The image below is courtesy of Gerhard Burger - taken on 27 April whilst the Hobie 16's waited for wind to start their 2018 National Championships on Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth. Meanwhile, the entrants in the Vasco Da Gama Ocean Race from Durban to Port Elizabeth that started on the same day were battling against 30 knot headwinds and high seas that saw only 2 of the 8 starters complete the race, 1 dismasting, 1 main sail shredded, numerous small breakages, most sailors sea sick and 5 … [Read more...] about Sometimes PE Does not Have Enough Wind to Start a Yacht Race
hobie 16
4 good races today
After no sailing on the first day of the Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals being sailed in Port Elizabeth from 20 to 23 March 2014, day two saw an early start in a East North East which then swung to the South East and stayed steady. Varying wind strengths ranging from 4 to 12 knots saw the fleet challenged for 4 races in a sea state ranging from flat to long chop. Four races were sailed - all on a gated sausage with two rounds to the finish off of Hobie Beach giving good sightings for … [Read more...] about 4 good races today
A feast of Sailing in the Bay
Two sailing regattas are being sailed from the Algoa Bay Yacht Club this weekend. The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals will be sailed from 20 to 23 March 2014 and promises a spectacle for sailors and spectators on Hobie beach and the Shark Rock Pier. In addition the International 505 Sailing class is expecting 14 boats and this year's current world champion to sail in a practise regatta ahead of the hosting of the 505 World Championships in Nelson Mandela Bay. The 505 Regatta will run on a … [Read more...] about A feast of Sailing in the Bay
Plettenberg Bay Duo Clinch Hobie 16 National Championship title
In the recent Boardwalk Hobie 16 Sailing championships held from 21 to 24 March 2013, a total of 8 races were sailed over three days (Saturday was blown out). Conditions were mostly below 12 knots with flat seas and the wind from the East, South and West to make for an interesting and complete regatta under the hand of bridge officer, Doug Allison. On the first day of sailing sailors were greeted with a perfectly sunny and calm day and were eventually called out in the early afternoon by Race … [Read more...] about Plettenberg Bay Duo Clinch Hobie 16 National Championship title
Hobie Beach Close Action Sailing Video
Craig and Mark Teasdale sailed in the South African Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals held offshore of Port Elizabeth on the last weekend of April 2012. Craig and Mark have been racing in the Hobie 16 class since 2011. Their video below shows spectacular capsizes and a great shot of their Hobie racing away from the shore with the Port Elizabeth beachfront in the background. The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals returns to Port Elizabeth in 2013 on a date still to be confirmed. … [Read more...] about Hobie Beach Close Action Sailing Video
Port Elizabeth Delivers Wind for Hobie 16 Nationals
Once again all the weather guru's got it wrong - for a week before they predicted a good 15 to 20 knot Northerly breeze for the last day of the Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals sailed in Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth from 27 to 30 April 2012. With only four races sailed after 3 days of racing the fleet were looking to end on a high note - 3 races were sailed in a North Easterly breeze that presented challenging conditions from 6 to 18 knots on Course 7 (A sausage, triangle, sausage). The first race … [Read more...] about Port Elizabeth Delivers Wind for Hobie 16 Nationals
Algoa Bay Dishes up Sailing Frustration But Still Delivers
Day 2 at the Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals - a day of frustration and triumph. There is an axiom that weather forecasters need to take heed of - When the Port Elizabeth weather gods dish up any wind from the North we can be guaranteed that every single weather forecaster will get the wind speed, direction and timing wrong. Saturday's wind was forecast to be a light 3 to 7 knots North Easterly swinging to East and dropping off in the late afternoon. At least they got the Northerly part … [Read more...] about Algoa Bay Dishes up Sailing Frustration But Still Delivers
A Tough Day at the Office for the Hobie 16’s
The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals kicked off today, 27 April with one race that sorted the men from survivors. Race Officer Ronnie Baer elected to sail Course 6G first - windward leeward with a gate. The Weather forecast was for a North West of approximately 26 knots - on the edge for the Hobies but sail-able in the flat offshore conditions. The top mark was laid close to the old Humewood Slipway and east of Shark Rock Pier with the gate approximately 300 metres on the shore side of the … [Read more...] about A Tough Day at the Office for the Hobie 16’s
The Captain of the Boardwalk is looking forward to the Hobie 16 Nationals
Port Elizabeth is steadily laying claim to the title of the "Watersport Capital" as one more event is added to a packed April 2012. The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals will join the Weekend Post Ocean Racing Series, Splash Festival and the Specsavers Ironman as premier events showcasing Port Elizabeth as an excellent watersport venue. The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Sailing Nationals will be sailed off Hobie Beach, which was named for the Hobie catamarans, from 27 to 30 April 2012. "We are extremely … [Read more...] about The Captain of the Boardwalk is looking forward to the Hobie 16 Nationals
The Length of Port Elizabeth’s Shark Rock Pier is?
Hi Alan, I trust you and the family are all well. At dusk, sitting under the Shark Rock Pier, my daughter and I were trying to compare the length of the longest whale (Blue Whale at 30m) to Shark Rock Pier. Now, 30m is moerse long, but I cannot trace any reference to how long the Pier is in comparison. Would you know? Do I think you are an encyclopaedia? (Yes). Regards Corinne Answer: Construction of the 137m long reinforced concrete pier was started in 1998 to save Hobie Beach … [Read more...] about The Length of Port Elizabeth’s Shark Rock Pier is?
