HOBIE KENOBI

Angola, NY

July 13-15, 2007                                                                               by John Bauldry

      Fleet 119’s Hobie Kenobi regatta was the last stop on our summer road trip this year.  We arrived early on a very sunny Friday morning to rig and sail in the annual Witter Cup distance race from the South Shore Beach Club to Sunset Bay…about 10 miles up the coast.  Fleet 276 members Tim and Henk were also in attendance.  The distance race was on hold and finally cancelled due to high winds and waves.  The organizers did not have any safety boats to watch over the sailors.  They did not want a repeat of an episode a few years ago when a Tiger capsized in very rough and windy conditions, washed onto a rock breakwater and was destroyed.  Instead, the entire fleet drove there vehicles over to the Sunset Bay Bar and consumed the annual beer and pizza feed.  Good times!

     Saturday morning was cloudy and VERY windy.  The forecast was for 15-25 from the NW with gusts over 30 later in the day.  An approaching storm front was responsible for the wind machine.  Giselle and I rigged the boat and shoved off for the 1100 hrs first start.  The wind really picked up as we sailed into the open waters of the bay…the kind of wind that puts the fear of God into you.  The wind layed down somewhat to the mid teen range just before the start and stayed there.  This made for some really nice sailing conditions.  Four long races were sailed with BobO and Wicked Steph and yours truly splitting the results at 2 bullets and 2 deuces apiece.  An approaching squall line prevented a fifth race and we were sent to the beach to batten down the hatches.

     The rain had stopped but it was still cloudy on Sunday morning.  You could see patches of blue sky to the west as the wind pushed the clouds eastward.  By the time racing started it was sunny and windy.  Two more races were sailed in some very nice conditions for a six race series.  Great racing and competition.  After feeding us and the raffle, it was time for the awards.  Henk and Hugo finished 10^th in 16A, Tim finished in the hardware with a 3^rd in 16B.  After the dust settled, we eeked out a first place over Bob and Steph by one point in the ten boat Tiger fleet.  We then packed up and headed home for the first time in 17days.

     On a sad note…this was to be Henk’s last regatta in North America.  He and the family are moving back to the Netherlands after Henk’s company pleaded for his help in Europe.  Good bye for now Henk and good luck.  It’s been a pleasure.  Hope to cross paths with you again in the future.  Until the next time…all the best from your friends in Fleet 276.