Beauty and spirit of NSW South Coast sees Hobie 16 World Championships were a huge success

The pristine postcard perfect waters of the NSW South Coast, along with hard working and hospitable locals have helped see the Hobie 16 World Championships rated as a huge success.

After one and a half years in the planning, and with a 38 year legacy to uphold, Hobie Cat® Australasia has successfully held the world’s largest Hobie 16 World Championships in Jervis Bay, NSW Australia.

This global event, which was supported by The Hobie Cat Company World-Wide, The Shoalhaven City Council and Destination NSW, saw 901 Athletes from 24 countries travel from across the globe to Huskisson in Jervis Bay to compete in the 16 day regatta. Hobie Cat Australasia built the 60 Hobie 16 catamarans sailed in the event, and Hobie staff and a crew of volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure the event went off without a hitch.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, congratulated Hobie Cat Australasia on hosting the hugely successful event.

“The Hobie 16 World Championships was a major regional event on the 2014 NSW calendar, and the NSW Government is incredibly proud to have supported it through our tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.”

Mayor of Shoalhaven City Council, Joanna Gash, said: “Hosting this event was a tremendous coup for the local area. I can think of no more scenic backdrop for such a prestigious event than the beautiful surrounds of Jervis Bay, and it was great to see competitors, officials and spectators make time to explore the Shoalhaven during their stay.

Five World Champions were crowned across five classes during the regatta. South Africans William and Lucinda Edwards took out the Hobie 16 Masters, Australians Rod and Kerry Waterhouse from NSW claimed the Hobie 16 Grand Masters title, Bella Zanesco and one time Jervis Bay local Jesse Dobie picked up the Hobie 16 Women's crown, and Daniel Bjornholt and Felix Grech took the Hobie 16 Youth title home to Denmark. Gavin Colby and Josie Mark from Western Australia ultimately took the top prize in the Hobie 16 Open class with a 38 point lead over fellow Australians Cam Owen and Susan Ghent in second place and incumbent world champions Jerome Le Gal and Marco Iazzetta from New Caledonia who finished third.

Originating in Hawaii in 1976, the Hobie 16 World Championships are a One-Design class event that tests the skills of the world’s best twin hull catamaran sailors over 16 days in identical Hobie Cat 16 catamarans. The catamarans are rotated through the teams randomly to ensure no one boat and team ever has an advantage.

With the race won and beach back to its original pristine state, organisers are looking forward to the announcement of the 21st Hobie 16 World Championships, to be held in 2016.

For more info video and pictures visit www.hobieworlds.com