Complete Change Of Weather At Hobie Championships

By Di Pearson

Day 3 at the various Hobie championships at Sail Melbourne was in complete contrast to yesterday and Day1, which was abandoned due to high winds and seas.

The sun came out on Port Phillip Bay today, the breeze was light, there was little swell, just the short sharp chop that is often in evidence on the Bay. The mood was good amongst the competitors at the host venue, Port Melbourne Yacht Club and off came the winter woollies.

Mark Laruffa and Dave Silvester (Vic) continued their assault of the Hobie Tiger Championships after today’s four races. The pair scored two 3rd places; a win and a second today for a marginal lead of four points over Olympian Darren Bundock and Alexandra Goltz (NSW). The latter pair went 2-1-2-1 today.

‘Yes, Bundy is the one to beat, we have to shake him, the others that were at the top had mixed results today,’ Laruffa said.

A talented sailor who has lived all over Australia and in Papua New Guinea, 44 year-old Laruffa started his career late; at age 21. He owns at least three National Hobie 16 titles and had scored numerous second and third placings at World Championship events. ‘Yes, too many seconds – I’m after that elusive win,’ the 44 year old commented after sailing today.

Back on track for a tilt at the title, Laruffa says, ‘I’ve sailed with lots of different people, but Dave is the best to sail with and we’re going to the Tiger Worlds next year. It would be great to win one.’

Recent good results that bode well for his and Silvester’s worlds campaign include a third at the F18 Worlds in Italy, followed by a win at the F18 German national championships.

Of today, Laruffa said it was tactically challenging. ‘We got around 12 knots in the morning, but this afternoon it had died and got a maximum of 8-10. The wind oscillated and there were a lot of pressure changes. You really had to concentrate,’ he explained on coming ashore.

Neville Thompson/Shamus Stevens (Qld) are third placed in the Tigers with 24 points.

In the Hobie 17 Worlds, Aaron Worrall (Vic) is the outstanding player and his results today, which included winning the two afternoon races, put him on 13 points, eight points clear of second placed Dan Kulkoski (USA), whom Worrall knew would be a threat from Day 1.

Backing Kulkoski up, fellow American, Greg Raybon, also fancied for the title, is third overall, just five points behind Raybon, with defending National champion, Ron McDonald (Vic) just two points away in fourth. This will be a fight to the finish.

Brad Sumner/Belinda Walkom (NSW) remain unbeaten and have a huge lead in the Hobie 18 Worlds. They are 23 points clear of their nearest rivals, Josh Newman/Jackie Gibson (NZL), whose best result today was a second place. Brothers Richard and Michael Quinn (AUS) are third, just two points behind second place.

In the Hobie 16 Australian and Asia Pacific Championships, world champion, Pamela Noriega/Andrea Mier Y Teran (MEX) firmed their chances in the Womens event, winning three out of four races to take an eight point lead over Belinda Zanesco/Karen Todd (AUS). They managed three 2nd’s and a third place, but have been unable so far to beat Noriega. Naomi Angwin/Fiona Douglas (AUS) are third, but eight points away from second place.

In the Youth non-spinnaker division, current world champion Jerome Legal and Clement Merzeau (FRA) has been outstanding, winning all four races today. Second place also goes to the French, with Brice Pelen/Elliot Carpin second placed, but are seven points behind and will find it difficult to play catch up. Chris Hancock/Haylee Williams are waving the banner for Australia in third place.

In the Youth spinnaker division, Taylor Booth, son of Olympic champion Mitch Booth, has taken the lead away from Evan Walker/Kyle Langford in a tie break situation. Sailing with Bridget Waterhouse, who comes from a sailing family and is a seasoned sailor in her own right, Booth managed to do today what he wanted to do yesterday; he won all four races to be on equal 10 points with Walker/Langford, showing the sailing pedigree is in the blood.

This will be a good tussle as the series wears on and third placed Jake Lurati//Richard Kirton (AUS) will have their work cut out to get back into contact with the top two, trailing them by 13 points.

In the Masters, Kerli and Ali Corlett (NSW) have outsailed their fleet so far and three further wins today puts them eight points ahead of second placed Bruce Tardrew/Sarah Turnbull (Qld), with Grahame Southwick/Claire Fender third, just five points behind team Tardrew.

Provisional Results:

Hobie Tiger

1 Mark Laruffa/Dave Silvester (AUS) 11

2 Darren Bundock/Alexandra Goltz (AUS) 15

3 Neville Thompson/Shamus Stevens (AUS) 24

4 Andrew Keag/Sam Reid (AUS) 26

5 Mal Gray/Adrian Fawcett (AUS) 39

Hobie 17

1 Aaron Worrall (AUS) 13

2 Dan Kulkoski (USA) 21

3 Greg Raybon (USA) 26

4 Ron Mcdonald (AUS) 28

5 Matthew Burgess (AUS) 34

Hobie 18

1 Brad Sumner/Belinda Walkom (AUS) 7

2 Josh Newman/Jackie Gibson (NZL) 30

3 Richard Quinn/Micheal Quinn (AUS) 32

4 Geoff Fiske/Sarah Hollands (AUS) 44

5 Gordon Barrett/Jenni Duthie (AUS) 49

Hobie 16 – Youth Non-Spinnaker

1 Jerome Legal/Clement Merzeau (FRA) 8

2 Brice Pelen/Elliot Carpin (FRA) 14

Chris Hancock/Haylee Williams (AUS) 20.

4 Seb Eyssartier/Maxime Cardarelly (FRA) 25

5 Michael Peterson/ Barney Johnson (AUS) 33

Hobie 16 – Youth – Spinnaker

1 Taylor Booth/Bridget Waterhouse (AUS) 10

2 Evan Walker/Kyle Langford (AUS) 10

3 Jake Lurati/Richard Kirton (AUS) 23

4 Jonathon English/Kurt Griffiths (AUS) 29

5 Tobi Gibson/John Bange (AUS) 36

Hobie 16 – Womens

1 Pamela Noriega/Andrea Mier Y Teran (MEX) 7

2 Belinda Zanesco/Karen Todd (AUS) 15

3 Naomi Angwin/Fiona Douglas (AUS) 23

4 Kathy Kulkoski/Judy Raybon (USA) 28

5 Jesse Dobie/Danielle Pascoe (AUS) 38

Hobie 16 – Masters

1 Kerli Corlett/Ali Corlett (AUS) 7

2 Bruce Tardrew/Sarah Turnbull (AUS) 15

Grahame Southwick/Claire Fender (FIJ)_ 20

4 Murray Peterson/Katie Peterson (AUS) 26

5 Allan Pitts/Chase Lurati (AUS) 34

For full results go to the official Sail Melbourne website: www.sailmelbourne.com.au

By Di Pearson – Sail Melbourne – phone: 0410 792 131