US Sailing organizes ten adult sailing championships each year representing different parts of competitive sailing in the USA. The Multihull Championship started out many years ago as the “Alter Cup” in honor of Hobie Alter. It rotates among the popular multihull classes in the US. For 2024, the Hobie 16 was selected as the multihull class for the event.
The event was organized by Hobie Fleet 23, US Sailing, and the Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club (“DCYC”) on a large lake north of Dallas, Texas. I sailed on this lake a few times back in the 1990’s during a brief employment stint in the area, so it was a little trip to the past to revisit the area. I was reminded they have fire ants in Texas…the DCYC had anti-fire ant remedies at the ready and the competitors were grateful.
The Alter Cup always draws a competitive field, and this event was no exception. Many of the top teams were in attendance. Moving premier events such as this around the country has the added benefit of making premier events accessible to local sailors who may not be ready for long trips but still enjoy the opportunity to sail in a larger, more competitive fleet.
This three-day event on Lake Lewisville, delivered a wide range of conditions, including moderate, to light and shifty, and ultimately, strong and gusty winds for the final day. For three days, the organizing team, US Sailing, and the host yacht club delivered an exceptionally well organized and executed event. Simultaneously, another Hobie event (Mid-America’s Area Championship) was taking place for the 17, 18, and 20 Hobie classes which were run on a separate racecourse on the lake.
On the water, the competition was close with numerous lead changes in nearly every race. The overall lead changed each day. Mike Montague and Kathy Ward (USA) were incredibly consistent and led after day two. Day three (final day) brought breezy conditions with strong gusts (18 knots, gusting 25 knots), and this created some challenging sailing for all, but the big wind teams had their day in the end.
Francisco Figueroa and Faith Payne emerged as the winners, followed by Mike Montague/Kathy Ward and John Tomko/Casey Small.
Article by Rich McVeigh
“It’s a special feeling to have our name on the Alter Cup, named after the founder of our Hobie class, along with other great champions,” said Figueroa and Payne. “We are both second-generation Hobie sailors, so this win is significant. We grew up in this sport and are so grateful for the love and support of our Hobie family throughout the years. It was a flawless event with varied weather conditions every day testing the consistency, patience and overall sailing sense. It was a tough battle on the water with great competition from the fleet.”
1st Francisco Figueroa & Faith Payne are the 2024 U.S. Multihull Championship Winners
2nd Mike Montague and Kathy Ward
3rd John Tomko and Casey Small
The U.S. Multihull Championship, one of several prestigious championships hosted by US Sailing, holds a significant place in the sailing world. It is sailed in selected one-design class boats and the perpetual trophy was named the Alter Trophy in 1986, a testament to the extraordinary promotion of one-design multihull sailing and racing programs by the late Hobie Alter, Sr.
Next year’s US Sailing’s event, the Hobie Alter Cup/Multihull Championship, will be held on Hobie Waves in Corpus Christi, TX.
Photos credits US Sailing
