Fleet 550 - Gisborne
Returning to the Beach after a day sailing
Contact:
Mark van Wyk
027 697 9526
email: currieconstruction@xtra.co.nz
The first Hobie in Gisborne was a H14 that arrived in the summer of '78. At that stage the Gisborne Yacht Club had a healthy fleet of Paper Tigers, Maricats and Buffalo racing. The H14 proved popular with the locals. It's simple design with the trampoline up on pylons made it especially suited to the Gisborne conditions of swell and sea breezes. Then in 1981 a new H16 arrived in town. The owner had it made considerably heavier than the design weight to provide strength for charging through the famous Wainui Beach Surf. In 1992 it weighed in at 173 kg at the Nationals! The Hobie fleet continued to grow during the 80's both H14's and H16's. Eventually the H16 proved to be the more popular for racing.
During the mid 90's the number of H16's regularly racing dwindled as did most classes. However recently there appears to be a resurgance in interest in the class which is encouraging because you can't really explain the feeling of reaching across the bay, you just have to experience it. Sailors who join the Gisborne Yacht Club are permitted full use of this excellent facility plus they are eligible to compete for all the trophies that available to the class. The scoring is on a handicap basis so it is the improving sailor that wins not the fastest. This is an incentive for the new sailors to come and have a go and chances are they will walk away with prizes or their name on a trophy. Racing for next summer will start in October. The Bar at the Yacht Club is open every Sunday evening during winter and visitors are welcome.