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Sailing out of a Harbor
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Author:  Paticus [ Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Sailing out of a Harbor

So, I am going to launch my Hobie 16 and sail out of the Santa Cruz Harbor. All my life I have only launched from the beach.

This should be a no brainer right? Any tips from the vets?

Author:  Bob123 [ Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sailing out of a Harbor

Sailing in an out of the harbor is the easy part. If you are heading out or in directly upwind, you need to be confident that you can nail you tacks. If you do blow the tack and wind up on the harbor mouth breakwater you need to know how to reverse the rudders and back wind the main to get off the breakwater, swimming or paddling around may be an option.

The hard part is getting on board and away from the dock and then landing back at the dock, securing a line on the dock and getting off the boat. You either have to do a balance beam walk down a hull from the dock to the tramp or bring the boat along side and take off. Returning to the dock presents even more problems. Somehow you have to turn directly into the wind and coast right to the dock so that your crew can secure a line on the dock. A Hobie goes dead in the water and starts going backward very quickly. You first attempt will almost certainly under shoot and you will have to get under way without hitting the dock and try again. If you do over shoot, you now have a ding to repair. Lowering the main and paddling is an option.

Don't forget that you have to raise and lower the main from the tramp. Departing and returning from a dock can be done and it can be done single handed. It is almost inevitable that you will ram the dock and get to brush up on ding repair as part of the learning process. Having somebody on the dock with a boat hook as a back up, if possible for initial landing attempts would be awfully good insurance.

Author:  Paticus [ Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sailing out of a Harbor

Bob123 wrote:
Sailing in an out of the harbor is the easy part. If you are heading out or in directly upwind, you need to be confident that you can nail you tacks. If you do blow the tack and wind up on the harbor mouth breakwater you need to know how to reverse the rudders and back wind the main to get off the breakwater, swimming or paddling around may be an option.

The hard part is getting on board and away from the dock and then landing back at the dock, securing a line on the dock and getting off the boat. You either have to do a balance beam walk down a hull from the dock to the tramp or bring the boat along side and take off. Returning to the dock presents even more problems. Somehow you have to turn directly into the wind and coast right to the dock so that your crew can secure a line on the dock. A Hobie goes dead in the water and starts going backward very quickly. You first attempt will almost certainly under shoot and you will have to get under way without hitting the dock and try again. If you do over shoot, you now have a ding to repair. Lowering the main and paddling is an option.

Don't forget that you have to raise and lower the main from the tramp. Departing and returning from a dock can be done and it can be done single handed. It is almost inevitable that you will ram the dock and get to brush up on ding repair as part of the learning process. Having somebody on the dock with a boat hook as a back up, if possible for initial landing attempts would be awfully good insurance.


Bob- great information, thanks for your input!

Author:  hobie18rich [ Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sailing out of a Harbor

Which side of the harbor are you launching out of?
Yacht club side there is a Dinghy ramp by the coast guard building pretty easy to use. We normally put the main up and roll down the ramp on beach wheels.
There is also a hoist that can be used.

Boat ramp side is a nice open ramp and is relatively easy to sail in and out of. Tack early before getting to close to the sides and if the dredge pipe is out stay away from it.

Author:  gary eudy [ Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sailing out of a Harbor

Really good paddle ready to go the good paddles will have a boat hook on the handle :lol:
Former Hobie Admiral Gary
A dock line or two is also good to have handy

Author:  jkkartz [ Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sailing out of a Harbor

Check the tide times before you go. An incoming tide and upwind can make it impossible to make any head way.

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