Impact of Cyclone Narelle causes reschedule to Hobie Week Exmouth
by Susan Ghent 9 Apr 22:13 BST
25 September - 2 October 2026
Hobie 16 AUS Champions Cam Owen Susan Ghent © Jordan Roberts / Down Under Sail
The first Hobie Week Exmouth was due to be held in April 2026 with a full week of sailing, social activities and local touring. A bucket list destination and a Hobie sailing event not to miss.
One thing that sailors cannot control is the weather, and this time it had other plans for the regatta. With Exmouth closed to tourism as the town focuses on rebuilding and recovery after the impacts of a severe tropical cyclone, Hobie Week Exmouth has been rescheduled to September.
After wreaking havoc across the north of the country, Tropical Cyclone Narelle threatened communities in the Kimberley region of Western Australia crossing as a tropical low. As is it barreled down the Pilbara coast the cyclone intensified and reformed, the second time since reliable records that a severe tropical cyclone has made landfall in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. As a category 4 system, the cyclone passed over the North West Cape causing extensive damage to the town of Exmouth. Roofs were torn off, heavy rain fell, wind gusts reached 250 kilometers an hour and the muddy storm surge threatened the marina. The town of Exmouth was left in a mess, major damage to infrastructure, roads cut off by flooding and the airport closed to all but emergency services.
In the days after, the tourism hotspot had to reluctantly close its doors to tourism on the eve of peak season.
The members of Exmouth Yacht Club had prepared their clubhouse and grounds for the storm and she fared well. Reporting after the weather event, the Club was thankful for no major structural damage. The water surge had reached the clubhouse and boat shed and the building looked like she'd been in a sandblasting tunnel, but things were pretty good considering. It was recognised that steps taken by a previous Committee led by Past Commodore and Life Member Peter Eves had protected the Club, possibly saved it. Following Cyclone Vance, a significant rock barrier had been built between the clubhouse, grounds and the beach, they knew that eventually Cyclone Narelle would come.
Locals in Exmouth have an amazing community spirit and this shines bright during a disaster. While working hard on their own homes, businesses and around town, the volunteers have thrown energy in to the Club too, shoveling, cleaning, painting and tidying up. Exmouth Yacht Club is starting to look incredible again and they look forward to hosting Hobie Week Exmouth when the whole town is back at its best.
Commenting on behalf of Exmouth Yacht Club, Commodore Pete West said "Hobie Week Exmouth is going to be a celebration of sailing, the Hobie fleet is a great class with great people and we have our community behind this exciting event. We are really looking forward to hosting it but right now we are not able to give the people the experience we want to achieve. We are so grateful to the Hobie community for the decision to reschedule to September rather than cancel us and go somewhere else. It's going to be fun and we will be ready, with Exmouth at its finest and the full attention of our team. We will return this trust in spades."
Hobie Week Exmouth will begin with the welcome day on Friday 25 September. Many sailors will make the 1250kms journey from the states capital city, Perth, up the Coral Coast Highway on a scenic journey to remember. Fleet 710 in Western Australia spreads wide over the large state with teams expected to travel from Geraldton in the mid-west, the south-west and great southern regions too. With charter boats available and the reschedule to September, it provides another chance to those who were realising they should be attending.
The event incorporates the Pitts Design and Construction 50th WA Hobie 16 State Championships and racing will be held on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27. There will be a Discover Sailing on a Catamaran Day and Hobie Wave sailing for kids to follow the championship event. Tuesday will be the North West Cape Return Marathon, a casual cruise in company up the coast of the Exmouth Gulf and back to Exmouth Yacht Club. That evening will be the Hobie Black Tie on the Beach party and presentation. Running through until Friday 2 October there will be more fun sailing, catamaran training for youth sailors, local touring, snorkeling with the local wildlife, Ningaloo Reef tours and plenty of socialising with live music, great food and beverage and good company at Exmouth Yacht Club.
A beautiful destination event coordinated by the Hobie Cat Association of WA in partnership with Exmouth Yacht Club. Taking Hobie sailors on a journey to the jewel of Exmouth, gateway to the Ningaloo Reef and the perfect base to explore the wonders of the Cape Range National Park. Sailing from Exmouth Yacht Club, the fleet may even be joined by manta rays, turtles, whale sharks, humpback whales and other curious sea creatures.
Find out more on the Hobie WA website or visit Exmouth Yacht Club and Hobie Cats Western Australia on social media.