Hobie champs hit the city

BALLARAT Yacht Club is set to play host to another top-level sailing event, this time teaming up with the Hobie Cat Association of Victoria for the fast boat’s state championships.

Sailing on Lake Wendouree in early March, the championships will see the swift moving catamarans compete in up to 12 races over three days.

The association made the decision to bring the event to Ballarat because of the city’s size and ability to host major events.

Campbell Weddell, President of the Hobie Cat Association of Victoria said that Lake Wendouree offered the chance for long-time fans, and people wanting to get to know what Hobie Cat racing is all about, to see the action from as close as possible.

He also said that once people find out what it’s all about, they’ll want more.

“Key to the Hobie Catamaran’s popularity is a focus on fun, family, performance and quality racing,” he said.

“It’s an accessible sport that attracts a wide variety of ages with teenagers through to people in their 70’s regularly sailing.”

Hobie Cat racing has a long history of high-quality sailing in Victoria for many decades.

The state has produced many World and National champions and currently boasts the World Hobie 14 Championship and Women’s Hobie 16 World Championship.

The 2019 state championships will see the return of current women’s world champ, Georgia Warren-Myers, who’s originally from Ballarat.

“The opportunity to sail on Lake Wendouree again is fantastic,” Warren-Myers said.

“I grew up in Ballarat and learnt to sail there when I was a kid. The wonderful shoreline around the lake provides a great viewing vantage to showcase our fast and colourful sport. I expect the winds to be tricky and the racing to be very close.”

Lake Wendouree will also provide a solid training ground for several of the competitors who are looking to head to the worlds in Florida, USA in November.

Warren-Myers will be sailing with her husband Fletcher. The couple currently hold 2 World Championships with Fletcher the current Hobie 14 World Champion.

The Hobie Cat State Championships are being hosted by the Ballarat Yacht Club on the 9, 10 and 11 of March.