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PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:38 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 1:59 pm
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Location: Vienna, VA
Having had the AI for a few months now and worked out some of the kinks and capabilities I’ve been thinking about stretching the distances. Also while looking at possible regatta options I have been eyeing the point-to-point races (in part because I recall from decades back that they had good post-race parties).

How far has anyone made it in a day?

A 100 mile point-to-point daylight trip would be an interesting accomplishment threshold. Admittedly you’d need favorable conditions and in my case I’d need to work up to this but someone must have hit this already. I looked at the water tribe splits and it’s not clear anyone got 100+ in an AI there. With an idiosyncratic prescribed course, support gear, and pacing for multi-day round the clock movement I’m not sure that’s the right benchmark of capability anyway.

I’m planning to take off work soon on a favorable wind day and get the wife to drop me off early in the a.m. near her work. From there I’ll make the 40-mile trip to my parents place. This leaves me good support and bailout options. If that goes well I’m sure it’s inevitable that I would start laddering up. In terms of the 100 yes I know one can sail at night and I’ve seen the light rigs people have worked out. Making these distances requires me to be in waters also used by some larger vessels and experience tells me that this is best confined to a daylight affair.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:07 pm 
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Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2005 11:04 pm
Posts: 598
Location: Hawaii, Big Island
Your problem will be if the wind drops off. Not if it's too much.

If it dies off, then the question becomes how long you can pedal.

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PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:47 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 1:59 pm
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Location: Vienna, VA
To be fair this isn't as risky as it might seem. Weather forecast would play a MAJOR role in planning and on the probable route I would never be more than a couple of miles from a landing spot. I have experience with both 24 hour mountain bike and adventure racing so if the wind turned I’ve got no worries about my ability to pedal or paddle to an aborted pick-up location. Frankly based on behavior history with whitewater I should probably worry more about what happens at the other end of the wind spectrum.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:14 pm 
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Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:48 pm
Posts: 129
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
I have covered approx 35 mile as the crow flies and probably traveled 50 to 60 mile doing it. It was shortly after getting my AI. I wanted to do something that was once a windsurf contest called Follow the Gull.

The object is to sail from the start of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia Beach to Fisherman's Island where the Bridge lands on the Eastern Shore and back, its about 20 miles each way.

I managed to break my strut support and get blown out of the Bay. Tack as I might I couldn't get back into the Bay and wound up pedaling my A$$ off managing to get back about an hour after dark.

I made the same mistake counting on the wind forecast being accurate when I sailed to downtown Norfolk and wound up getting back 2 hours after pitch dark sailing into a crab pot infested bay. They will wrap around your rudder and jerk you to a dead stop.

I covered about 35 to 40 mile that day when I had planned to sail about 20. Both trips were about 6 or 7 hours starting with excellent conditions that were supposed to hold steady and I really thought I knew what I was doing.

All that said I would still like to do a Sail the Chesapeake Bay Water Tribe style. For a start on a Mid-Atlantic something or other it would probably be good to just get together have some fun and kick around ideas.
gwiz


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:25 pm 
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Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 3:29 pm
Posts: 142
Location: Dublin, Ireland
That's some going Gwiz.

I know what you mean about crab pots having been skewered on a lobster pot the other evening. Normally, I can see them well in advance but the latest guy to set his pots has taken to leaving very long trailing lines and I ran right over one of them. My first concern was the mirage drive fins which I quickly retracted....while trying to furl the sail which I couldn't reach from the seat....but luckily they were okay. Then I noticed the rope wrapped around the rudder and knew I had a problem.

It took a while to free myself and the thought did occur to cut the rope but I know the guy and he has to make a living so I didn't want to do that unless absolutely necessary. But they are a problem and can cause damage.

I tend to keep the shore in sight at all times with my worry being sudden fog banks. They don't come that often but when they do it's serious stuff. I'm now likely to invest in a GPS so I can be a bit more daring and use a compass with bearings for backup.

There are nice trips I could make along the coast once my confidence improves with lots of places to beach if the going got tough.

