There's a video posted by Greg Ketterman, on YouTube.

He's sailing under reefed main in high wind. If you look at time stamp 00:46, you'll see his wrist mounted gps showing 7.3. Knots or Miles per Hour? He says, in the video, that it "looks like it's blowing 25, maybe 30."

The sail is reefed.
Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park

Hobie Adventure Island videos on youtube.

GARY

I think this thing has enormous potential. Perhaps not this particular model. But. . . think ice boat.

I will now duck and cover.

Another interesting "sailing kayak."

GARY

You could buy 2 AI's for what that thing costs.

But it looks pretty cool.

I think a sailing kayak is a cool way to go exploring. It is also a good way to introduce more people to sailing. Perhaps they get the wrong impression from sailing these crafts, but so would they if they jumped into an Optimist. Getting more people on the water in crafts without engines is going the right way in my opinion. I would not mind a similar setup for going on trips with my better half. The Tornado has her scared, but this is something she can relate to.


Pete, ice boat?? What are you thinking about.

An ama that is more foil than float. Stuff like this guy designed. http://www.geocities.com/aerohydro/overviewframeset.htm

Does anyone think this might make a good gateway? Sort of a way to get people interested in sailing a multi-hull? I could see it working that way. It's probably fun to use, and hopefully people would want to try actual sailing, or at least sailing something more substantial in size.

Here's another question. Why is there so much Hobie bashing on this site?

They won't let the rest of us come to their parties.

Have you read the whole post??? The future. Please. Jake said it, buy a ad.

Or these guys : Now this IS the future of sailboat design...
http://www.sailrocket.com/boat.htm
and they are using the design principles of Bernard Smith who you mention, ideas from 1960`s !

The kayak ideas are a cool way to get folks who are into kayaking to become interested in sailing, so don`t knock it.

But 7knots boatspeed in 25knots ? No thanks, today I ran at 26knots in 15knots of wind. (Oh sorry, shouldn`t talk about windsurfing on a catsailor forum <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Then again, ask a kayak paddler how fast he can paddle into a 25knot headwind. Given the choice I`d rather sail at 7knots than paddle at 4knots backwards.

I agree I don't think that everyone is going to be running out for one of these. And "the future of sailing" is a little fruity sounding.

I don't know about "the future of sailing", but maybe where a lot of future sailors will get into sailing.

Ok, I gotta tell you, the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island is really fun and it is VERY versatile.



It is the MirageDrive that makes it all work. It is a kayak that can pedal or paddle, a trimaran sailboat that is fun to sail and pretty fast when compared to other boats it's size. The sail is roller furling and can be reefed as desired. The amas fold in against the hull for docking and beaching.

No, we did not design the first trimaran nor did we have the first folding amas, but we did design the Hobie MirageDrive and this has created a whole new class of products for Hobie Cat. We are very excited about combining the drive with other sailboat products as well. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

This is a natural. This is something EVERYONE can do. You can pedal out of a harbor, pedal through tacks and gybes, pedal for more performance or to get up on a plane (yes... they plane in good winds / 10+ MPH is possible), pedal upwind or pedal in no wind to get home. It is simple and efficient. Combine that to the roller furling sail rig and you have something that is safe and secure for people with little or no sailing skills.

Is this sailing? Of course... I have sailed and raced for over 30 years on all kinds of sailboats and boards. This is still excitiong to me. Will this bring in new blood to sailing? Absolutely! The Adventure Islands ARE teaching people about sailing and how to sail. Is it good for sailing? Certainly, any new sailors are good (to have) sailors. We are getting World Wide exposure and the product is EXPLODING with popularity. It is our number one seller now. We have one dealer in San Diego that sold 30 before they were even available last winter. That is Fast Lane Sailing (and Kayaking now) and one of the biggest Nacra / Prindle / Hobie dealers in the country. Ron, his family and his staff love these things. Is it just a flash-in-the-pan that people will get bored of? I don't think so. It is MUCH more versatile than any other "sailing" product I have ever heard of. You can do a lot on these.

You don't have to trust me on this, you can read the users feedback in our kayak forums and others. People love them!

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/video/Adventure_Island.wmv

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Matt Miller
Hobie Cat Company

Pete, you're welcome to come to the parties. You can even bring your Blade. But there won't be an F-16 start at a Hobie One-design regatta, just like there wouldn't be one at a Laser One-design regatta.

>>> beat-to-death subject for a different thread

Hey look at this mirage drive video called "tug of war"

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/images/miragedrive/tugofwarsm.wmv


Are those two old school peddlers given it their best or what ?

Ever seen how an Olympic tandem kayak team bolts out of the start gate, these guys appearently didn't.

Here is a video more like it :

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/images/miragedrive/Tug-O-War_LG.wmv

Still an very nice concept though, that mirage drive. Human leg muscles are indeed much stronger then the upper torso and tire less quickly. Still not the same as sailing though.

Wouter

Looks like fun and a chick magnet to boot <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

For some of us that "sail" this is fun!

you tube

I'll warn you that some of the people that were filming were having so much fun they used some four letter [sentence enhancers]. Also some kid linked this to his myspace and his comment was something like,

Some day this will be us.

However, he probably has not seen that PIC of the kayak yet.

....and OMG Wouter said something positive about a Hobie <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

The MirageDrive is not the sailing part... it makes it easier to get around. Kinda like having a ready outboard. For performance sailing, think of it as a super ooch'er! You just pedal to get moving if desired or don't pedal at all. Doesn't require it.

Nothing said here gives me confidence that products like this encourage more ppl into sailing.

It just takes one big gust or wave and some mayhem arising from it to discourage a potential new sailor on these things. We all know these incidents happen when sailing, but they are part of the challenge and having an experienced skipper at the helm to encourage the whole crew to deal with it is a good thing.

Do something for the sailing community, train a crew.

Back to topic...
It is a kayak with three propulsion options; sail, pedal, paddle...that's all. Kayaks with sails (and paddles) have been around for ages.

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

Been there, done that with grand daugther.

Doug