The Hobie 16 Worlds - Action Starts Tomorrow

Racing starts on Wednesday for the Women’s, Youth, Master and Grand Masters World Championship. The Forecast is for partly cloudy skies with a high of 87oF with winds from the East Northeast at 12 mph.

Who to watch:

The venue.

In the Women’s the defending World Champions from France Lauren Pelen and Lea Jeandott will be on the starting line ready to defend their title. To do that they will have to hold off their French teammate and winner of the ISAF World in the Hobie 16 class Marie Duvignac sailing with Pauline Thevenot.

Bronze medallist from the ISAF Worlds Susan Korzeniewsi sailing with Kathleen Tracy (USA) will be looking for her first World Championship victory.

Annie Nelson, sailing with Eliza Cleveland, will be making her return to the Hobie 16 class after winning the Women’s Worlds in 1995.

The youth helms who finished first second and third at the last World Championships will all be in Mexico for the 2002 Youth Worlds.

Defending Youth World Champion from Australia Robbie Loving will be sailing with Sarah Holland. Christophe Relaud (FRA) second in 2002 will be sailing with Alban Rossollin. Third in 2002 was Brice Pelen also from France he will be sailing with Loraine Beaumont.

The best hope for a good US finish most likely lies with Bret Sullivan and Samantha Simon from New Jersey.

In the Masters Kerli and Ali Corlett will be the team to beat as the highest placing returning team from the 2002 Masters Worlds. They finished third in 2002. To win they will have to beat New Zelands Rex Sellers and Bev Sellers. Rex Sellers is a Gold ('84) and Silver ('88) medallist in the Tornado class.

Bruce Tardrew and Sarah Turnbull (AUS) finished second in the Grand Masters in 2002 and will be in Mexico They will be challenged by Brazilian Luiz Gonzaga Machado, winner of the 200 Masters Championship sailing with Carlos Motta in the Grand Masters in Mexico