Here is a reprint from the Hobie Tiger 18 Worlds;


Mimi Appel, Santa Barbara, USA, March 31, 2005

Thursday 3-31-05 Sunny no wind 70 degrees

10:00 Postponement. A few boats limp of the beach in search of wind.

12:20 Wind fills in with large fingers at 7-8 knots where it remains for most of the day.

12:30 Race 4 First race of the day

Course 1 ACA Water flat wind at 7 knots

Enrique Figueroa takes the lead early and scores his first bullet of the day.

1:30 Race 5 Second race of the day

Course 1 ACA Water flat wind at 7 knots

USA Team Greg Thomas and Jacques Bernier, from Hobie Cat USA finished 5 th overall had issues in this race. The way cool “blue spinnaker boat” was in third flying to the finish, on starboard right in front of the pack of committee and spectator boats. From out of no where comes a port boat, causing them to capsize, circles done but protest still pursued. The protest changed the scores big time, right before the awards banquet.

Editors note (Mimi is now on a Media Boat, a fabulous 50ft vintage Grand Banks.

2:30 Race 6 Third of the day

Course 1 ACA Water flat wind at 7 knots

1.2 nautical miles, 84 boats on the line

Excellent start, off they go! We are positioned just south of the gates. The Spin dousing by these World-class crews is fanamul! On e huge pack moved in to the more upwind gate, 4 boats are caught in an overlap-room issue. They are almost 2 boat lengths away before they can even begin to round. Italians Michele Moznich and Filippo Rossi come sailing into the whole round close, leave tight, leaving the pack in their smoke! Sweet!

4:30 Race 7 Fourth for the day

Course 1 ACA at 10 knots

3, 2, 1, horn…. GENERAL RECALL, pin boat speeds across in from of the fleet with the flag a fly’ in. The committee quickly moves the pin…game back on…

4:45 bang all clear! Tyler Booth nails the start at the pin just screaming out in the front of the line of 85 boats. There is another pack on the right heading to the shore. Soon most of the boats are on port.

The Grand Times heads us back to the shore. The rest of the race is a blur with radio transmissions efficiently orchestrated a video shoot of Kika (Enrique Figueroa) and Jorge finishing third to win the World title.

After the days racing, 17 year old skipper, Tyler Booth (Aus) was quick to point out that “Enrique sailed really well”. Taylor and Dad, Mitch was in first as of Wednesday night.” I would rather be in 2nd with 7 races than first of three.”

Team Porto Rico smoked the fleet with an excellent day of racing, 3 bullets and a third, in the lighter air, taking themselves from 17 to first. They missed the first day of racing on Monday while Kika scrambled for a flight out of the British Virgin Islands. On shore after a TV interview, he asked this reporter, “I guess we won?” When told yesterday by 2 points he was in creditably pleased, but very humble. While discussing today’s conditions Kika says, “I noticed a little ground swell, we love that condition, also the kelp was an issue, Jorge did an excellent job of keep the rudders and boards clean.” “Staying focused, sailing conservative and covering worked wonders.