Container 5 Hoisted into Place

Container 5 Crane Stuck

Container 5 Arrives!

Hard to find good help...

Its hard to find good help, but Kev is pretty good for a little guy.

First 15 Boats are Unloaded

15 Boats Packed into a 40 foot Container

First 15 of the 60 New 16s to be built

Hopper, Steve and Brooks Discussing Logistics

Competitor's Country Flags are up

The Build Begins

The 5th container has yet to arrive, but we are moving forward in anticipation of its arrival later this morning.

Ya think Kev loves Hobie?

I think Kevin Winchester "Kevlar" is the number one Hobie fan. Hobie racer, former Hobie dealer and beach team regular. Kev always has a helping hand and a positive ... and often funny outlook on things. He had a pretty nice Hobie "tat"on his shoulder last time we got together. Well, it's been improved! Kev says it has to do with the direction of his life. Check it out!

4 out of 5 is good right?

We received 4 of the 5 containers today. Problem is... the 5th has all the tents, tools, boat dollies... all the stuff we need to start building boats. Soooo, we are still holding. We hope to get number 5 in the morning. Hey, I like a day off like anybody, but when the work week is reduced and the work load stays the same? Yikes! We shop for tools tomorrow if it doesn't get here by noon!

Container #4 arrives

Hobie Beach Team gets some training in

Some of our beach team (Kev, Pete and Dave) can't just sit around waiting. They got a bit of training in over the past few days in preperation for the boat building event. I suspect these trips to the gym will be un-needed in the next week. This is no picnic on the beach! Its hot, muggy and we have a LOT to do!

Hobie Beach Team Training

We have Boats!

Hobie Headquarters update Monday August 9th

Touring Weihai

We are still waiting for our boats to be released from customs. Hoping to get started later today... lots to do to be ready for the teams that arrive next weekend!

In the meantime, we had a guided tour of some of the local sites yesterday. The city of Weihai is small by China standards, but at 2 million people!  Pretty large by my thinking. Most housing is high rise. The area is coastal and hilly. Modern, clean and very green and well manicured. Lots of crops are grown in the outlying areas. Fishing boats ply the local waters. Driving (not me!) is wild. Taxis dodge in and out of lanes. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way here. Seems they get an over-lap and gain lane rights over the other cars! Nascar trained drivers?

Happiness Gate

Manicured park. They play soft soothing music along the walk... nice really!

Site Inspection

We looked in on the progress at the event site yesterday. Large sandy beach, clear cool water and flat due to the side-offshore winds thus far.

The hosts are nearing completion of the club house building which will be the headquarters for the event. It is to be designated the IHCA permanent China competition venue and Weihai sail training base after the Worlds are completed. Very exciting for the local sailing community!

Hooper, Matt and Steve in front of the Hobie Club House
Seaview (Host)  hotel is far left tower in the background

Guess who had a B-Day?

John “hoops” Hooper - Beach Captain for the 19 Hobie Cat 16 Worlds turns ???? something today.

Today's Insider Report - Jacques Bernier

We have it from our inside reporter, JB that the Noumea Hobie Team official uniforms arrived today.

We have not been able to confirm this just yet..........so for now it is "alleged".

Noumea Hobie Team official uniforms ??