The 2016 Hobie® 17 North American Championships and US Sailing Multihull Championships for the Hobie Alter Trophy on Hobie® 18 was conducted at lake Carlyle.
US Sailing Multihull Championships for the Hobie Alter Trophy is sailed annually and rotates amongst the multihull classes in the USA. This years event is being sailed on the Hobie 18 at Carlyle Sailing Association in Carlyle, Illinois.
Day 1
Greeted the sailors with no wind. But determined to have a some Hobie fun the sailors quickly organized some paddle board races. Not sure who won the paddle board racing except there was lots screams and fun.
Day 2
Lake Carlyle brought a mix of conditions with up and down winds varying from 5-18 knots. At times it was sunny and at others raining. Four races were completed and the sailors described it as an awesome day despite a little rain.
The Hobie 17 battle between Phil Collins and Greg Raybon continues at this North American Championships with only 1 point separating them.
While at the US Sailing Multihull Championships Ken Marshack/Valarie Pioszak had an almost perfect day with 3 first places and a second place on the last race of the day.
Day 3
Lake Carlyle saw another great of racing for day 3 of the US Multihull Championship and the Hobie 17 North American Championship. Four races were held today. The first two races were held in strong breeze. The first race averaged 14 knots with gusts to 22 knots. The second race was a bit stronger at 16 knots gusting to 25 knots. Then the wind shifted and eased . Race three saw 8 to 12 knots, and race four saw 4 to 9 knots. There was something for everyone.
In the 18 fleet Ken Marshack and Val Pioszak continue to lead battled closely by Jim Sohn and Ashley Enders. The rest of the fleet is in a tight battle for the remaining of the places.
In the Hobie 17 North Americans Greg Raybon from Division 11 and Phil Collins are battling it out for first place with Greg Raybon holding onto a slim 1 point lead.
Day 4
There was two light wind races added to the books today. Race one of the day saw the winds averaging 10 with some gusts to 12. In race two, the wind lightened a little to 7.
In the H18 fleet Ken Marshack and Valarie Pioszak have a commanding lead with 10 points over the second place team of Jim Sohn and Ashley Enders with 19 points, and the third place team of Jim and Barbie Doty with 27 points.
In the H17 fleet, Phil Collins had a big day, scoring a 2 and a 1 to put him ahead of Greg Raybon by 8 points going into the final day of racing.
Tomorrow’s forecast is for more light winds with the breeze all but dying in the late morning or early afternoon, so the first shape has been moved up by one hour to 10 AM Central.
Day 5
No wind on the last wind. The race committee said no more racing and the results are now final. Lake Carlyle produced some great sailing conditions. When the wind wasn’t there the Hobie sailors produced their own fun. As one sailor commented it was ‘awesome’. That sums up the 2016 Hobie® 17 North American Championships and US Sailing Multihull Championships for the Hobie Alter Trophy.
Hobie 17 Results
Hobie 18 Results
Some facts about the US Sailing Multihull Championships for the Hobie Alter Trophy
The perpetual trophy was presented and named the Alter Trophy in 1986 in honour of Hobie Alter, Sr. and his extraordinary promotion of one-design multihull sailing and racing programs.
The championship was conceived by the Multihull Council in the spring of 1985 as a service to multihull racing sailors.
The championship has featured world champions from numerous classes, Olympic medalists and several national champions from the multihull ranks.
Beginning in 2013, this championship rotates in discipline each year to showcase the depth of classes in multihull racing.