Hobie Cat Forums

My son and I were out on a very windy day in Saskatchewan, 30K gusting to 50 k, between the 2 of us we did not have enough weigt to keep the boat down, we did go over a number of times. My son is 15 and was begging for his 1st time going over, after the 4th time he was cold tired and hungry and had enough. It was a great moment for my fealess crew. I convinced him the best was yet to come. We managed to pick up a 3rd body, and with 2 trapezed out we burried the hull a number of times, with the aid of these hydrofoils, as soon as that hull submerged itself I was able to pull it out turning up wind, the crew stayed out on the trapeze and did not bail on me. The foils are a huge asset on a windy day, they slow the pitchpole process right down and give you enough time to recover. After another 4-5 runs up and down the lake without one upset(3 on board) we shut it down for the day and were ready for the next crazy day, I am getting a hobie 18 in 10 days and will have more excitement I am sure.


Marty


Marty

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Raise your sail one foot, and you get ten feet of wind.
起你的一只帆，和你10英尺的。 -- Chinese Proverb
William D. Latinette @ Latrobe, PA, USA w. H14 Turbo X 2... wildlatin23@hotmail.com

It could be said the foils are training wheels, I have sailed for 15 years and enjoy the speed and the trill of pushing the boat to the edge, If I can avoid getting wet on a real windy and typically cooler day then I am fine with that, My 18 will have no foil but with the different hull design may not want to turtle as much. After my 3-4 times out where the foild have proven useful, I would definitely recomend them


Marty

I couldn't care less what anybody says. Opinions are like......

I got the foils too, b/c I'm new to sailing and bought a rocket ship my first time out (and LOVE it). I am also teaching my twin 8yo girls the ropes as I learn them. The last thing I want to do is ruin two potential long-term hobie sailors of sailing.

Training wheels or not, they are the right tool for the job. As I get better and eventually remove them I will eBay them and continue to sing their praises.

The shortsightedness and immaturity of some old salts is real disappointing with such negative comments. C'mon people!!!!

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'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'

I'm not going to give you a hard time about the training wheels, but I will call shenanigans on this:


I've raced in a measured 30 to 35 knots and it isn't fun at all. 50 is thermonuclear.

However, since you're Canadian, you probably meant K(licks); kph, in which case it was only blowing 16 to 27 kts, so I'll cut you some slack.

It was km's and it was crazy........... almost not fun untill I got the extra crew, then we managed

So, how difficult is it to go upwind on a H16 in 30-50 kph wind? Did you reef the main? Were you able to jibe downwind or did you have to tack 270*? This is mind-blowing to me.

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1990 "Formula 1" H16 (# 009)

I've seen a H16 out once in sustained 50mph winds. Three people on board, it had to be shore tacked, and a jib car was ripped out. Plus numerous violent capsizes, in a very short amount of time..

Thermonuclear is an understatement for that kinda wind.

Matt- you might luck out, that was at McConaughy two years ago labor day weekend! Maybe the gods of wind will come back in force for ya!

1st of all to clarify, 30 KMH with gusts to 50KMH, Main was reefed in, tacking a very tight line into the wind, I was not willing to attemp a jibe, I dont think me or my new crew was ready. we did tack turns which were dicey(Once flipped us over backwards). With 2 on board it was was way to much wind, with 3 it was good we stayed up and flew. I did have my jib line come undone from a good knot of many years, retied it on shore with a few other adjustments.