O rly?

Last Saturday, we had a "Fast and Fun" in Kirkland, on lake Washington. See http://www.ussailing.org/multihull/fast&fun.htm
We used our five Hobie Cat Waves from Sail Sand Point, and a dozen Hobie volunteers to take the people out on this Free outreach program. More than 100 new "sailors" were introduced to sailing. Our local Hobie Cat dealer, Dan Carpenter, Hobie Cats Northwest, again brought back the traveling Hobie Cat Kayak program for this event. All models of the Hobie Kayak, including the Adventure Island were available for use. Most people took advantage of the Wave rides and the kayaks. The Adventure Island was a big success, and at least one was sold from this event.

This Saturday, Hobie Cat 101 will be held at Sail Sand Point. See http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/ for more info.

Caleb Tarleton

Who is this guy? Is he on another planet?



You have GOT to be kidding...

That certainly applies to any catamaran or small monohull more than it would an Adventure Island.

Sheesh.

I suggest that people like this "guy" (really trying to be nice here) "do something... anything" positive for the sport themselves and spend a little less time being negative about other ACTUAL positive results being achieved. Especially with NO actual knowledge of the products being discussed.

This really does get old guys.

At the end of the day this is mostly a catamaran racing forum and catamaran racers are a small part of the sailing population, so we don't get the view of the general public here. Depends how you define "the future of sailing", but if it is sales volume then the comment has merit. If it means the future of racing cats then I agree it has no chance. These boats appear to be selling very well.

A guy at my office loves the idea so much he just bought one with the full sailing kit (this is someone who has a cat that he built himself). He is very pleased with it. Anything that gets people sailing is a good thing. This appears to be a very versatile alternative that will probably get more people out sailing than racing catamarans.

Gareth

Awesome, I love it! I thought you all would bite, but I didn't think you would bite that hard. Actually I was having a lot of fun with my post related to the “future of sailing” and boy did you guys take it line, hook, and sinker. Of course Wouter’s response was predictable as usual; however I was not expecting him to actually say something positive about Hobie.

Actually we just had a big demo day in our area with cats and the Islands, and many many of the people who tried the Island (including some expert cat sailors) absolutely loved the Island. We had about 15 knots of winds so it was great conditions for the Island. Our sailing club already has several members that will be racing with Islands. So when there is no wind on the race course the Islands can pull us cat sailors back to shore.

Is the future of sailing in the Island, maybe not fully but it is for sure part of the future of sailing. I can tell you our local dealer is selling a ton of these things and what’s amazing is many of these purchases are by very experienced sailors.

Also is the Hobie 16 the future of sailing, well for sure, it will continue to be a part of the future of sailing. We just had a guy locally that sails a Super Cat and races other exotic cats (including an A Cat) go for his first sail on a H16. He sailed the H16 in 20 knots of wind and told me he had the time of his life. I am still amazed after all these years the H16 is still going strong and will continue for many years to come for sure much to the benefit of the multihull sailing community. I know you all do not like to hear this but oh well get over it. And I still can’t understand why you all want to kill such a strong multihull class, when you keep talking about promoting the sport. Your hatred of Hobie really has blinded many of you on this forum.

Just relax, take a deep breath, and go sailing. You all just need to get over your hatred of Hobie and realize Hobie is good for the sailing community and for the future of sailing. What Performance Catamaran Co., and other sailboat manufactures are doing in general is of course also great for our sailing community. Really are we a community of multihull sailors or just a bunch of biased, negative sailors, stabbing each other in the back?

RRRREEEEELLLLLLAAAAXXXXX!!!!!!!!!

I don't think that anyone hates Hobie, I like them actually, I just don't think that the AI is the next big thing in sailing.

As for the 16, they are alot of fun and very fast, but compare them to some of the modern boats and they are old dinosaurs.

Maybe Hate is to strong of a word but I will say there are many on this forum that have a strong dislike for the Hobies.

I however believe that the AI will be an incredible boost for sailing in general and current Hobie numbers are showing very strong sales and responses by those that have purchased them (sailor and non-sailors alike) are very impressed with its performance and versatility.

