Hobie 16 State Championships Lake Cootharaba

by Peter Bates | Above image by Russell Witt Photography

The Hobie 16 State Championships were recently held on Lake Cootharaba over the October long weekend. Cootharaba was at its finest with the water clarity the best it has been in living memory, and great flat water racing in good breezes.

The Regatta was well attended by squadron members with tight racing enjoyed by all competitors. Cootharaba turned on glamour conditions on Saturday, Day 1, with a North Wester bending around to a genuine 20 knots North East sea breeze and allowed the race committee to get in 3 races.

Peter and Juliet Bates ended Day 1 on 3 points with 3 wins, leaving an evenly placed group in a tie for 2^nd place on 13 points: Phil Kellond-Knight and son James from SYC, Rob Branch and Jo Keen from RQYS, and Andrew Keag and Sophie Bates.

On Day 2, Sunday, the race committee tried for a light wind race in the morning before abandoning and sending sailors back to shore to wait. The sea breeze final arrived late allowing two races in fading light and a great twin-trapezing breeze. Peter and Juliet Bates continued their streak to 5 wins, with Phil K-N settling into 2^nd and Rob Branch and Jo Keen in 3^rd. The courses were short and the racing super tight with multiple lead changes and tight finishes.

Day 3 began light, and the race committee sent the crews out to wait for the filling sea breeze, which happened around 1pm and 4 races were held in 12-15knots for a total of 9 races.

There were multiple winners on Day 3, and the continuing theme of tight racing, with Phil K-N taking race 1, the Bates’ race 2, Shane Peterson and son James Race 3 and Andrew Keag race 4.

Final results were:

First Peter Bates, Juliet Bates: RQYS 8 points, dropping a 4^th and a 2^nd

Second Phil Kellond Knight, James Kellond Knight: SYC 19 points, dropping a 7^th and a 5^th

Third Andrew Keag, Sophie Bates: RQYS 24 Points, dropping a 6^th and a 7th