Sand Hollow Sailing Classic: Shifting winds challenge skippers

2nd Sand Hollow Sailing Classic, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington, Utah, June 23, 2012 | Photo by Lori Hevia for St. George News
2nd Sand Hollow Sailing Classic, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington, Utah, June 23, 2012 | Photo by Lori Hevia for St. George News

ST. GEORGE – After being rescheduled twice due to uncooperative winds, the second Sand Hollow Sailing Classic was held Saturday at the Sand Hollow Reservoir.

The Sand Hollow Yacht Club and Hobie Fleet 941 obtained their Hobie Cat Charter from Hobie Class Association of North America in January 2011. The charter allows the club to be an organized fleet and accumulate points to participate in division championships and North American championships.

The annual  Sand Hollow Sailing Classic, which the club plans and hosts, is the premiere sailing regatta in Southern Utah.

This year’s race was held under moderate to moderately heavy conditions.

Winds blew from 2 to 7 knots in the morning until 1 p.m. when two races were completed.  Winds shifted throughout the first two races, challenging the skippers in choosing their favored side of the course.

Four more races were completed in the afternoon with winds at 15 to 17 knots and gusts of up to 29 knots, making conditions challenging for the skippers. Two boats capsized under gusting winds, but recovered to finish the race.

The course was under 2.2 nautical miles from south to north, from the south ramp to just south of the rock island and back.  Two races were held twice around the course for a total of 4.4 nautical miles.

At the end, Team Raul Hevia and his son Rocco won the event for the second time in a row taking the last three races in first place.

Second place was fought hard between  skipper and crew Teams Hal Stead and  son Paul and Team John Hayducovich and Mark Latham.  At the end Team Stead took second place.

Team Chuck Saling and John Harmon capsized twice, but recovered to finish all races.

2nd Sand Hollow Sailing Classic, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington, Utah, June 23, 2012 | Photo by Lori Hevia for St. George News

Final Standings

Hobie 16 A Fleet:

1st Raul/Rocco Hevia

2nd Hal/Paul Stead

3rd Chuck Saling/John Harmon

Hobie 16 B Fleet:

1st Tom Stout/James Black

2nd Andrew Flake/Dawson Flake

Hobie 18:

1st John Hayducovich/Mark Latham

The Sand Hollow Yacht Club welcomes new members, with or without a boat. Those interested in participating in the club are invited by Raul Hevia to contact him by email at [email protected]or by telephone, 801-390-5813.

2nd Sand Hollow Sailing Classic, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington, Utah, June 23, 2012 | Photo by Lori Hevia for St. George News
2nd Sand Hollow Sailing Classic, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington, Utah, June 23, 2012 | Photo by Lori Hevia for St. George News

Raul Hevia contributed to this story.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic

Copyright 2012 St. George News. 

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1 Comment

  • Ashley Green June 26, 2012 at 2:54 am

    This sounds like it was a really good race, and the weather looks gorgeous, wish I could have been there.

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