Hobie Worlds 2014: Youth fleet

Image: Hobie Australasia. Report sent by Steve Fields: “Today was day two of the Hobie® Grand Masters, Women and Youth classes. The morning got off to a slow start with the sailors being held at the beach due to light south winds.
In the afternoon however, Jervis Bay turned on the charm once again, bringing with it sunshine a sea breeze of 10-15 knots and the sailors were on the water by 2:30 for a sensational afternoon of racing.
The Hobie Womens and Youth Classes started first and took full advantage of the Jervis Bay afternoon nor’easter and stayed on the water for two races completing racing for the Hobie Womens and Hobie Youth classes for the day.

Hobie Youth Class
Series leaders Daniel Bjornholt and Felix Grech f
rom Denmark came from behind out of the start line securing the lead at the weather mark and taking it all the way home in race 3. Second place went to Australians, Paul Darmanin and Lucy Copeland from New South Wales, who were followed by New Caledonians Thomas Enguerrand and Thomas Cyriaque for a place in the top 3.

It was double trouble in race 4 with the series leaders brother, Nicolaj Bjornholt from Denmark skippering to victory while crew, Trine Bentzen took care of the steering. The pair were fast off the line and lead wire to wire followed by West Australians, Guy Birchall and Tayla Woodhead. Daniel Bjornholt and Felix Grech overall series leaders came in to take out third.

Hobie Womens Class
The Australians took the top three spots in race 3 with Pip Pietromonaco and Josie Mark from Victoria having the lead all the way to the last downwind leg when they were passed by Bella Zanesco and Jesse Dobie from New South Wales to win, Pietromonaco managed to hold on to second while Victorians, Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes took out third in what would be a repeat of the same names across the first three races of the series.

Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes inspired by their third place in race 3 went on to take victory in race 4 smashing it straight out of the gate all the way to the line. Second place went to Germans, Kerstin Wichardt and Sarah Schütte while third place was taken by the Australians Pip Pietromonaco and and Josie Mark from Victoria.

The Hobie Grand Masters got to take the afternoon off and will return to the race venue bright and early tomorrow morning to complete their series.”

For race results, photos and videos, head to hobieworlds.com to check out all the action!