Hobie Tiger & Dragoon Worlds 2006 at Cangas, Spain - Day 1
by Diana Bogaards 25 Jul 2006 09:17 BST
24-28 July 2006
Tactical kick-off
On Monday July 24th 2006, the Hobie Tiger and Dragoon Worlds 2006 started with a two-hour delay. The racing committee postponed the race for safety reasons. Due to fog, the sight was less than a nautical mile. Besides, the breeze was very light and shifty. Around 13:15 hours, the competition started and both the Hobie Tigers and the Hobie Dragoons managed to sail three races. Thomas/Bernier (USA) leads the Hobie Tiger fleet and Domand/Chaussat (FRA) rules the Hobie Dragoon class.
When the fog cleared, the Hobie Tigers went out towards Vigo. The racing course was located in between a shipping channel and a ferry. The water was flat, and a light breeze was swinging from one direction to another, making it a tactical race.
Hobie Tiger: Thomas/Bernier
One team making the right decisions today, was Thomas/Bernier. Jacques Bernier: “When I saw the racing course this morning, with the fog, and the wind angle, it looked familiar to a place in Kingston (CAN), and I knew what to do.” He told Greg Thomas to sail to the far left of the field and that is how they won the first race. Apart from good tactics, they are used to light, choppy conditions in San Diego. Bernier: “It requires a special technique, which we master.” The second race, they did not have a good start, and one of their rudders would not go down anymore. Nevertheless, they managed to work their way up in the field. Bernier: “In one manoeuvre we passed seven boats. We tacked early when we saw a wind shift, and leebowing went by the others.”
Second race: Loos/Ruitenburg first
Gerard Loos and his crew got off well the second race. Loos: “I saw that the sky cleared up on the right-hand side, and some yachts sailing over there had good wind, so I decided to start starboard.” Thanks to this choice, and a sharp start, he was the first to cross the finish line. Loos and Ruitenburg, who have been sailing together for a year now, are a bit too heavy. “With this type of weather, we have to use our brains to sail a good race. Besides, we need to be very alert, exploit every gust of wind.” As Loos has sailed Hobie for twenty years, this race feels like a reunion for him: “The opening ceremony last night was great, it lasted until 2 o’clock in the morning. That´s only possible in Spain, or Belgium.” His goal for this week is to become the Hobie Tiger Worlds Master. “I´ll let the young fellows pass, as long as I can beat my old rivals”, Loos says jokingly.
Third race: argy-bargy at the starting line
The third race began with two recalls. After that, the I-flag was hoisted, to prevent the sailors from making a dip start. Mourniac/Citeau (FRA) got away quite well and won this last race with distance. Other teams complained that the starting line was biased towards starboard. Brenda Davies, who represents Asia together with her husband Peter: “Starboard was the favourable side of the course and of the line, so there was a lot of argy-bargy. Everyone was pushing around.” Nevertheless, Davies/Davies (HKG), who were the best Tiger team in the Hobie Asian Championships, like light conditions. Peter Davies: “It’s fun to play with the sheets and sail a tactical race.”
Dragoon: Spinnaker trouble
During the special briefing for the Dragoon youth, Perico Velon (ESP), who usually sails the optimist, admits he and his little brother have some problems hoisting the spinnaker: “What if the crew doesn´t get the spi up?” Their coach, Thorin Zeilmaker, tells him it´s a matter of technique, not of strength: “Try to use your legs.” But if it does not work, Perico will have to hoist the spinnaker himself, with a little help from his brother. However, this problem doesn´t keep the Spanish Dragoon sailors from being ambitious. Perico, before their first race: “We aim for a first or second place, but the English teams are good.” And it worked out: they ended second.
Waterhouse/Lurati
For James Waterhouse and Chase Lurati, Saturday was the first time ever they were sailing together. Moreover, it was their first time on a Dragoon. Despite all that, the one Australian Dragoon team ended second in their first race. Hobie 16 sailor Waterhouse: “We had a good start, but we tacked too early for the lay line, and had to make two extra tacks to reach the top mark.” They are enjoying Cangas, though the crew would prefer tougher conditions. Lurati: “Fifteen to twenty knots and big waves, that’s what I’m used to back home in Victoria.”
Hobie Tiger: (top five after 3 races)
1. Thomas/Bernier (USA), 6 points
2. Mourniac/Citeau (FRA), 9 points
3. Kearns/Burns (GBR), 26 points
4. Vaireaux/Romain (FRA), 29 points
5. Renaud de Malet/Alban Rossollin (FRA), 32 points
Dragoon: (top three after 3 races)
1. Vincent Domand and Eric Chaussat (FRA), 1 point
2. Adam Butler and Gilly Sutcliffe (GBR), 1 point
3. Agnus Furnaque and Ellie Furnaque (GBR), 1 point
More information at www.hobiecangas2006.com