It’s Cat Summer in WA, and we’re off and racing
The club summer season is about to begin in Western Australia as sailing clubs around the state prepare for their annual Opening Day events. To get the catamaran sailing community together and shake off the winter blues, the Hobie Cat Association of WA host a two day regatta for boats less than 6.8m on the last weekend in September each year. Nedlands Yacht Club is the host and 2025 was very special with the club hosting the Australian Sailing WA Youthsail event alongside the annual multihull regatta. With a shiny new Sail Training Centre building and the same impressive rigging lawn, Nedlands Yacht Club easily hosted the 174 boats and put on a great show.
The first Cat Classic Regatta was held in 1977 and won by Mal McKercher and crew on a Hobie 16. Traditionally a single fleet yardstick event, this year it was decided to split in to divisions. Division A was for boats with a yardstick lower than 76 and consisted of a mixed F18 fleet. Fourteen Hobie 16’s and one Nacra 14 Square contested Division B for catamarans in the 76 to 85.5 range.
Sailed on the Swan River over the Sunday and Monday of the Kings Birthday weekend, Perth put on a good mix of wind and weather conditions which challenged the sailors. Two sessions were held on Sunday and it was a chilly day in Perth with some light rain too, a bit of a shock after reaching 30 degrees celcius in the days before. The wind was good and increased through the day reaching 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Race Officer Paul Davis and his team held four good races, each lasting around 40 mins for the lead boats.
In Division A, Brett Burvill & Max Puttman damaged their otherwise perfect scorecard by starting with an OCS (false start) and a DNC in race four. Mark Parker & Lachy Owen took advantage of this in the first race grabbing the win. Female team Annika Pennifold & Mia Waters put in an excellent effort in the breeze picking up two third places but did not finish the first two. This left it to Tristan Merrick & Dakota McMahon to win the day with race scores 2, 4, 2, 1.
The Hobie 16 fleet enjoyed fast and close racing in the steady winds. Fresh from the recent European Championships, Cam Owen & Suzzi Ghent had three wins but a fifth in race two, unable to break through the strength of their local fleet who will always provide a good challenge. They came out on even scores at the end of day one with Darren Smith who also competed in the event in Utska, Poland. For the Cat Classic Regatta he sailed with local 29er sailor Finley Symonds and they sailed consistently picking up a 2, 1, 3, 2. Just as consistent was Trent Robson & Jasmine Hill with a days total of ten points. Always a strong team in the breeze, Jess Symonds / Stu Collison had a good day apart from a penalty in race one, it was a similar story for Brad Quartermaine / Nat Waddell.
Monday morning was a different situation with light winds and the sun beginning to break through the clouds as the sailors rigged for day two. Three races were held in a light and patchy southerly breeze. It was a game of boat positioning, concentration and patience and the racing was close in both fleets.
Brett & Max broke away from the pack in the F18 fleets and took three wins. Young skipper from Denmark the states South West, Henri Bellanger had a great start to the day with a third and backing it up with a four and a five. Jared & Suzanne Eyles were consistent on the day with two seconds and a third. Overall Brett & Max won the event but the real win was seeing Adrianna Jarrett helming her first regatta on the F18 and finishing all but one race. Sailing with Leonardo Pledger they placed fourth overall.
In Division B, Rob Smith on the Nacra 14 picked up some better scores on corrected time taking a two and a one in the lighter winds. Steeling the win from his brother on the Hobie 16 who crossed the line first in race number six. Known for his skill picking the light wind lanes, Phil Epps had Shelley back on board after an extended break from sailing a Hobie 16 and they scored a 4, 5, 3 and placed sixth overall. Trent & Jasmine finished the regatta with a second place and came in third overall. Darren & Finley were runners up on 14 points overall with Cam & Suzzi taking win with eight points. It was excellent to have Cara Fugill & Lisa Cranfield back racing the Hobie 16 and they are preparing to contest the women’s championship at the Pitts Design and Construction 53rd Australian Hobie Cat National Championships to be held in Busselton WA from 27 December this year.
The Hobie Cat Association of WA is thrilled to see the Hobie fleet growing around the state of Western Australia and awarded first timers to the class, Dexter crewing for Matt Faulkner and Lucas crewing for Adrian Fratelle with a prize to welcome them to Hobie Racing.
Full Results
