew Boyd and crew Kim Troll ended the first day in the lead along with local team Aaron le Cornu and Rachael Smith with both teams on equal points, they were followed by the Youth team of Luke Paxton Garnier crewed by Olliver Boyle, next came Ollie Voak and Tom Hunt neck and neck on equal points with Grant Neale and Karen Larose.

With any one of those teams in with a title chance, Sunday's racing was all out in the superb conditions. Paxton Garnier and Boyle managed to keep Boyd and Troll and Le Cornu and Smith behind them in each of the three races proving triumphant for the Youth team taking their first C.I. Hobie 16 title, Boyd and Troll were just one point behind in second with Le Cornu and Smith placing third. Another Youth team, Will Dengate and Tamsin Ingram performed well on the Sunday to come a credible fourth.

HOBIE 16 'B' FLEET

Youth team Kai Surcouf and Finn Rogers dominated the class, sailing ahead in all races to win the 'B' Fleet trophy. Phil Richardson racing with his son William is steadily improving on the race course, their better results in Saturdays racing gave them second place, Miguel Arraya and Jono Beatty upped their game in Sundays racing, sailing well to take third in the class.

Polish team Bartosz Tkatz sailing with his brother Luke are quite new to H16 sailing but they are another team improving rapidly represented by their 4th place.

32nd Savills Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships - photo © Jack Clayden

HOBIE WILDCAT CLASS

The racing was fast and tight in the Wildcat class with the boats making full use of their big spinnakers on the downwind legs. By the end of Saturdays racing Andy Hart and Michael Kinross were leading Adrian Jesson and Paul Martin by one point with Darren Stower and Graeme Monks in third. The competition was fierce on Sunday with Hart and Kinross staying ahead of the fleet with a first and two seconds giving them the title, however Stower and Monks two firsts and a second elevated them above Jesson and Martin into second place, just one point behind the leaders.

Jesson and Martin were one point behind in third showing how close and competitive the Wildcat racing was over the two days.

32nd Savills Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships - photo © Jack Clayden

HOBIE DRAGOONS

This was Junior sailing at its best with the young teams enjoying fast and exhilarating racing on the 13ft Dragoons. Junior team Olly Hunt and Jamie Washington pulled out all the stops over the two days with a triumphant first place.

Young Lottie Ohlsson crewed by Dad Alex sailed very well considering it was only her second event, they came in second to Hunt and Washington winning the Dragoon Open trophy, second in the Junior crews was Lucas McCallister and Thomas Allo, their first and a second on Sunday making the difference, Third place went to Henry Edwards crewed by Gabriel Riley on Saturday and Ilya McCarthy on Sunday, again a crew with limited experience sailing multihulls but they persevered with a well placed third.

Alf Barrowcliffe crewed by Ilya McCarthy could only compete on the Saturday but did enough to come fifth overall. Apart from the racing a special highlight for the Cadets was His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor paid a visit to the beach on Sunday morning to chat to them and wish them well in the racing.

32nd Savills Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships - photo © Jack Clayden

A prizegiving took place at the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club on Sunday evening where thanks and appreciation were extended to the race team, safety boats and mark-laying crews, the beach team and to Savills for their valued sponsorship and support of a highly successful Championships. Trophies were presented by Geri O'Brien Managing Director of Savills Jersey.

HOBIE 16 'A' FLEET (top 6):

1st Luke Paxton Garnier & Olliver Boyle
2nd Andrew Boyd & Kim Troll
3rd Aaron le Cornu & Rachael Smith
4th Will Dengate & Tamsin Ingram
5th Ollie Voak & Tom Hunt
6th Rob & Ronnie McAllister

HOBIE 16 'B' FLEET (top 3):

1st Kai Surcouf & Finn Rogers
2nd Phillip Richardson & William Richardson
3rd Miguel Arraya & Jono Beaty

HOBIE WILDCATS (top 3):

1st Andy Hart & Michael Kinross
2nd Darren Stower & Graeme Monks
3rd Adrian Jesson & Paul Martin

HOBIE DRAGOONS Junior (top 3):

1st Olly Hunt & Jamie Washington
2nd Lucas McAllister & Thomas Allo
3rd Henry Edwards & Gabriel Riley/Ilya McCarthy