ALGOA BAY SAILORS TO REPRESENT SA AT THE 2016 HOBIE WORLD CAT EVENT

Husband and Wife Team Angela and Andrew Ward will represent South Africa at the Hobie 16 World Cat regatta in Sylt, Germany from 10 to 14 August 2016. Photo: Alan Straton

Experienced Port Elizabeth sailing couple Andrew and Angela Ward are off to represent South Africa in the 2016 Hobie 16 World Cat, a ten boat exclusive invitational regatta to be held on the island of Sylt, Germany from 10-14 August 2016.

Algoa Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) members, the Wards received three weeks notice to attend Hobie World Cat, after the current SA National Champions and 2015 World Cat Champions, William and Lucinda Edwards from Plettenberg Bay indicated they were unable to attend and defend their title having finished 6th in the 2016 Hobie 16 World Championships held in China during June 2016.

Describing the Hobie 16 World Cat event as the; "Olympics of Hobie Sailing," Andrew explained; "Each of the 10 invited teams sail boats provided by the organizers with the sails completely branded in the various Country flags. The island of Sylt is an extremely popular holiday destination with thousands of visitors attending this event on a daily basis with massive crowd participation in the following of the races and huge interest in the results."

"Given the short notice and despite this event falling outside the current local sailing season accepting the invitation was a 'no brainer' and gladly accepted," continued Ward. Both Andrew and Angela have represented South Africa at previous World Championship events and are looking forward to doing so in Germany again.

The Hobie Cat World regatta is one of those "must do events" and an invite to sail in the waters of the North Sea off the island of Sylt is coveted by sailors. Taking part will be the best of the international Hobie 16 sailors including the current 2016 World Champions from Denmark - Daniel and Nicola Bjørnholt Christensen, three time Kieler Woche winners - Ingo Delius and Sabine Delius-Wenig from Germanany, Brazilians - Mario Roberto Arantes Dubeux and Thais Langer-Jacobus who were Brazilian State Champions every year from 2006 to 2013 plus two time Australian Champions - Gavin Luxton and Jason Cox.
 
The last three weeks have been hectic for the Wards as they have ramped up their on and off water training regimes by intensifying their off-season cycling, going back on a diet and working on their core fitness. In addition they have been seen doing on water training each weekend off of Hobie Beach.

In a two man boat such as the Hobie 16 the skipper and crew need to be finely in tune with each other and react harmoniously. As Andrew says; "What helps is that Angela and I have been sailing together for 20 years, we know each other and expectations pretty well so our focus can be on the finer details. From a local sailing perspective we are extremely fortunate to train and race against local Hobie legends Blaine Dodds and William Edwards who have been racing Hobies for years and are still winning World Championships, Blaine had a 3rd place in this event in 2014, along with his Hobie 14 World Championship Title in 2015, then William won this event last year following on from his Hobie Tiger World Championship Title in 2015."

This will be the first time that the husband wife team sail at the Hobie 16 World Cat in Sylt, Germany.

Andrew grew up sailing in an Optimist Dinghy and competed in his first National Championships as a seven year old. He progressed through various other dinghies and sailed his first Hobie 14 at a National regatta at the age of fifteen. From there he graduated to the Hobie 16 whilst also sailing numerous local & international Keelboat regatta's in a number of different classes.

Andrew represented South Africa overseas in the Optimist, Topper, Hobie 16 & J22 classes over the years in South America, Holland, UK, Caribbean, Dubai as well as having coached the South African Optimist Team for 3 years.

Angela has represented South Africa in the Hobie 16 during the Dubai World Championships.

Andrew & Angela have been sailing together since 1994 and have had number podium results over the years in Hobie 16 Nationals and most recently finished 3rd to William Edwards & Blaine Dodds in the 2015 Hobie 16 National Championships.

The Wards are counting on their aggressive starts and experience in small fleets to give them an advantage.