The Hobie 16 State Championships recently took place on the beautiful Lake Cootharaba over the October long weekend, with ideal flat-water racing conditions drawing a strong turnout. Day 1 featured stunning weather, highlighted by a north-westerly breeze that shifted into a brisk 20-knot north-easterly sea breeze, enabling a full day of competitive racing.
Team Bates started the weekend in fine form, taking home all the bullets and holding their lead through the end of Day 2. The competition was fierce, with only 11 points separating second through seventh places after the second day of racing. The glamorous NE sea breeze allowed Pelican & Hannah to showcase some epic starts, while Shane & Tom Peterson impressed the fleet with his skilful boat handling.
On Day 2, the race committee faced challenges with lighter winds, initially attempting a race but ultimately abandoning it and sending sailors ashore to wait in hope of more breeze. After calling off racing for the day, the breeze finally arrived, and the sailors’ enthusiasm encouraged the race committee to re-set the course and fit in two more races.
Day 3 began slowly, with many sailors practicing handstands on the trapeze, walking around in the shallow water, and rafting up. As the sea breeze filled in and picked up, so did the excitement. Multiple teams had memorable moments, showcasing not only their skills but also the joy of sailing together in such a picturesque setting. Heading into the last day, the regatta was practically secured by Team Bates, but there was still plenty to play for in the minor positions. A surprise one-race cameo by Ricky Way, who took the tiller from Anthony Smith and managed a second-place finish (with some coaching from David Woods), had everyone wondering why he doesn’t have a boat of his own.
The regatta wrapped up with everyone feeling a bit sore from the long weekend but highly satisfied with both the racing and the breeze, all expertly managed by the fantastic team at Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club, who took full advantage of Queensland’s perfect weather. With the season still unfolding, everyone is already looking forward to the next opportunity to gather on the water, make more memories, and enjoy the thrill of sailing.
