Jeff Alter gears up for the 2014 Hobie® 16 World Championships 23/09/2013

A life on the water.

In 1976 at the age of 14 I sailed in the first Hobie 16 worlds in Hawaii as a crew.  It was 1978 when I skippered my First 16 worlds finishing in 36th place. It is amazing how strong this class still his 36 years later. 

 

Racing Hobie Cats world wide and meeting friends and competitors has been a highlight of my life. In 1980 I managed to break the top 10 finishing 9th in the Virgin Islands. And then went on to many top 10 Hobie world finishes with a couple of 2nds but never a victory. Throughout this time I won many USA Hobie National titles. I did a short Olympic campaign on Tornados and finished third in the US Olympic trials. After this short campaign my respect for the Hobie Class and our one-design rules was at an all time high.  I went back to having fun racing these great little simple boats.  

 

Having a few children slowed down my sailing career and I found myself no longer a competitor but a Happy spectator watching my kids compete is Surfing contest, baseball and volleyball.  I’m excited to come back and compete at such a spectacular venue although my racing skills may be a bit rusty, more then anything I’m excited to see old friends, new friends and hang out with such a great group of people that have carried on the Hobie Class at such a high level of event organization and racing.