Port Elizabeth is steadily laying claim to the title of the “Watersport Capital” as one more event is added to a packed April 2012. The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals will join the Weekend Post Ocean Racing Series, Splash Festival and the Specsavers Ironman as premier events showcasing Port Elizabeth as an excellent watersport venue.
The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Sailing Nationals will be sailed off Hobie Beach, which was named for the Hobie catamarans, from 27 to 30 April 2012. “We are extremely excited to be a part of this water sport and foresee a fantastic weekend on 27 to 30 April,” said Mr Clifford Ngakane, General Manager of the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Centre.
Sailing teams, each consisting of a skipper and one crew member, will sail in identical boats on courses laid just off of Shark Rock Pier making for a close and exciting spectacle.
The Algoa Bay Yacht Club will be providing on and off water support during the Nationals. The racing will be conducted by Race Officer, Ronnie Baer who will be supported with a crew that cut its teeth on the Hobie 16 Worlds held during 2005 on Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth. That event received unqualified thumbs up from international sailors for the perfect sailing conditions and friendly people.
The Hobie 16 is by far the largest multihull class in the world with active racing in all parts of the world.
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) have chosen to use the Hobie 16 in all ISAF World Games. It is the multihull that is used in all Regional, National and Continental Games where a multihull is to be sailed. The Hobie 16 is also the current ISAF Youth World boat. This makes the Hobie 16 the logical choice for an easy transition into the Olympics by many countries.
Diarise 27 to 30 April and come celebrate the Hobie Beach culture.
On Saturday 10 March, members of the media were taken out on a rubber duck to see the Captain of the Boardwalk, Clifford Ngakane and Caley Philips get a chance to experience the thrill of Hobie 16 Sailing – the smiles in the images below are enough to convince anyone to give Hobie Sailing a go.
Clifford Ngakane and Andrew Ward with Bird Rock in the Background
Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals
Paula Archibald – Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals
Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals
Andrew Ward and Cliford Ngakane take a break
Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals
Clifford Ngakane and Andrew Ward with the Town Lodge in the Background
Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals
Paula Archibald sails past Hobie Beach and the new Boardwalk Construction
Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals
Thumbs Up from Caley Philips with Andrew Ward at the helm
Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals
Kaptein, Span Die Seile – Clifford Ngakane and Andrew Ward on a Hobie 16
NO, Leon is not smiling for his own photo!
Coming up next for local media is a sunset cruise as knowledgable Hobie and ABYC sailors educate our media mavens in the fine art of sailing.
Editor’s Notes: Now if we can successfully bid as a host city for the Volvo Ocean Race then we can look forward to spectacular close inshore racing when the Volvo ocean going yachts reach our neck of the woods. In addition we will get immense international exposure for the incredible watersport opportunities offered by Algoa Bay.
