Day One
There was no racing on Day One, with the AP over A hoisted around 1430hrs. But that didn’t stop the Hobie Groms from making the most of the conditions, getting some valuable time on the water as a tidy 8–10 knot south-easterly blew across the lake.
With racing off the cards, the groms (and the big kids too) swapped rudders for racing wheels and hit the go-kart track in the evening. Shoutout to Fred and Josh, who took out both A and B fleets in the teams’ challenge and walked away with some Vaikobi vouchers. A notable mention goes to Toby (representing CHS in the 13ft skiff) for absolutely tearing it up on the racetrack.
Results – Kids Leaderboard
- Fred (3)
- Toby (4)
- Sam (7)
- Henry (7)
- Oliver (9)
- Josh (2)
- Emma E (4)
- Jamie (7)
- Emma W (7)
- Zoe (10)
Results – Big Kids Leaderboard
- Geoff (2)
- Steve (4)
- Mark (6)
- Paddy (9)
- Bevan (9)
- John (12)
- Ken (14)
Day Two
It was a big day of sailing on Lake Macquarie, with two races held in testing conditions for the Hobie groms.
In Race One, Emma & Emma claimed the first bullet after Jamie & Henry decided to enjoy a bit of bonus time on the water by completing an extra lap. Meanwhile, Sam & Lincoln found themselves in the deep—almost literally—as their boat filled with water, turning their race into a rescue mission for John and Paddy.
During the lunch break, Toby & Tom hopped off the 13ft skiff and onto the Hobie 14 for some blazing reaches in front of the club. Reports say they capsized up to 7 times—though the unofficial tally might be even higher.
Race Two saw all boats picking up speed, with Emma & Emma holding off a charging Toby & Tom to secure their second bullet. Unfortunately, Jamie & Henry lost a leeward shroud mid-race, prompting another swift response from the ever-busy coach boat crew. Elsewhere, Oliver was getting valuable time on the Hobie 18 alongside his dad, gaining great experience despite not racing officially.
Day Three
Another big day of racing saw Toby & Tom take the bullet in the first race, followed by a stylish win from Jamie & Henry in Race Two.
Heading into the final day, Emma & Emma were leading on countback, with Jamie & Henry hot on their heels. A huge shoutout goes to Zoe Webb for finishing both races—an incredible effort for her first full day of sailing the Hobie 14. Bloody huge!
Day Four
The final day delivered the most exciting action of the regatta—turning into a full-on spectator sport.
Toby & Tom led most of Race Five before just edging ahead of Emma & Emma at the final mark to take the bullet. Sam & Lincoln were only boat lengths behind, with Jamie & Henry crossing the finish line upside-down after a last-minute capsize. Congrats to Zoe, and Ollie & Caleb for posting their best race times yet!
Meanwhile, Fred & Josh were forced to take evasive action before the start, avoiding a Laser—but capsized in the process and missed the gun. They later took the 14 out for a spin while the rest of the fleet completed the fifth heat.
Race Six was nothing short of dramatic. Just as the Hobie fleet passed the three-quarter mark, the race committee abandoned the race. Not long after, a hellish squall rolled through the lake—but that didn’t stop Sam & Lincoln from hitting top speed on a wild reach in front of the club. Zoe wisely called it early, while Sam & Lincoln turtle-capsized and Emma & Emma retired after Webb’s trapeze line snapped—Tallis stepping in to save her skipper from an unwanted swim with the man in the grey suit.
Despite the chaos, Jamie & Henry claimed their second bullet of the series in epic style, while Fred & Josh showed true grit as they cruised around on the Hobie 14, proving just how tough the Hobie spirit really is.
Final Results – Division 3 – Catamarans
- Toby & Tom (8 points) – H18
- Jamie & Henry (9 points) – H18
- Emma & Emma (11 points) – H18
- Sam & Lincoln (22 points) – H18
- Fred & Josh (31 points) – H14
- Oliver & Caleb (32 points) – H18
- Zoe (35 points) – H14
This year’s Combined High Schools regatta delivered everything you’d want in a youth sailing event—tight racing, a bit of chaos, plenty of laughs, and huge personal achievements from every sailor involved. From first-time finishes to dramatic comebacks and everything in between, these Hobie Groms proved they’ve got what it takes.
With growing participation and more boats on the water each year, the future of Hobie sailing is in good hands—and it’s looking brighter than ever.
