Hobie 16 Worlds for Aus

One of sailing’s iconic events, the 20th Hobie 16 World Championships, will be held at Huskisson Beach in the beautiful waters of Jervis Bay.

The world championship event will take place in 2014 with the opening ceremony on January 31 and competition continuing through to the open finals and closing ceremony on February 15.

In an exciting move, Hobie Cat has taken the event away from the city atmosphere of the previous worlds in Weihai, China, and gone for the charm and pristine environment of the spectacular, white, sandy Huskisson Beach. 

Suffice to say, the event photos should looks sensational. And it's a great return for Hobie to off-the-beach sailing and racing.

Magnificent Huskisson Beach is surrounded by the Jervis Bay Marine Park, which extends along the eastern coastal edge of this typically charming, small Aussie township and is bordered to the west by the Jervis Bay National Park. In the Shoalhaven region of NSW, it's just a pleasant 2.5 hour drive south of Sydney.

NSW Minister Tourism and Major Events, George Souris said: "The Hobie 16 World Championships is the pinnacle competition for the largest and most popular catamaran class in the world. I’m delighted that this world class event will be held on magnificent Jervis Bay in the Shoalhaven region."

From 2014 Jervis Bay will forever sit alongside previous H16 Worlds locations and international tourist destinations such as Suva, Noumea, Cancun, Guadeloupe, Dubai, Papeete and Honolulu.

Hobie Cat Australasia has been able to secure the world championships for the region with the support of the NSW state government through its events promotion arm Destination NSW and the Shoalhaven City Council via Shoalhaven Water and Shoalhaven Holidays.

The Hobie Cat Australasia factory, which is located in Huskisson, will be the builder and supplier of more than 60 Hobie 16 catamarans and will also provide the logistical support for and organisation of the event.

Managing Director of Hobie Cat Australasia, Steve Fields, has assembled an experienced and professional team to run the 20th world championships. As a team they have previously worked together to help run past worlds in New Caledonia, Mexico, Fiji and China.

It is estimated that 80 per cent of the participants who will be attending will come from international destinations. Most competitors will be accompanied by a partner or friend and, the Hobie 16 being a family-orientated sailing class, it is common for all family members to attend though not participate in the racing.

Fields said: "We estimate that Hobie sailors from more than 20 countries will attend the event in Jervis Bay.  This means that more than 300 competitors, plus their families and supporters, will come to the Shoalhaven and surrounding regions.

"The total economic impact on the community over the 15 day period of the regatta is estimated by Destination NSW to be around $3 million, which is absolutely fantastic for the local economy," Fields adds.

The 20th Hobie 16 World Championships Jervis Bay is set to be a flat-out, live-fast, have-fun adventure for international and Australian competitors as well as interested spectators. Situated in a brilliant location that has remained a relatively hidden tourist destination internationally, Huskisson and Jervis Bay are set to be shared with the rest of the world.