Hobie 16 NAs 2014 & Panams Qualifier: Jason Hess-Irene Abascal 1st

Main & below Mark & Grace Modderman by Mike Walker Photography / US Panam Multihull. Left:Jason Hess & Irene Abascal by Ron MacArthur / Capegazette.com. Galleries at Capegazette.com  & Walkerphotography.ca —
Jason Hess & Irene Abascal from Guatemala took first place at the 2014 Hobie 16 NAs. Guatemala, US and Puerto Rico grabbed their spots for next 2015 Panams. Next November the South Americans will grant 3 more places. As Mexico didn´t qualified in this event the info I got is they will attend the SAs. This will put extra pressure to crews from Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela to secure their tickets for next Panams.  The US team is yet to be decided after Modderman finished 2nd clinching their country slot for Toronto 2015.

Report below sent by David Brooks/HobieClass.
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Lewes, DE (September 27, 2014): “The 44th Hobie 16 North American
championships concluded on Friday with Jason Hess and Irene Abascal from Club Los Sauces, Guatemala taking the title. Mark and Grace Modderman from Long Branch, New Jersey followed in 2nd place and Pedro Colon and Monica Cabrera from Puerto Rico in third winning the tie break over Dan Borg and Liana Giovana from Canada.

Nine races were completed with 4 races held on the last day of the regatta. An early fall Nor’easter wreaked havoc on the regatta, postponing races for 2 days. The competitors were greeted to a beautiful day for the last day of racing with sunshine and Northerly winds that started out near 18 knots and faded during the day.

The event is also a Pan Am Games Country qualifier, with the top team from the top 3 countries (not including the host country, Canada) qualifying for the 2015 Pan Am games to be held in Toronto, Canada. The top three nations are Guatemala, United States and Puerto Rico. The top three US teams are Mark and Grace Modderman(2nd), Rich McVeigh and Carol Hilk (6th) and Paul and MaryAnn Hess (7th). The US representative to the Pan Am games is still to be determined.”
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Top Ten. Full Results at www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_regatta_results.php?regatta_id=7949&show_crew=1