The waters of Porto Belo are providing great sailing for the record first day at the 2015 Hobie Cat 14 and Hobie Cat 16 Brasilian National Championship. Teams have arrived from all corners of Brasil to make this the biggest Brasilian Championships in years. Of the more than 68 boats registered as of today, 30 Hobie Cat 14s are already committed to compete.
The sun has not yet arrived in Porto Belo, Santa Catarina but the winds have increased to roughly 15 knots from the South. But when the rain starts anything can happen
Day 1
Two races in each class were held in gusty 15-20 knot winds from the south with constant rain. While the sailors didn’t enjoy the rain they did enjoy the breeze which made for plenty if excitement and enjoyment on the race course.
Day 2
On Day II, the rain subsided, but so did the wind. The Hobie 16 class completed two races in 5-8 knot winds, again from the south, while the Hobie Cat 14 class completed one race and abandoned the second due to diminishing winds.
After the racing protests were heard, Adam Max Mayerle was the leader in the Hobie Cat 14 class with Fabio, Henrique, and Joao are tied for the next position. The leader in the Hobie Cat 16 class is Bernardo Arndt/Matheus Oliveira, with Robert Bezerra/Gilberto da Silva in second, and Andre Montenegro/Isabelle Crispin in third.
Day 3
On day 3 of the Hobie Cat Brasil National Championship, the Hobie Cat 16 class completed three races, while the Hobie Cat 14 class completed two races in light and inconsistent 10-12 knot winds from the South and dense fog. The rain returned with force, but, did not dampen the sailors’ enthusiasm.
After Day 3 of racing, and all protests were heard, the lead in the Hobie Cat 14 class changed hands, with Fabio Espinar now leading the fleet, with Adam Max Mayerle in second position and Diego in third. In the Hobie Cat 16 class, Bernardo Arndt/Matheus Oliveira remains in the top slot, with Robert Bezerra/Gilberto da Silva in second, and Andre Montenegro/Isabelle Crispin in third.
Day 4
Day 4 of racing at the Hobie Cat Brasil National Championship, was marked by water like glass and sailing clinics. Since the wind arrived only at the end of the day, the Hobie Cat 16 and Hobie Cat 14 classes only completed one race.
Through most of the fifth day of racing at the 2015 Hobie Cat Brasil National Championship regatta, spirits were low as the rain continued, but, the wind left a lot to be desired. After a few hours of sailing clinics, the Race Committee spotted a spot of pressure on the water, roughly 3/4 mile out. Without delay, the Race Committee called for the first race of the day, although many sailors remained skeptical that the wind would hold. Most sailors were surprised as, towards the end of the one and only race of the day, the pressure filled in and gave everyone a great ride.
After Day 4 of racing, and all protests were heard, the lead in the Hobie Cat 14 class remained with Fabio Espinar, with Adam Max Mayerle in second position and Diego in third. In the Hobie Cat 16 class, Bernardo Arndt/Matheus Oliveira remains in the top slot, but Andre Montenegro/Isabelle Crispin took a first in the only race
Final wrap up
The 2015 Hobie Cat Brasil national championship regatta was marked by the number of sailors returning to the Hobie Class. Many of these sailors have started returning to the Hobie Class in Brasil after many years away from the class, many have been away for more than 10 years. We are extremely happy to see these sailors returning, especially with their children as crew. Andre Montenegro of Joao Pessoa in the state o Paraiba is one notable example, as he took second place in the Hobie Cat 16 class.
The sun returned to Porto Belo, Santa Catarina for the final two days of racing. The wind remained out of the South, with consistent winds above 15 knots. Most sailors quickly forgot about the rain and hit the race course with enthusiasm and high spirits.
In the Hobie Cat 16 class, Bernardo “Baby” Arndt of Ilha Bela, Sao Paulo held off all challengers to take home the championship. Andre Montenegro of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba rose through the class to take second, while Robert Bezerra of Forteleza, Ceara went home with third place.
In the Hobie Cat 14 class, Fabio Espinar, also of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba held strong to the first place position, while Adam Max Mayerle of Joinville, Santa Catarina strongly took second place and Diego Monteiro, also of Joao Pessoa, took third place metal back to the Northeast of Brasil.
We are all looking forward to another great national championship regatta next year in the state of Ceara in the Northeast of Brasil.
You can learn more about the regatta
A full Results can be found here
Also, you can learn more about Brasilian Hobie Cat Racing at the site of the Brasilian Hobie Class Association
