Turbo Hobie 16 Class/Division:
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<br>Here is something to talk about, what do you all think about a Turbo H16 Class. Basically one would add a (1) square top mainsail, (2) a better down haul system, (3) sail material of your choice for both main and jib, (4) no restriction of sail size, (5) batten material of your choice, (6) and class legal rudder size required but no limit on weight, (7) and spinnaker if desired.
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<br>You may ask why have a Turbo H16 class and I think it is not to replace the H16 one-design class as we don’t want to mess with a good thing but some H16 sailors race in open (PN) or distance regattas and would just like to have a little better pointing ability, more speed on certain points of sail, and a spinnaker to trash the competition. Mike Strahle’s in California is a Trapseat skipper and his brother Carl regularly beat H20’s, N6.0’s, and other bigger cats due to their spinnaker and sailing ability (they just won the H16 Trapseat nationals again). I had the opportunity to talk with several H20 sailors in California and learned they in fact were beating much bigger cats on a very regular basis. And as we learned from a distance race in Florida 8 H16’s beat a field of 20 foot cats such as the I20, etc in time not on PN numbers. So the speed potential is there with a few additions and of course sailing the H16 to it’s full potential. Carlton Tucker a famous sailor said we have yet to see the H16’s full potential.
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<br>So what do you all think? I know some will not be for the additions but I think it would be great to have a little section on the new H16 web site that will be up and running soon to be dedicated to open and distance H16 sailors that want to add a little speed to their boat. Once again I am not suggesting changing our one design H16 class as that would be totally crazy but having a turbo kit or turbo kit info. site would help those with a turbo desire.<br><br>