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8 October 2002, 04:46 pm

Light winds greeted sailors on day one of North American Hobie Cat Championship.

North American Hobie Cat Championship

Ft Walton

As in most regattas these days it seems that you either have too much wind or not enough. This was also the case of the North American Championship that started part three of the regatta.

The "Mega" is part three of the championship that started last week.

Last week saw the Hobie 14, Hobie 16 Youth, Hobie 16 Women's, the Pan Am and the Hobie Wave Class. Today the Hobie 16, Hobie 17, Hobie 18, Hobie 20 and the Hobie Tiger all lined up to kick off the regatta.

After a wind delay for 4 hours the race committee attempted to get sailing underway. They were able to complete 2 races in all classes with the exception of the Hobie 16's class which only got one race in yesterday which the jury ended up throwing out due to a major wind shift.

Matt Bounds cleared ahead in the Hobie 17 Class while Phil Collins and Wick Smith tied for the day in the Hobie 20 class. Alex Shafer, Greg Thomas, and Nigel Pitt all hold down the top three spot in the Hobie Tiger Class while Hobie Tiger guru Gavin Colby from Hobie Cat Europe could only manage tenth and a fifth for the day's effort. Ken Marshack and Steve Attard lead the Hobie 18 class after two races.

Today's weather forecast was for much of the same and is expected to be high of 85 - wind 5-10 knots. Sunny and HOT!

Steve Fields