The Wave has established a reputation as a heavy-air boat. When all the other cats are on the beach, the Wave can still go out and have fun.

As to how much wind the Wave is sailable in and how much is still fun, I guess those determinations would be completely subjective on the part of the sailor.

At a regatta at Lake Eustis, Florida a few years ago the wind had risen into the 30's and all the other boats (both monohulls and multihulls) had gone to shore, but the Waves were still racing (probably much to the chagrin of the race committee). There were gusts to 45 mph.

Rick says he capsized three times going downwind before he figured out a better technique for jibing, and then he didn't capsize any more.

Generally, we say the Wave doesn't really come into its element until the wind is 20-25 mph, with 30-35 being survivable (and FUN, if that's your thing).

When the wind was really blowing, we used to say, "It's sailboard weather." Now we say, "It's Wave weather." (But Wave weather is still quite a bit below sailboard weather -I hope.)

If the Wave had a mainsheet traveler, it would be even better able to handle high winds, and Hobie Cat Company now has an optional traveler track kit for the Wave. It's not class legal for one-design racing, but I would sure like to have one if I were into sailing heavy air for fun.

Obviously, downwind is the scary point of sail for the Wave in high winds, because it is short, the mast step is way forward, and the bows are kind of stubby. So downwind and on a reach in heavy air you have to get your weight way, way aft and try to keep the bows up and hike hard and sail it like a skiff.

And for the same design reasons, the boat does not like steep, close-together chop, so it is not really fun in those conditions -- at least for me.

But the real reason you can go out and have fun on the Wave in heavy-air conditions is that it is almost indestructible, it is a relatively inexpensive boat, and it is very easy to right when it capsizes.