Hobie Cat Forums

According to windfinder, the winds are 47 average, and 52MPH gusts, but yet there is only 1-2 foot waves! It looks quite flat. I love being on the bay, as the water is always flat. Too bad I am chicken, or I would be out there!

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Steve
1979 Hobie 16 "Orange Crusher"

Do you need crew?

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Bill 404 21SE

We might need 6 of us all trapped out!

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Steve
1979 Hobie 16 "Orange Crusher"

ASDASC - Any time you're outside your comfort zone it's wise to pass and wait for a better day. You made the right decision. You're not chicken; you used good judgement.
I've gone out on my H16 in big winds before [about 30-35MPH] with 3 other experienced adults, dressed very warm [wind chill factor], life jackets, reefed the main [it helps keep the boat from popping up. It'll come up slowly], traveled out... We discussed everything before we went out. Myself and the other person on the tramp with me couldn't see a thing [buckets of water/spraying our faces]. The two people trapped out told me which way to go. We lasted about 20 minutes - drenched, cold, exhausted. I had to replace some of the rivits in my corner castings when I got back home. They vibrated loose.
I've crewed on other friend's H16s twice in these conditions. Everyone on the boat has to know what they're doing, and you still discuss everything before going out.
47-52MPH is insane. You did the right thing.

25 and up takes the fun out of sailing and it becomes hard work. The risk of injury and equipment damage isn't worth it.

50 MPH winds= stupid day to even rig+ good day to sit at home and drink a cool one
As your boat turns over you will know that this was a mistake
I agree anything much more than 25MPH winds could cause boat and crew really serious damage
I used to be Hobie Admiral Gary

Oh, trust me, I was never considering it. Mostly just making a joke. It was blowing really hard, and stayed over 30MPH from 8am to midnight. My cottage is on an island by itself about 400' off shore, and I changed my plans to go home that night, and spent the night on the island. I didn't want to risk taking my pontoon boat back the short distance to the mainland. It was getting dark, cold, and nasty. I got up at 6am and motored thru the 10MPH winds to my car and made it home fine.

I want to put the cat in the water in a couple weeks, after I unload all the other items stored for the winter from the garage that I stack on top/around the Hobie for the winter.

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Steve
1979 Hobie 16 "Orange Crusher"

Nope, you just have to pick the right sailing craft...windsurfer.

Windsurfing in winds up to 40+ MPH is the ultimate form of sailing for performance/high-wind junkies. No, I would not recommend taking your Hobie out in winds over 30 MPH unless you are very experienced (and for most sailors, anything over 20 MPH is more work/terror than fun).

If you want to enjoy true high-wind performance sailing, they only craft to use is a windsurfer.

sm

20 to 25 is a blast on my Bravo as long as the swells are not too bad. It certainly is more work, and I get an occasional bath, but the water is warm. Anything much over 25 is probably not doable for me unless I reef the sail. Under 15 is just a pleasure cruise.

I can't believe you get to live in Abaco! Best place in the world. I spent 9 days there with the wife and kids a few years back and loved it.

Have a drink for me at Nipper's if you get over there!

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Steve
1979 Hobie 16 "Orange Crusher"

Once having been here, everyone comes back. Make it soon!

I live on Guana and hit Nipper's for dinner nearly every Friday night. Will have a drink (or maybe more) for you

Awesome, thanks!

mmmmm, peas and rice, baked mac & cheese, fried snapper, and a cold Kalik - life doesn't get any better.

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Steve
1979 Hobie 16 "Orange Crusher"

When the winds are high it's best to sail on somebody elses boat

I love high wind sailing, but I consider high wind 20 - 25 mph solo and 25 -35 mph w/crew. Actually, anything above 30 mph is pushing it and tacking becomes very difficult (my jib is furled at that point) and pitch poles become spectacular. I've been demasted twice (once on the water and once on land) and have replaced both crossbars on my H17Sport this season due to stress cracks (not related to the demastings).