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PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:31 pm 
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Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:12 am
Posts: 441
Location: Florida
My personal best, mileage wise, so far was 40.4 miles one day.

Started at 7am and traveled 19.2 miles - average speed was 5.6 miles per hour (gps) for that leg. Did a little side trip & ate lunch before returning to my starting point. Trip ended at 3:30 pm with me doing a total of 40.4 miles that day.

I had over 3 hours of daylight left and wind was still good so I could have easily added another 15 miles but called it quits.

Given good wind and a long day I should think the Island easily able to cover 50 to 60 miles in a day.

Yakaholic


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:23 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:21 pm
Posts: 2498
Location: Central Florida
My longest to date is 38.4 miles, almost a year ago, in OK but varying winds. It was very enjoyable as we (3 AI's) were in areas we don't normally sail (West Maui) but walked funny for a couple of days with that much time in the seat!

Our normal target is 25 miles in 4-6 hours including a lunch break. We have learned that standing up in the AI for 2-5 min. once or twice during a break (Lunch) makes a big difference in how we are move at landing. (Must be old age creeping up on us! :) ) In perfect winds and course, we could do 60-80 miles plus.

Here our biggest issue is better winds bring bigger waves. 20 mph winds usually rewards us with 6' wind waves. A normal great day out here starts with light winds to setup, then enough wind to sail in for launch and warm up, then building to 15-20's with no waves for maybe an hour where we get our higher speed runs in. Then the waves build and we start downwind sailing up to 4 miles out and back depending on the wind and waves. Lunch off a beach tied to a buoy, a few passes 200-300' off the beaches then with good winds we have our 6' waves to play down the coast for a couple hours of wave surfing and land.

It may sound like we're wild, but we are very safety oriented. We all have FRS/GMRS radios mounted to our vests (always worn), surfboard leashes on all boats we wear for the bigger waves & wind. We carry a Marine radio, an EPIRB, hand pump, 100' throw rope bags each, spare parts, multiple tool kits & first aid kits. Everything is leashed.

Good luck with your regatta plans, wish I could be there.

Kayaking Bob


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:50 am 
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Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 3:29 pm
Posts: 142
Location: Dublin, Ireland
[quote="reconlon"]
It may sound like we're wild, but we are very safety oriented. We all have FRS/GMRS radios mounted to our vests (always worn), surfboard leashes on all boats we wear for the bigger waves & wind. We carry a Marine radio, an EPIRB, hand pump, 100' throw rope bags each, spare parts, multiple tool kits & first aid kits. Everything is leashed.

Well Kayaking Bob, you are certainly well prepared. What spares do you carry as I will most likely have to order them from Hobie and wait for them to arrive? All of the other safety equipment you mention with the exception of the EPIRB I have for sea kayaking. In addition to a tow rope, I use the throw rope attached to a waist belt so it's always on my person.

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PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 2:33 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:21 pm
Posts: 2498
Location: Central Florida
Try this link to start: http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewt ... highlight= This includes my toolkit and small extra parts. Make sure your rudder pin (and spares) are the new harder ones with the "D" shaped head (much better, thanks Hobie!).

I also carry a complete Aka Brace Assembly #79523101 with a cotter pin for quick change out on the water and a spare Mirage Drive if going more than a comfortable paddle distance from shore. Be sure to leash everything on the boat (i.e. Mirage Drives).

Here's a few more simple Modification ideas that you might like:

http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... 5551099554
(pictures 2/3rds the way down the page)
http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... 5841066944
http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... 4631012594
http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... 4341013434
http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... 3771060684
http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... 8981060684

Happy Sailing,

Kayaking Bob


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 Post subject: 28 miles
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:23 pm 
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Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:31 pm
Posts: 141
Location: New Jersey
28 miles in a morning - my longest trip so far

I am hoping to take a few days off and maybe sail from NJ to Delaware from Cape May - probably a 35-45 mile trip one way

Not sure of the total miles but it would be a round trip, one way on Sat and the other day on Sun or Monday

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:34 pm 
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Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:53 pm
Posts: 240
Hey Bob,

Maybe you should start printing all your great ideas to Adobe PDF files and hosting on a website, KFS changed their forums and now none of your links work :(

Do you have instructions or materials for the latest version of your spray shield?

