Sailors get set for Hobie Epic

A SMALL fleet of 16 adrenaline-driven sailors will embark on the annual Hobie Epic race this Saturday, which starts in Richards Bay and heads down to Durban.

The race is hosted by the Northern Region Hobie Catamaran club, in association with the Point Yacht Club, and is the sixth hard-core downwind race. Eight small catamarans will launch from the banks of the Zululand Yacht Club and trek along the coast down to the Point Yacht Club’s beach site along 200km of open water. The fleet hopes to set off in a decent easterly that is predicted to fill in this weekend. The start is scheduled for 6am in Richards Bay.

Defending champion, Mark Wijtenburg, will be sailing with his son, Brandon, on their Hobie Tiger. Joining them in that class are Charles Girard and Gary Hubach; Kobus Fourie and Mark Teasedale; and Mark Kopel and Julian Power. The lone Hobie 16 entered is being helmed by Emil Burger. Zak van Reenen and Wesley Chapman will be sailing a Hobie 16 fitted with a spinnaker. Jacques Kleyn and Arnold Raath will be racing their Tornado while Mark Nicholls will sail with Durban’s Struan Campbell.

Hobie representative, Peter Hall, said, “We have been keeping an eager eye on the conditions for ages now, and the wind looks to be good for the long hard slog. General conditions that can be expected are from 15 to 30 knots of wind and reasonably choppy seas. This event is one the most challenging extreme small cat sailing events available. Last year the race was blown out, so we are eager to get out into the big blue and do this long-distance race.”

All boats are fitted with tracking devices to keep an eye on them, with race support shadowing them as they sail along the coastline.

Hall has won the event five times on his Hobie 16, and fellow sailor, Mark Wijtenburg, has dominated the event in the Hobie Tiger division. This gruelling event takes the small crafts along one of the most treacherous coastlines in the world. “The guys get off the water and are exhausted, both physically, and mentally drained. But the experience is well worth the demands of the adventure. In a word, it is epic,” Hall concluded.

To follow the race, go to www.pyc.co.za or like the club’s Facebook page.