Palm Beach Sailing Club sent twenty teams to the Hobie 16 World Championships in Fiji, which started with the Youth, Women, Masters and Grandmasters divisions on the 9th October and followed with the Open qualifications on the 12th. This was an unprecedented level of representation by any club in World competition, an amazing feat in itself.

The site of the Hobie 16 World Titles was once the old Suva flying boat base. A large area of land had been reclaimed, sand has been brought in to from beaches, a racing headquarters was built and the whole area was attractively landscaped. There was also a mini arts village on the site. Several Bure (traditional thatched houses) showcased a diversity of Fiji's cultural heritage and the exceptional talents of local contemporary artists. There was weaving, bark cloth making, carving, pottery and music and dance. Daily shows presented music and dance talent and activities for children including story telling and painting. Two weeks prior to the opening ceremonies, the venue was just a work in progress with a muddy rockfilled bay. With the help of sponsors, the ministry of Tourism and the organisational support of Hobie Australasia and the local Hobie Fleet a truly international sporting complex has been constructed.

Sixty brand new boats were built by Hobiecat Australasia in their NSW South Coast factory and put together by a team of factory and dealership experts at the Worlds site in Fiji. The competitors were unanimous in their praise for the quality of the boats used during the World titles, a great testament to the efforts of the predominantly Australian "production" team.

The opening ceremony was probably the most spectacular of any World Titles with Fijian dance groups performing traditional dances and welcoming ceremonies.

What transpired since the start of competition amazed the Hobie sailing world, with Palm Beach Sailing Club winning two World Championships and 14 teams placing in the top 20 across the Women, Youth, Master, Grandmaster and Open divisions.

Kerli and Ali Corlett are the new World Grandmaster Champions, winning the event from long time friendly rivals, Harry Handley from New Zealand and Bruce Tardrew from Queensland in the very last race, having carried an "over the line early" penalty from the first race. Kerli and Ali have won many national and state titles but never in their 32 years of racing have they won a World Title.

Jason Waterhouse and Michael McCormick are the new World Youth Champions, dominating their Division with 5 firsts and a 4th to take the title convincingly. This title goes along with their Bronze medal in the recent ISAF World Youth Championships in Canada and Jason's Hobie Dragoon World title. Finishing in third was Taylor Booth and Lucinda Crisp. Taylor is the son of Australia's Olympic Tornado bronze medallist, Mitch Booth. Local sailors Jeremy Roberts and Bridget Waterhouse finished in 6th place.

In the Master division, veterans Rod and Kerry Waterhouse finished 3rd with Brett Dryland and Carina Cartwright 6th and club stalwarts Upu Kila sailing with Brad Wilson and Anthony Duchatel sailing with Natalie Matkovic finishing 9th and 11th respectively in a hot field. Rod and Kerry put on a truly masterful display of sailing on the last day of competition. They had been languishing in 15th position until their children, Jason and Bridget, finished their Youth campaigns. It seemed as though they just took off once the pressure was off "their" Youths, controlling the 56 boat start line and winning the last three races on the trot.

In the Women's division, Belinda (Bella) Zanesco and Brodie Torika placed 11th and Sarah Pipes and Kate Stanley placed 19th.

Mick Butler and Susan Etherington from Vincentia Sailing Club, Palm Beach's sister club on the south coast of NSW, won the World Championship easily by 13 points. The finals racing was very tough with light shifty winds and tide playing a huge part in determining the outcome. Australian sailors dominated the Open event with 10 teams in the top 25, 5 of these from Palm Beach Sailing Club including the new World Youth and Grandmasters champions. Aaron and Worsty (our adopted Victorians) finished 12th, Kerli and Ali 15th, Jason and Rod Waterhouse 18th, Tim Shuwalow and Chris Munro 21st, Jamie and Sarah Roberts in their first season sailing a Hobie 16 together finished in 25th place, David Fisher and Ainslie Gordon finished 31st and Sam Wood and Nicole Corlett 52nd in a very competitive "multi World champion" fleet.

The success of the Club's youth and women's teams along with our younger sailors bodes well for the future of sailing at Palm Beach.

The Club's members have arguably won more Olympic Medals and International titles than any sailing club in Australia, and now with these results, continue a great sailing tradition.

The team arrived in one piece despite the maniacal bus and cab drivers' efforts to thwart a safe arrival!

Most of the Australian team are staying at the Tradewinds Hotel - a delightful throw-back to the colonial style of living. Rum and Coke, Gin Fizz etc, but the prices are more in line with a modern resort.

Two weeks prior to the opening ceremonies, the venue was just a work in progress with a muddy rockfilled bay. With the help of sponsors, the ministry of Tourism and the organisational support of Hobie Australasia and the local Hobie Fleet a truly international sporting complex has been constructed complete with sandy beach, palm trees, grassed areas and support/administrative buildings.

The opening ceremony was probably the most spectacular of any World Titles with Fijian dance groups performing traditional dances and welcoming ceremonies. Some folks had a fantastic time on the dance floor while others tried out the thatched roof 'Trap' bar. Every one had a great time and too much fun!

Day one of the regatta started with 10 - 12 knots S-SE breezes and a photogenic line up of 60 brand new Hobies on the tropical blue Laucala Bay.

Beach captain Hooper got everone off to a 'Le Mans' type start on their way out past the breakwater to the starting boat. Masters and Grand Masters were the first fleets on the course with 2 races back to back in the morning followed by Womens and Youths fleets in the afternoon.

Two more days of racing for these fleets before the Open event starts on Friday.

We'll give you an update as news come to hand.....