Dodds pips Loudon for Hobie title
Three days of light winds tested a fleet of 48 yachts in the Hobie 14 Nationals incorporating the Flying Fifteen and Laser Provincials hosted by Point Yacht Club offshore of Durban.
In the main fleet of Hobie 14s, a small bunch took to the water with 27 boats partaking in the nationals. There was nothing between the top two contenders, Blaine Dodds and Garth Loudon with both of them ending on 9 points each on the log. It was neck-andneck throughout the regatta between the two big names in South African Hobie sailing.
Dodds sailing for the Knysna Yacht Club scored two firsts, two seconds, a third and an eighth place, which counted as his race discard. Durban’s Hobie hero, Loudon sailing for Point Yacht Club, score card held two firsts, two seconds, a third and a fourth place, with Loudon’s fourth being deducted as his race discard.
Dodds added to his impressive tally of 37 national and regional titles claiming the win. The new sailing rules state that the result rests on the last race sailed, regardless if that is your dicscard race. Dodds finished third, one place ahead of Loudon.
“It was tough training for the upcoming Hobie MultiWorlds and Europeans 2017 that takes place next month.” Loudon concluded.
Formidable
In the small fleet of seven Flying Fifteens, it was the formidable champions of Patrick Harris and Jeremy Kriek who took the honours. The duo have been hard at work preparing for the Flying Fifteen World Championships in Ireland in a couple of months. Harris and Kriek were on top of the podium in three of their races, second in two races and scored a fourth in their final race. Chomping at their heels were Richard Parker and Mike Surgeson who snuck in an im- pressive two wins, two seconds, a third and a seventh in their first race, ended their provincials two points behind Harris and Kriek after the one race discard.
Cape Town’s Alistair Keytel showed why he was reigning national champion, dominating the first day at the top of the fleet. On the third day, he had mixed fortunes but his first day of racing saw him win the KZN Provincials.
Pushing Keytel around the course was youngster Sam Lombaard of Michaelhouse and Campbell Alexander who finished second in the full rig class. Alexander and thirdplaced Henri Frencken are both eyeing out the upcoming World Laser Masters to take place in Croatia.
Finishing first in the Junior class, the Laser Radials, was Cape Town’s Sarah-Jane Dreary who took advantage of second-placed Kai Lesley’s absence. Lesley had a pearled of a first day, but travelled home to Cape Town to study for exams.