Some sailors on this forum may think the H16 is a dinosaur but its more like a shark, even though sharks lived during the time of the dinosaur they are still very much a part of the current Oceans ecosystem and there is no sign that they are going extinct, as a matter of fact many recent species have come and gone. The H16 is here to stay when many other cat designs will come and go (many cat designs have come and gone sense the H16 came out). I hate to keep this whole topic going about the H16 but all Hobie manufactures year after year continue to see strong H16 sales numbers. In India they had there first H16 nationals and new fleets develop there. Greece also recently had H16 nationals with again new fleet development. The same has taken place in Asia. Finally South America will soon have its first H16 national regatta, with again new fleet development. There are some new developments related to the H16 in other countries. The H16 continues to see strong fleets participation in established markets, and in many areas renewed development. I know none of you follow the whole H16 movement but I do and its great to see this great class of multihull continue to sail strong after so many years. It’s really great for our multihull sailing community. I realize some of you just do not get it and that is fine, I wish you the best in what ever you sail. Really I have no dislike for any of the boats you sail – sail long and prosper!

The Hobie crowd got to expect some retorts when you poke fun of "those stuck in the old world of carbon fiber cats (heck the kevlar/carbon cats are not even the future of sailing).". If you dont want the obvious feedback, dont post stuff like that but phrase your opinions with a little less camel hair glued to them.
It seems like there is a "the world hates us" feeling among Hobie sailors on this forum. I dont see why this is, as it wasn't the Hobie sailors who changed the now infamous HCA edict about only Hobie boats on the line at Hobie events. I am pretty certain that most enlightened readers of this forum is able to distinguish between a Hobie sailor/owner and HCA/Hobie Co. and what the latter issue. This wallowing in your own misery is really getting old, especially from a company rep. who really should look forward and let the matter die of its own from old age.


AI will forever be Artificial Intelligence in my head, but OK.

I dont agree with Nick that the Adventure Island will be dementrial for sailing. You dont get into a kayak and expect to stay dry. At least I dont. Kayaks are also highly technical watercraft, especially when you begin to practice different bracing techniques, eskimo rolls, strokes etc. (how do you do a brace or a roll with the mirage drive? Both er essential safety techniques in a kayak). Of course some might get the totally wrong impression of sailing by either watching or trying an Adventure Island, but I am pretty certain there will be more positive experiences of sailing than negative. The perception of sailing as something mystical only the upper class do can be altered by a craft like the Adventure Island. Buzz by an Adventure Island or similar with your cat, and they will surely be interested.
As I said in my other post in this thread. Getting people who want to be on the water out there, in a non-motorized craft, is all good.

Pete, I think Hobie is doing the right thing in building this thing for the masses. There are plenty of extreme sailing crafts for us fanatics. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I admit that I would love to sail a AI for a while. I am sure I could find something fun to do with it. But I am about to start building a F16 class cat and for some reason the AI just looks like a toy to me.

I imagine that some people will love it and that it will help people get into sailing but I think if any boat is going to be the future of sailing it will be the Wave that hobie makes. Granted it catchs alot of [censored] on this forum but it can get people on the water cheap and still has decent performance.

As for Hobie sailors, I guess I am one technically, but I also sail other cats and have some hostile feeling towards Hobie because I feel like they are limiting themselves some.

AI Artificial Intelligence or Adventure Island

I understand your point on the whole poor me related to bashing Hobie as I do the whole poor me I am not include in Hobie events thing.

Time to move on....

How do you like this statement guys, the tail directly contradicts the earlier part.




So I was predictable when I did something that was not expected ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Try and beat that !


Wouter

Boy you really need to take a chill pill Wouter. Is there no humor on this forum?

I love contradictions <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I always wondered why some people think that when a negative thing is said about a particular craft that that somehow is the result of some unfounded hatred. Could it actually be that there are some good reasons unlaying a given critism ?


Wouter

First you write :




And then you advice me to take a pil ?

This is getting better by the minute.

Wouter

Again relax, breathe slowly......

I think the "Adventure Island" is a great way to get non-sailors out on the water, since they can also pedal or paddle it while they experiment with sailing. Great for rental places because you know the boat will be able to get back to the stable.

We have a friend with a kayak rental business at Put-in-Bay, and I'm going to suggest that she buy one of these, since there is no place on the island to rent any kind of sailboat right now.

I have several friends with kayaks. They never look like much fun but I would go 'kayaking' with them if you give me a sail. Hell, I think roller blading with a bedsheet sail would be awesome. I just love the speed! Whatever it takes as long as it doesn't require petrol! This is the future of Kayaking!!!

You have no idea how much fun I'm having here. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Even under Hobie 16 sailors it is rare to encounter such a person as yourself.

Wouter

How do you beach that without damaging the drive unit? I would think that may be detrimental to rental units as the customers will not be so careful when comming in unless you have them docked in deep enough water.

Just a thought,

Clayton