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7 January 2005, 10:18 am

Shuwalow and Hooper the Ones to Beat

Australian Asia Pacific Hobie 16 Championship

Melbourne, Australia

Conditions on Port Phillip Bay were choppy and windy again, as sailors in the Hobie 16 Australian and Asia Pacific Championships sailed a further three races at Sail Melbourne today.

Despite newspaper reports to the contrary, Port Melbourne Yacht Club, hosts of the event, report there was little damage done to competitors boats yesterday - mostly pride was damaged as a number of capsizes ensued; which is par for the course when you go sailing in a bit of wind!

However, Tim SHUWALOW/Cameron HOOPER (AUS) continue their lead of the series with 2-6-2 placings. Shuwalow is from Sydney, but Hooper was born and bred in Victoria and knows the Bay well.

Rob BRANCH/Barney HOAK (AUS) have taken over second place, with two wins and a fifth place, putting them only eight points behind the leaders and four ahead of third placed Sebastien EYSSSARTIER/Maxime CARDERELLY (FRA).

The latter pair has jumped from fifth place finishing 4-3-3, with Darren SMITH/Natalie HILL (AUS), who have fallen from second place, suffering their worst results of the regatta today.

Hobie 18 world champions, Brad SUMNER/Belinda WALKOM (AUS), fell one place to fifth and Darren BUNDOCK/Alex GOLTZ have moved up yet one more place into sixth, their best result a third in Race 6.

The Hobie 16's finish their championships tomorrow and weather experts are predicting 15-20 knot winds and sunshine.

Provisional top five results after eight races

Pos	Name	Crew	Nation	Pts
1	T Shuwalow	C Hooper	AUS	20
2	R Branch	B Houk	AUS	28
3	S Eyssartier	M Cardarelly	FRA	32
4	D Smith	N Hill	AUS	35
5	B Sumer	B Walkom	AUA	40

World Sailing TV

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