It was a cold start to the first regatta of the 2024/25 QLD Hobie Traveller Series, 5 x Hobie 16’s and 1 x Hobie 14-Turbo showed up to contest division 2, despite the underwhelming forecast. Saturday’s schedule was for traditional windward/leeward course racing, where the fleet ended up with a 5-10 knot north-easterly breeze.
Day 1: Course Racing
Race 1 saw the fleet all start at the boat end of the line, and all the 16’s tacked off leaving Igor on the 14-Turbo going left – which was by far the favoured side of the course. The Brazilian wonder child lead on the Turbo to the top mark, followed by the Andrews sisters. The course was a ABC-AC-ABC – Finish. It took Shane & Tom till the third lap to catch up and cross the line first, followed by Carmen & Haylie with by Igor on the 14-T close behind. Anthony Smith sailing 3-up with Maddy & Archer on the front of the boat were close behind.
Race 2 saw a slight northerly shift making the pin a better start. Shane & Tom were on the pin with the rest of the boats about half way up the line. Shane & Tom led to the top mark but were passed downwind by Carmen & Haylie, before getting them back on the next windward. The results ended up being Shane & Tom followed by Andrews sisters, then Anthony w/ Maddy & Archer, followed by Christian & Tracy Parbst with Dave Chester & Tess Parbst rounding up the pack.
Day 2: Marathon
Sunday was a cold day with a 10-20 knot westerly on the forecast. The race was pretty much up and down the coast line which made for a perfect reach for the majority of the race – the wind continued to build all day and the fleet finished the marathon in record time. Shane & Tom finished up 1st leaving the rest of the fleet to battle out the minor places. There were a number of lead changes between Anthony w/ Maddy & Archer, Christian & Tracy and Dave & Tess. This ended up being a super fun race with the Hobie being the weapon of choice for the race, a lot of the bigger cats like the F18s had some wicked nose dives, while all the Hobies returned back to Humpybong safe and dry.
Overall a great start to the traveller series seeing a fleet of Hobies to a regatta that in previous years has had no Hobie representation at all.
Special congratulations to Igor for a very well sailed regatta finishing up 2nd overall in division 2 on yardstick.
Shane & Tom Peterson
