Ft Lauderdale Sailor Wins Wave Nationals
Dec 1-4, Key Largo, Florida
The 8th Annual Hogsbreath Hobie Wave National Championships were held at Gilbert’s Resort this past weekend, with top competitors coming from all over the USA. The Wave is a 13' single-handed catamaran that is quickly becoming the largest class of sailboats in the country.
The competition was very keen – at least ten of the sailors have won a major championship in their history. And all were out to capture this major event as well.
Former Olympic contender, Bret Moss of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, took first place convincingly, finishing twenty two points ahead of last year’s Champion from New Jersey, Kathy Kulkoski.
Dan Kulkoski came in a distant third place. Dan won the coveted Perpetual Trophy for the winner two years ago, but has had to settle for the 3rd spot two years in a row. Bob Bergstedt of New Jersey was close on the heels of Kulkoski, taking fourth overall.
Jim Glanden of Delaware was 5th place overall and the winner of the Masters. Stan Woodruff was 2nd in the Masters Class, followed by Marylou Chambers.
In the Womens Class, Kathy Kulkoski dominated, finishing almost 100 points ahead of the second place woman, Sharon Woodruff. Third place was local Key Largo sailor, Leah Soares. Leah has only been racing for a year and really did great for a newbie – she had some some top finishes several time.
The regatta was sponsored by Hogsbreath Saloon and Beer of Key West, Catamaran Sailor Magazine and www.OnLineMarineStore.com of Key Largo, and West Marine.
The 9th Annual Wave Nationals will again be in the Key Largo area next year and is scheduled for the first weekend in December.
The attached pictures is Brett Moss holding the Hobie Wave Perptual Trophy -- a Hobie Bob mounted on a beautiful wood base.
Rick,
Wanted to take a moment and say thanks for the great time at the Hogsbreath Hobie Wave Nationals. The Wave sailors are a very close and fun crowd to be around. The boats are very equal, as I sailed a boat that is a active rental from our local beach rental in Fort Lauderdale. The total cost to make it competive was under 100 dollars and was mostly regular maintaince itiems. Also thanks for lending me a sail of yours from Dave Calvert. There were fast sails from HOBIE, NORTH and CALVERT. But Dave's sail was excellent even in its current stage of life, probably one of the older sails in the event in age , but not in design.
The point of all this is that more people should experince this easy , pure and true form of catamaran racing. This was every thing that I wanted , 19 races, 20 starts in three days with zero protest issues. The Wave Class is truly on to something and I wish it the most continued success. As an A boat sailor I enjoy the simplistic scenario that this boat offers with such a low cost.
The people who make comments that the would not be seen on a Wave or do not want to go that slow, etc, etc. Should try to find a lane to the A mark and tack out and clear and then tell me if the speed factor or lack of high tech platform makes this type of sailing any less exciting. The answer is NO. In this type of sailing every mistake is a lost place or multiple boats passing you. This is truly a very fevered group who will pounce and consume your mistakes to there advantage.
It is a class that supports sailors of various weights well as we sailed in mostly under 12 mph winds , and sailors from 125 - 200 lbs were competive up wind and down. Age and gender do not play an advantage as young and old and male or female can sail well or win races. May be what scares most people is that it is typical Uni sailing that there is only one person to blame, and with these boats there really is no boat issues to blame. My boat could have been more prepared , had awfull lee helm which made it a constant challenge that required intense concentration to drive upwind. All my fault we had the rudders under the boat to far. On most boats this would have been a mortal problem but the Wave is so forgiving that you can adjust to a poor handling boat easly.
In closing I will be back next year and am looking foward to it. Thanks again, Bret
Was it the pinkish sail? I did well with that one on loan from Rick once! Congrats on the win. Folks my scoff at the Hobie Wave but until they've been out on one racing some of the best folks around...they'll never understand. It is about as one-design as you can get.
Rick,
Can you post the full results somehere, please.
Wouter
Rick,
Can you post the full results somehere, please.
Wouter
They are here, and there is now a link from the Welcome Page:
http:/
Rick