HOBIE RAID 2025: another HOBIEctive achieved!

THE RAID OF INCLUSION
The tenth edition of the 808 Fleet Hobie Raid and another success for the event, with twenty HC16s participating: the bulk of the fleet departing from the Pescara sailing base (Barracuda beach resort), others from Ortona (the “Stalingrad” of Italy, also the site of the first raid, called the “Raid of the Saracens”), because 808 is a palindrome, so it’s fine to read it from any direction (even upside down!) to reach the centre of the world of the Hobie Way of Life!

On Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th, the Hobie Catters of the “D’Annunzio” Fleet renewed their twinning with their Raid with the 340 Costa Pontina Astura Bay Fleet, the 383 of Terracina, and the (former) 802 of Formia. Their most welcome guests were Commodores Mario Pastore (340) and Piero Di Nucci (802), all accompanied by their wives, who took advantage of the availability of sixteen members who were absent due to personal commitments. It’s a shame that Gabriele Miceli (383) withdrew at the last minute; otherwise, we would have had a quartet of Commodori! This is the vision that unites these fleets of Central Italy: participatory, aggregative exchange, without moving boats with cumbersome trailers, but rather maximizing the potential of the fleet’s fleet at the Fleet’s nautical base. Boats are obviously granted (free of charge or at a modest cost) to crews with proven experience and covered by third-party liability insurance.

A wonderful presence was provided by the all-female crew of the Latina 340 Fleet, Stefania Calzati & Valentina Trabucco (“Le Regine del Vento” Hobie Spirit, Wild Speed), and the International Crew, Simon Beck (Austria) and his bowman Lucie Chalet (France).

Upon arrival, a mandatory visit to Nicola Di Sciascio’s CVL to enjoy his club’s famous granitas: as usual, the Hamlet-like dilemma of choosing between a creamy or frozen granita ended in a draw, with each Raider enjoying both, often requesting a second helping!

Fabrizio Leonzio and Claudia Geusa, co-owners of the Baia Cattleya beach club, the venue for the last five editions of the annual Raid, offered excellent hospitality. On Sunday morning, before setting off again, I met with the newly elected Ortona City Council, Simone Ciccotelli (Deputy Mayor) and Antonio Sorgetti and Fabio Palermo (Councillors), to exchange good wishes for the future.

I won’t go into detail about the tenth edition of the annual Raid (20 sixteen-boats sailing, 16 crews bivouacking in tents, 40 adults + 7 children attending the Saturday evening dinner), but I will instead discuss the spirit that animates it.
Given that the second edition of the spectacular Raid “La Route de L’odyssèe – Navigare nel mare del mito” (Marina di Latina-Terracina-Sperlonga-Gaeta-Formia) took place on June 6-8, organized by my friend Mario Pastore, who presented the commodore of Fleet 808 with a commemorative plaque before the start of Saturday’s dinner to thank him for his presence in the Raid on the Tyrrhenian Sea, I would like to highlight the atmosphere created around the Raid.

As our friend David Brookes wrote in the IHCA (International Hobie Cat Association) newsletter: “One of the unique features that distinguishes our Hobie family is the diversity of our racing. While most classes are limited to upwind/downwind or triangle courses, we have the luxury of even more types of racing. For example, the Italian Hobie fleets have been organizing a series of “raid” races for several years. These long-distance sailing events involve an overnight stay in one location and the start and/or finish in another. Three Italian Hobie fleets—340, 383, and 808—have collaborated to create a new Hobie Raid, ………”

The recipe for increasing sailors, both racing and otherwise, with the HOBIEctive of fun is very simple:
sailing where you can have fun, where sharing trumps competition. Shifting the focus from competition to fun creates a broader and more solid base (of athletes and families). This allows us to focus resources on young people who are not only talented but also motivated during the most critical years, such as adolescence.

Sailing also has one advantage over any other sport: it allows people to participate even at a mature age. Therefore, there is a need for programs to encourage sailing for adults and create more relaxed environments for experiencing the sport.
The most successful classes are not those with the fastest boats, but those that are simple, affordable, and offer a great social atmosphere on land, with parties that bring together young and old: the great success of the Hobie Cat 16 is an example of this, providing pure fun.

The main focus, I repeat, is on fun: clubs should also think of more creative ways to bring people together: regattas starting from the beach, night sailing, arriving at an anchored spot and returning. Anything that promotes interaction while lowering the barriers to entry. Proof of this: Hobie Le Mans 808s, nighttime trapeze outings, Atoll 808s in the open sea, scuffia days, etc. etc.

And all these events fully reflect the HOBIE WAY OF LIFE!
Commodore 808
Sandro