Vistra 2015 Hobie Asian Championships

Report & Pics sent by Peter Frauchiger – 
“Thai team retain iron grip on Hobie Asian Championships:
Top Thai team, Damrongsak and Kitsada Vongtim  (Photo Left ), firmly held off all local and overseas contenders at the Vistra 2015 Hobie Asian Championships held in blustery conditions on October 10- 11th outside Tai Tam Bay, Hong Kong. The team have proved almost invincible in Asia on a Hobie 16 over recent years having won a long string of titles to their names as well as a Top 10 placing in the last year’s Hobie 16 World Championships.

Over 30 teams competed in the two day event, drawing entries from Thailand, Japan and the Philippines. Moderate winds on the first day enabled the Race Officer to run five back to back races but slight fluctuations in wind direction changed the favoured side of the course and kept sailors on the toes trying to pick out the best line. Local sailor, Gavin Sum tacked early after the start of the first race to benefit from a lift which gave him a healthy lead at the A mark. Managing to hold off a chasing fleet for the remainder of the race allowed him to score an unexpected, but warmly congratulated victory. Said Gavin “I was a bit fortunate on the first beat and got a big jump on everyone, then just did the same thing again!”

Fresher conditions on the second day started to test the mettle of the fleet, and whilst the Vongtim team continued to stamp their authority, Tong Shing and crew Kit Tong were able to put together a more consistent set of finishes, recovering to second place overall. Karl Chan and Gary Ku did enough to finish third, squeezing out the other Thai team of Teeraprong Watiboonruang and Pasuree Sompalasin for fourth. In the IAE Open Catamaran races held at the same time, Mike Scantlebury and Dave Harris were rarely troubled in their F18 Wildcat.

As well as rewarding the top three in each fleet, Race Officer, Jerry Rollin also gave out prizes for mishaps that many sailors were probably hoping to keep quiet about, including pre -race capsizes, missed starts and crews falling through the mainsail.” —