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Hall of Famer - Jeff Alter

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Jeff Alter's sailing experience began at the young age of three when his father (Hobie Alter, also a Hall of Famer) would take the whole family out on the P-Cat for rides at Laguna Beach, California. His father would swim him through the surf line, anchoring the P-Cat down just outside the breakers and they would enjoy the day's sail. As he grew a little older, he crewed with his brother (Hobie Alter, Junior, still another Hall of Famer) on a Hobie 14.

As he grew older, Jeff skippered a 14 with a crew, since he was not heavy enough to sail it alone. It is not easy to hold down a big boat like that when you are still very young. Hobie, Sr. built several small boats; the Hobie 10, 12 and 3.5, all of which Jeff competed in at local Hobie Regatta's. Jeff also crewed on a Hobie 16 with his father, brother and other "A Fleet" skippers on many occasions.

It was at the 1976 Hobie 16 World Championships in Hawaii, when he was 13 years old, that Jeff and his brother attempted to qualify but were unable to make the cut. Jeff jumped ship and crewed for Dick Beuchamp. He was thrilled to be in the top 10 finishers for his first major regatta.

By the time Jeff was 15 he knew that sailing was definitely in his blood. He started skippering his own Hobie 16, learning and competing. His hard work paid off. Within two years, at the age of 17 and sailing with Christian Banks (15 years old), he place 9th overall in his first World Championship as a skipper. That regatta was in the Virgin Islands. That event really launched a rocketship of a career for young Jeff Alter.

In 1982, Jeff won his first U.S. Nationals on a Hobie 18, and then went on to repeat this accomplishment again in 1983. Both Jeff and Hobie, Jr. decided to test their abilities by having a go at the Olympics in the Tornado Class in 1984. Jeff had never set foot on one of these Olympic boats until two months before the U.S. Trials. Jeff and Junior campaigned separate boats and were able to train against one another. They worked hard for two months. And then came the final test.

Jeff and Junior, competing against sailors that have dedicated their lives to nothing but the Tornado, sailors that knew every trick in the book about the design, sailors that have experimented with numerous sails, masts, rudders, and centerboards, somehow managed to place in the top five of the trials. Jeff took 3rd place honors and Junior captured 5th.

Jeff said, "I had great upwind and downwind speed but got killed on reach's, which blew me away. Typically reaching is very simple but I learned that on a Tornado it is done much like the "wild thing" is done down wind today. All in all, I was pleased with my Olympic Campaign." However, Jeff found sailing a stricter one design class more enjoyable. He went on to say, "It was very difficult to have the confidence in my boat and sails in the tornado class." So, Jeff went back to racing the Hobie 16 and won Three National Championships with 1986, 87, and 88 US Nationals victories.

As for distance races, Jeff competed in two Hogsbreath 1000 races placing 4th the first year and 2nd the second year. The second year, his team lost by a heart-breaking few minutes. This all after sailing 670 miles on a Hobie 16. Jeff said, "We were within 50 miles of the finish line and we were following the leader by only a seven second margin. We did all we could to pass the Australians in that last 50 miles. Needless to say, we did not succeed."

Branching out even more, Jeff sailed the ProSail Circuit and Ultimate Yacht Race when they popped to the surface of the racing scene. He primarily competed on a Hobie 21. Jeff said, "This was great fun and a new twist to racing." He had an opportunity to sail on a Formula 40, so when he finished his race on the Hobie 21, he would sail alongside Scott Allen's 40 footer, and jump aboard. The crew would sail the little boat to shore while Jeff raced with the big boys.

Then, Jeff became interested in the Hobie 17. In 1989 he placed 3rd (Junior won that regatta) on the Hobie 17 at the infamous races at the Gorge in Oregon despite pulling the clew out of his mainsail twice in two different races. Two year later, however, he captured still another National Championship on the Hobie 17.

The Hobie Cat Company then put a new breed on the market place - the Hobie Miracle 20. The first Hobie 20 Nationals were a big gala affair at Lake Tahoe. Jeff came, saw and conquered, winning the very first Hobie 20 Nationals. Jeff went on to say, "My Hobie 21 and Tornado experience helped me win this Nationals." He went on to campaign the Miracle for several years. "I really enjoyed racing this new exciting boat," he said.

Not being done yet and quite out of practice on the Hobie 16, Jeff nonetheless came back to the old standby design and won the 1996 Hobie 16 U.S. Continental Championships held in Santa Cruz, California. This event was in 18-25 knot winds and big seas. "This was my kind of sailing environment. My crew, Kathy Ward, and I love to sail in these conditions." Jeff said.

The event was not a walk away for Jeff by any means. Keith Christiansen had been dominating the Hobie 16 class for quite a while and was a force to be reckoned with. The regatta ended in a tie with the throwout being the determining factor. Keith's throwout was 15, while Jeff's was a 13.

All great sailors seem to have other sports they love; Jeff is no different -- his obsession is dirt bikes. He said, "I really enjoy off-road motorcycle's. I have obtained expert status and can compete with the best of them. After a long sailing season, I enjoy getting on something that I can control with just a twist of the throttle." Since moving to Idaho with the family business and living within minutes from a great ski hill, it's a little hard to sail when there is 8'-0" of snow on the ground. During the winter, snowboarding has become his latest passion.

And now for the newest sailing toy -- the Hobie Tri-Foiler is the current rage. Jeff said, "Out of all the years that I have sailed I can honestly say that there isn't anything much more exciting than foiling along and looking down to see the speedometer hit 40 MPH. It's a real thrill."

Catamaran Sailor

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