Hobie 16 - World Championships Overall

Til the end...

"My fate is in the jury's hands," said Claude Thélier, coming out the water at the end of the last race. The Guadeloupean, virtual world champion during the first heat of the day, was unlucky. Leading the first windward leg, the skipper and his crew Laurence Imbert, provisionally second after the morning's results were posted placing two points behind the leader, were surprised by the wind caused by an helicopter flying on top. They capsized and the crew was hurt. They pulled out of the race and made a protest. The crew also managed a fifth in the second race of the day. The world titles would be decided during the third and last heat of the day. Nobody knew, at this time, the judgement of the protest.

Three crews were fighting for the crown. The surprising François Morvan and Matthieu Vandame, and the Bride brothers completed the pretender's list. Whatever happened, the three places of the 14th Hobie Cat World Championship's podium must be occupied by French crews. They just had to out what order.

The last decisive heat, began with a general recall where our three heroes sailed in the middle of the fleet. The second start was, in a same way, mediocre for the three competitors but it turned in advantage of the young French crew, Morvan and Vandame, both 16 years old, ensured with self-control this last heat. Now students of the National School of Sailing, they controlled their pursuers and finished in 8th place. The Tahitians, at time dangerous, lead the group. Claude Thélier and Laurence Imbert couldn't do better than 25th place. The final result rests on the protest of the morning. The jury, after a long deliberation time, decided to give a place for the heat 15 corresponding at the average of all the heat: 8.4 points. Thélier and Imbert missed the title. Hervé and Thierry Bride, who were the most consistent were crowned Hobie Cat World Champions.

This 14th Hobie Cat Hobie 16 World Championship was a total success. The souvenir of the last championship here in Guadeloupe decided the IHCA (International Hobie Cat Association) to renew his trust to the CSBF, club who organized. The decision was historic; it was the first time that two championship where held at the same site. Conditions, just like in 93, were perfect during the twelve days of races. The wind always arrived, sometimes light, more often strong.

In total 223 sailors from 24 different countries took part in the Championship.

Overall Results:

Open World Championship (155 teams):

1st Hervé Bride/Thierry Bride
2nd Claude Thélier/Laurence Imbert
3rd François Morvan/Matthieu Vandame

Women's World Championship (15 teams):

1st Frédérique Pfeiffer/Françoise Dettling
2nd Ulla Becker/Dagmar Albers
3rd Birgit Krahe/Marie San Nguyen Canh

Youth World Championship (22 teams):

1st Matthieu Souben/Gurvan Bontemps
2nd Billy Besson/Jean-Baptiste Roger
3rd François Morvan/Matthieu Vandame

Master's Championship (11 crew starting):

1st Luis Gonzaga Machado/Lucimar Barbosa
2nd Hans Bress/Birgit Blum
3rd John Dinsdale/Camilla Dinsdale

More Information & Full Results: www.sailing.gp