Great writeup Eric!

A couple of questions . . .

I've not been in 20' seas for a long time now, and then it was in my trusty Hobie 18 that was the best surf-big seas cat I ever sailed. I have had my Taipan 4.9 in 6-8' seas with short periods and found the same thing you have. It surfs great but the hobby horsing, light weight, and 16' length really stops quickly when you do catch the swell head on. I did fly my spinnaker (like a fool) in this mess and like you capsized as soon as I tried to snuff it. I had a heck of a time righting the Taipan after untangling the spin and its sheets. The Taipan is so light that walking the forward hull down into the 45 degree angle to wind was difficult because it wanted to spin back before I could get back in the center with the righting line. Between the wind (about 20) and the seas, I just couldn't seem to get it up and keep it up even holding on to the dolphin striker. As it came up, the next wave just rolled it on over on the other side. It would simply pirouette and promptly go back over. I was exhausted and over a 1/2 mile from my initial capsize before I luckily got it up and hung on long enough to climb aboard. Did you find any trick to righting yours?

I've lost it three other times. but the seas were only 2-3' and righting it wasn't a big deal (I'm 190lbs) but I worry about losing it again in big air and seas.

I have since installed the "power righter" but haven't been out in big enough seas to really test it.

How far out in front of your hulls is your spinnaker pole? How high above the hulls? Do you use the end snuffer or the "skunk" snuffer?

How did you position the Taipan for righting? What do you use for righting? Hawaiian system or just a rope?

I told Jim Boyer when he was here that I preferred the old, heavy Hobie 18 in big seas and air and he always said "The Taipan is so light you just fly over the waves." I haven't found the "flying" groove yet. I still manage a collision with the next out-of-sync wave and hold on for dear life. I never used a "sissy" line until I sailed this Taipan.


Jon Hamlet
Taipan #217
Casey Key island, Florida