Jeremy


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:07 am 
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 3323
Location: South Florida
Regarding the WaterTribe miles per day achievements, Felicianor said:
Quote:
I looked at the water tribe splits and it’s not clear anyone got 100+ in an AI there.

People do make 100 mi days. In the 2007 WaterTribe Everglades Challenge, Carter Johnson, paddling a surf ski (no sail) did the 300 mi trip in 3 days, 2 hrs, 45 min. If he had not gotten bogged (literally) down in the last 25 mi stretch across Florida Bay, he would have done it in well under 3 days.

Other sail boats do it in considerably less than 3 days, but they usually have 2 man crews. This year the winning 2-man crew did it in 2 days.

Nick Hall (aka Pelican) has sailed an AI in a couple ECs in under 5 days--that certainly included some night time sailing.

I am sure an AI will put in some 100 mi days--it just requires a skilled, very fit person, proper equipment, some helpful winds, and some night sailing. It could be done off Alaska where they have 16-18 hrs of daylight.

Long-distance AI sailing is definitely a worthwhile goal.

Keith

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"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

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:36 am 
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Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:47 pm
Posts: 82
Location: NW FLorida Panhandle
100 miles in a day on an AI would be pretty brutal. I've sailed the "Round the Island" race in NW Florida a few times in a Hobie 16 (which is considerably faster than the AI). It's a 100 mile route from Okaloosa Island to Pensacola Beach in the Gulf of Mexico and then back to Okaloosa Island via the Santa Rosa Sound. It starts to get a bit rough around the 50 mile mark on a H16 but there have always been light winds when I participated so that added to the time and agony.

I'm planning a 100 mile expedition on AI's this fall with both kayaking legs and sailing legs. For the sailing leg we're planning on covering 25 miles a day if the wind will cooperate. Based on my test runs, it seems to be a good average. I'm sure you can get more mileage than that though, it just depends on your comfort level.

If anyone in the NW Florida area is interested you're more than welcome to come along. The route we're taking is below:

From Crestview, FL via the Shoal River, connecting with the Yellow River and on to Blackwater Bay. (3-4 days in kayak mode. I'm using one Ama for support and lashing the other Ama/Sail/ and gear on top of the crossbars.)

From Blackwater Bay we'll sail to Pensacola Beach and then to Fort Walton Beach/Okaloosa Island via the Santa Rosa Sound. (2-3 days hopefully!)
Image


Last edited by weinerdog on Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:47 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:21 pm
Posts: 2498
Location: Central Florida
JollyGreen, here's an updated post, just for you. :)

I couldn't tell which ones were linked before, so I linked all that applied.

I also have pictures (pictures only so far) of all my mods I've made to my AI's on my web site:
http://www.kayakingbob.com/hobie-ai


Try this link to start: http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewt ... highlight= This includes my toolkit and small extra parts. Make sure your rudder pin (and spares) are the new harder ones with the "D" shaped head (much better, thanks Hobie!).

I also carry a complete Aka Brace Assembly #79523101 with a cotter pin for quick change out on the water and a spare Mirage Drive if going more than a comfortable paddle distance from shore. Be sure to leash everything on the boat (i.e. Mirage Drives).

Here's a few more simple Modification ideas that you might like:
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=60165
(pictures 2/3rds the way down the page)
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=38522
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=40862
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=45483
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=54970
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=57534
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=60177
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=61657
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=61925
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=63037
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=66158
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=66319
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=67626

Happy Sailing,

Kayaking Bob


Last edited by KayakingBob on Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 1:09 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 1:59 pm
Posts: 20
Location: Vienna, VA
Parenting (4 and 2 y.o.), my work, and evaluating a possible relocation for the wife’s job sucked up the summer/fall portion of the sailing season without my taking a crack at any really big number. It’s funny that the alert came over to me today indicating someone had reopened this topic. I had just run to the park with the boys and the lab for a picnic lunch. The wind kept clearing the table and I was talking to my older son about how this “would be a really good windsurfing day.â€


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