’25 NSW Hobie 14-Turbo States X Mannering Park 14ft Regatta

For the 2025/26 NSW Traveller Series, the NSW State Championships for the Hobie 14-Turbo will be held in conjunction with Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club’s Phil Johnston 14ft Memorial Regatta. Tentative dates for the regatta are 18-19, October ’25, two weeks after Great Lakes Sailing Club’s Wildcat Regatta.

As a widely renowned event on the east coast for all 14ft Catamaran sailors, this is an open 14ft regatta that was seen the Hobie 14 (cat-rig) as the largest class in attendance for a number of years. Mick Butler famously beat the previously undefeated Frank O’Rourke (Arrow) on Yardstick in 2024, with Paddy only a few points behind Frank. See the 2024 Manno Match Report HERE.

With many NSW Hobie 14 sailors now venturing into the realm of the 14-Turbo, the NSWHCA Committee has decided that Manno 14s will now be classified as a State Championship level event for the Hobie 14-Turbo.

Please continue below for FAQ regarding the NSWHCA decision to split the State Championships into now three separate events.

MULTI SERIES FORMAT

The NSW Hobie Cat Association will again a split State Championships throughout the 2025 Championship Tour, and 2025/26 NSW Traveller Series. In running a split series, the NSWHCA wishes to encourage our Women & Youth members to develop their skills and sail in a competitive environment. We also recognise that many of our members own and race a number of different classes of Hobie Cat, with many H14 sailors now adventuring into the realm of the H14-Turbo.

At the suggestion of members a number of years ago, the NSWHCA decided to expand the the State Championships to allow Youth, Women and sailors of multiple classes to compete on any Class of Hobie Cat. The NSWHCA hope to both encourage Youth & Women to race on different Hobie classes, and to provide members who race on multiple classes the opportunity to compete in more than one State Championship level event.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IS THIS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR ALL HOBIE CLASSES?

These States are for the H14-Turbo only. However, because the Phil Johnston Memorial Regatta is an OPEN regatta for all OTB catamarans 14ft and under, the H14 cat-rig will be raced in a single division and be scored on Yardstick as per Australian Sailing’s OTB Catamaran Yardstick. Just like the last number of year’s the NSW Hobie sailors have been attending this event, the cat-rig 14s will race against the Arrows, Maricats, Paper Tigers etc. Waves and Dragoon’s are also welcome to come to this event.

And YES, this will be a NSW Traveller Series event, worth 50pts for cat-rig 14s, and 100pts for Turbos!

WHEN WILL OTHER HOBIE CLASSES HAVE THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS?

The State Championships for the H14 Cat-Rig, Women & Youth Divisions will be held around February 2026, whilst the H16 & H18 Open are yet to be announced, but expected to take place around November/December of 2025. Any members who have questions, queries, concerns or suggestions around upcoming State Championships, please get in contact with the NSWHCA Committee.

WHY SPLIT THE FLEETS?

Many of the people that sail H14-Turbos, also sail H16s, H18s and or cat-rig H14s. Additionally, a lot of Women & Youth members are regularly crewing for others on double-handed boats, and don’t always get the chance (or have a boat) to skipper in a regatta for themselves. By providing a separate events for all these classes, it allows many of our members the chance to race in multiple State Championship level events on 14s, 16s, 18s and/or Women & Youth – with different skippers/crews or by themselves!

The NSWHCA wants to see ALL Hobie classes grow, and this is a great way to grow the participation for ALL classes, without affecting the participation in other fleets (i.e., members racing 14-Turbos, resulting in a lack of 16s). It is also a perfect opportunity for all the Hobie Family to get together for another weekend of sailing, and socialising.

CAN I COME IF I DON’T HAVE A H14-TURBO?

Yes, of course! This is a open catamaran regatta, with a Hobie twist! We want as many Hobie Cats (and any 14ft Cat for that matter!), as possible to enjoy the time on and off the water with the Hobie Family!

If you would like the opportunity to race a Hobie 14 for the first time, please get in touch with the NSWHCA Committee ASAP!