From an entirely original idea of the commodore of Pescara’s fleet, a sailing competition designed to entertain all the Hobie sailors of the 808.
After the large participation with 15 Hobie 16 crews in the eighteenth version of Velandiamo, “the famous Barcolana (created in Trieste) Pescara version”, out of a total of 98 registered participants (so the Hobie Fleet 808 participated with 15% of the total registered!) who filled the city’s waterfront with colour on a beautiful sunny day with a southeast wind of 15 knots, another 15 Hobie 16 crews (not nearly the same as Velandiamo – in the city in the various garages there are currently about 40 Hobie 16 crews) they met at the Barracuda storage in Pescara Nord to give place to the HOBIE LE MANS 2020 event, so-called because, like the Olympics and the European football championships, it was scheduled to last year, but due to covid19 and then unfavourable weather cancelled the competition. What is it about? What did the “Commodore” think? Let’s read its regulation:
“808’s non-competitive play event! the formula of the event is the same as the famous car start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In this case, the Hobie Cat 16 is on the seashore held by the forestay bridle by the crew while the other crew member will run from a certain distance to reach his teammate to leave.
However, the crews will compete in qualifying heats (in groups of 5 boats to avoid critical issues at the exit especially and when returning from the breakwater cliffs), losing repechage in further “last chance” heats for the shift, then semifinals and final.
The boats will be positioned in the starting line for the upper hand by lot (excluding the system of doing it based on a difficult 808’s ranking as not all the crews have participated in the previous events): the alphabetical and alphanumeric chronological sequences of the scoreboard give the right to choose the position in the starting line.
It is forbidden to hinder the opponent in the foot race under the penalty of DSQ. Also, fairness in the water is observed with the racing rules especially in the basic rule of “rock obstacle”.
Race and boat start line judges are foreseen: it is forbidden to move before the start of the race. the boat must also be stopped before the partner arrives and touches the boat on the shore. only then can you leave.
It is also forbidden to cross the windward and leeward buoy lines, under penalty of DSQ. There are the “laylines” as illustrated in the plan: looking at the open sea, the left row of buoys of the Barracuda canal and the left row of the Il Traghetto canal. Do not use the channel of the sailing school Svagamente.
The exit to the open sea from the rocks can take place in 2 openings (as shown in the arrows indicative of the attached plan) while the return to the beach, after having rounded the buoy (positioned upwind, to be left to the left), must strictly take place within the channel barracuda, obligatorily inside the white flags at the entrance.
Windward buoy positioned before the first heat: if the wind direction changes subsequently for the other heats, it will possibly be repositioned.
Very important: if the registered skipper does not have “his” crew, one will be on board loaned by another 808 crew not competing obviously in that battery. The aim is to let everyone enjoy the racing.
Any disputes or choices are resolved with a majority of the participating crew’s votes.
The event starts on Sunday at 11 am, punctuality! To be played 8 heats, the average time of each estimated in 30 minutes. Extraction of battery positions Saturday at 2 pm in the presence of a public official!
Dress code crew party: only Scavolini and Edil Bama 808’s t-shirts! START / FINISH flags: Flotta 808 guide, Scavolini, HC class letter (white and yellow), Hobiecat Tequila 808 sailing school and centre flags, Hobie Sailing.
Skippers meeting at 10.50 am: in any case, the official communication channel is the WhatsApp 808’HC16 group. Fairness and good fun! “.
Considering that the Hobie Fleet 808 fleet is not composed only of “racers” (also considering the youths of the Svagamente sailing school), but also and above all of the people who use the catamaran at 360 degrees in the true spirit of the Hobie Way of Life, it was hoped for numerous participation as it was, also favoured by the still summer weather although we are already in autumn. The purpose of HLM2020 is to let everyone, youths, masters and grandmasters “play” with their favourite toy, the Hobie Cat. As an example, it should be remembered that the RAID has been organized for many years (in June or July) (this year in its seventh edition with 14 crews Hobie16 participants https://hobieclass.com/hobie-raid-2021-pescara-hobie-fleet-808/?fbclid=IwAR0VID4_6KMrXWdsf5S_Scs-7JDcdaSGOzcT9CjLp-K9mkky7Z9Ftl_dDjM tent mounted directly on the awning with the whole family. But many more events, such as night outings in summer and more (the history of the fleet, with a small photo gallery of things done, here: https://www.associazioneitalianahobiecat.it/flotta-808-pescara/).
Returning to HLM2020, on Saturday, as scheduled, in the presence of a part of the participating crews and staff, the draw took place by blindfolding a youth 808 with the fleet flag. Starting line position, as written in the regulation, with the extraction of beach marbles for cyclists modified internally with the faces or actions of the members and with the colour of the ball equal to the mainsail game colour. Following an inspection, verification of the shoreline with the palms of the establishment at the end of the bathing season was almost dismantled. Summit crews with starting line problem solving and the latest info.
Sunday’s event was characterized by sunny weather but with light winds that put a strain on the crews both in the initial phase of pushing boats and in the search for the breeze. Very hard-fought tests with some very tight finishes up to the finish pole where the bell to ring was positioned.
Lots of fun on land and in the water, “HOBIEactively” fantastic! At the end all happily together with podium awards and the usual crew party model Hobie Way of Life 808’s! Enjoy the endless photo gallery, but also lots of videos (GoPro forestay, more and shooting from the drone).
Hobie Way of Life 808!