Hobie goes Olympia

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has announced the boats for the Multihull Evaluation Trials for the 2016 Olympics. The Hobie Cat Manufacturers have put forward two excellent choices, the Hobie 16 with spinnaker (the Olympics must be sailed with a spinnaker) and the Hobie Tiger.

The Hobie 16 is by far the largest multihull class in the world with active racing in all parts of the world. As the ISAF Olympic Commission report recommends that ISAF needs ‘universality’ to continue at the Olympics, the Hobie 16 is the only multihull at present that fills that criteria. ISAF have chosen to use the Hobie 16 in all ISAF World Games.
It is the multihull that is used in all Regional Games where a multihull is selected. As Regional Games are under the authority of the areas National Olympic Committee the National Olympic Committees have already invested in a Hobie 16 with equipment and training. It is also the current ISAF Youth World boat. All making the Hobie 16 in many areas the logical choice for an easy transition into the Olympics with many countries not already participating able to make the step into the Olympic arena.

As the second largest one-design racing multihull, the Hobie Tiger would also make an excellent selection if chosen by ISAF. The Hobie Tiger was chosen by ISAF at their last ISAF World Sailing Games. The Hobie Tiger again fits perfectly with the ISAF Olympic Commission with their ‘universality’. It is raced in most countries and lot of the countries ISAF would like to develop further.

The evaluation will be held from 17 to 25 March 2012 at Prince Felipe High Performance Sailing Centre, Santander, Spain. A report  from the trials will be going to the ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in May.