Hobie Cat Forums

The 2011 Everglades Challenge will begin on March 5th! There are a number of Tandem and Adventure Islands competing this year so we will be tracking and cheering for them. Among them is our Director of Engineering, Jim Czarnowski (aka Penguin Man), competing with his wife (Ocean Diva) for their third time on the TI!

http://www.watertribe.com/Events/EvergladesChallenge/Default.aspx

And for any of you who make it down to the start, please post some photos for the rest of us!

_________________
Brendan Castile

At least 3 people from Miami area, a dozen or so members of the West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron (mostly around the Tampa-St Pete area), plus FusionEng of this forum will be there.

In addition to FusionEng and myself, what other owners of AI/TIs plan to be there?

Keith

_________________
I sail: S FL, Key Largo, Everglades, 10,000 Islands, Cape Romano, Cedar Key

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

The EC will have a major Hobie showing, 4 TI & 2 AI's. The weather does not look ideal, light and coming from the South. I have my boat all packed up and will be leaving for Florida on Thursday.

One big news: PenguinMan has the new prototype rudders!!! Will report on the performance.

Chekika: My course will take me past your campground on Cape Sable. Keep a lookout...

_________________
Paul
DogsLife
2011 Adventure Island (Little Dog)
2010 Tandem Island (Big Dog: "We keep a leg up on the competition")
2001 Wilderness Systems Woodsman Kayak 14.5 (Blue Dog)

http://dogslifeadventures.blogspot.com/

Hi DogsLife aka Paul,

I'll be there (camped on East Cape Sable Tues-Thur, maybe Fri) with a parawing shade and a few extra cold beers watching the AI/TIs go by--they can stop and have a beer if they like, maybe a fish sandwich--I hope the Chief won't consider that being anymore than sociable.

That looks like a smart TI trailer.

Good Luck!!

Keith

_________________
I sail: S FL, Key Largo, Everglades, 10,000 Islands, Cape Romano, Cedar Key

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

East Cape it is. From your reports I hear that the beach is clear of debris. A cold one at that point of the race would be nice.

The trailer is a modified $300 small boat trailer from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-cap ... -5002.html

_________________
Paul
DogsLife
2011 Adventure Island (Little Dog)
2010 Tandem Island (Big Dog: "We keep a leg up on the competition")
2001 Wilderness Systems Woodsman Kayak 14.5 (Blue Dog)

http://dogslifeadventures.blogspot.com/

"The weather does not look ideal, light and coming from the South"

Ouch! That's a lot of peddling and tacking the first half of the race. Good for the kayakers, but not so good for the sailors.

Those forecasts could change between now and then. Best of luck.

Ted

I agree, Ted, but, those 10-day forecasts are pretty useless after a couple days. About the only thing I'm willing to predict (guess) is that once the WaterTribers round East Cape Sable they will have an easterly to southeasterly wind--on their nose. That will make it tough for sail boats to get across the eastern part of Florida Bay--it is very shallow at best, as you know. If you have to do a lot of tacking, you can't make good use of the (shallow) channels.

And, DogsLife, the beach is clear getting into East Cape Sable. I'll be camped about 100-200 yds east of the pilings. Nobody seems to know for sure what those pilings were used for--best guess is a cattle operation before 1947.

This time of the year there can be a lot of tarpon in front of ECS. They can be pretty entertaining early mornings. It is still a bit early for American Crocodiles--they take over the area in late March, their nesting season.

Keith

_________________
I sail: S FL, Key Largo, Everglades, 10,000 Islands, Cape Romano, Cedar Key

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

Nice looking boat Dogs.
Interesting to see you have the old (much better) black sail bag.

_________________
Mickey
2011 AI Golden Papaya
2011 TI Golden Papaya

Good Luck guys. Try and post some pre-race pics so we can check out the competition. This is always a great race.

_________________
bobby nabors
Florida, USA
info@LiquidSurfandSail.com
www.LiquidSurfandSail.com

Some TI's are ahead of Weta's! amazing...

Dan

_________________
Dan St. Gean
'82 H 18
'96 H Wave

[Some TI's are ahead of Weta's! amazing...

Dan
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:00 am]

Dan can you interpret Weta's for those who may not know whether it is a location or competitor

_________________
Mickey
2011 AI Golden Papaya
2011 TI Golden Papaya

I can't say for sure, but I'm assuming that the Weta is the trimaran / somewhat competitor of the AI/TI (if money is no object)
http://www.wetamarine.com/



Does anyone know if there are any other modifications on the AI's or TI's competing in the race? I remember that last year they tried the Jib on the TI.

_________________

The WETAs are like fiberglass Hobies. And about 2x as fast, top end.
http://wetatrimarans.com/

Here's one ready to get in the race.

_________________
"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality."
- Ayn Rand

Here are a couple pictures of a second WETA in this years EC2011.





The WETA is a much more "serious" boat than the AI/TI, it costs double a TI, and weighs more than a TI. It does not have a Hobie Mirage Drive.

The red WETA in NOHUHU's picture and this white one are in this year's EC2011. Last year there were 2 WETA's entered. I believe both encountered mechanical problems and DNF.

The Everglades Challenge (300 mi adventure race) is a great place to test new boats and crew. It is brutal on the poorly designed boat and the ill-prepared. It strongly encourages a better design by the dedicated boat builder.

Keith

_________________
I sail: S FL, Key Largo, Everglades, 10,000 Islands, Cape Romano, Cedar Key

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

And the overall winner is...

Randy Smyth finished the 300-mile race a little before midnight (ca 41 hrs) in his self-designed and built trimaran:


A 2-person cat, an olympic-class Tornado, finished a few minutes later:


These are unofficial results. The Tornado set the course record last year at about 22 hrs.

The AI/TIs are doing very well, but it looks like a sea kayaker will be coming in 3rd place.

Keith

_________________
I sail: S FL, Key Largo, Everglades, 10,000 Islands, Cape Romano, Cedar Key

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein