I heard they have been sold and on the way to WA. Replaced with Blades.

Darryn
Mozzie
1782

If there is a trend towards single handers, do you think there will be more incidents of deaths related to cold water immersions and the inability to right the boats ala Sven Schang? I think the A cats and H14's/Waves should be okay, but what about the F16 class and so forth with a little bigger stick? I personally think most people going single hand are seasoned sailors, but we could have an influx of newbies on sinlge hand boats that may not know the dangers of sailing alone.

One factor that contributes to the rise of single-handers is that the cat sailing community is aging and as we age, we are less likely to have willing crews.

The older we get, the more curmudgeonious we become. That in itself limits our crew possibilities substantially. Family members that can or want to sail with us have long since gone on to more comfortable persuasions. Friends that we used to be able to drag along are now often in retirement homes or have bowel problems.

Yes there are many great young cat people coming in and they generally go straight to the next hot boat when they get serious. That helps bring in enough new blood to keep things interesting, but as a whole, the fleet is shrinking rather than growing.

Single-handing is becoming a necessity for a lot of us and for many diverse reasons.

I love the A-cats but have a Hobie 16 and would rather keep it than switch. I think the 16 is a perfect single-handed boat…easy to transport, rig and sail.

It looks like we will have 5 or more at Hatteras next weekend.

I would never consider this as dangerous…just another challenge.

We have a rule in the F16 class that you MUST be able to right the boat, and you may be requested to show that you can right the boat.

Scooby, sounds like a good rule, but I bet there is no manufacturer that would deny a sell because the chap couldnt self right. I understand the racing end of it, But I also havent seen that rule enforced at any events around here either.
I didnt mean to pick on the F16, just a boat that I see as an up and comer with the single handing crowd, and might be a little big for some of the skiipers to self right, but I could be wrong. What do you F16 guys say. Can you self right in any condition? Can A's be self righted in every condition by all of thier skippers?

Last year I asked the same question to a long time A-cats sailor who sails F16's as well now.

His reply was that the difference in righting is not that big and that both can be hard to right in no wind when you are a lightweight sailor. But in general both were fine.

I have yet to fail righting my F16 singlehandedly in ANY conditions and I have been foolish enough to flip her in drifter conditions. I not a lightweight sailor but I have failed to right other brands in similar conditions with the exception of the A-cat.

I think there is no cat design out there that say a 55 kg sailor can right in absolutely no wind and no waves. It all ends somewhere. I do believe there is ample evidence that A-cats and F16's are the two most easily righted singlehanders on the market today with possibly the Swell Shadow thereabouts as well. I find the Hobie 14 to be harder to right then my F16 for example.

I think the lightweight F16 skippers (below 70 kg) and the guys just above the threshold (70-75 kg)are currently using pillow cases as a small waterbag when they have an alu masted F16 and that seems sufficient for the most challenging conditions (no wind, no waves). F16's can be ordered with carbon masts and quite a few have done so. An F16 owner at my club weighting 72 kg (measured at the F16 GC event of 2007) doesn't and have righted his boat singlehandedly unaided in all times he flipped it. He is now a 3rd season owner and sails reasonably often and quite on the edge (solo trapping under spi etc).

Personally I challenge anyone to righting a Hobie 16 or even Hobie 14 in no wind and no waves. I at 88 kg (194 lbs) have a mixed record in these conditions. In some wind and waves the whole procedure comes increasingly easier. But then again so to does righting the F16's. In a blow I only hang leasurely from the F16 D-striker or righting line, somewhere halveway between upright and flat on the horizontal.

Wouter

I accept your challange... what do i win when I am victorious?

Alright, Mr. Scott. That was entirely uncalled for (as I try to eat mt sandwich) <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

That's just wrong andrew.

I can right my FXone with a bag. It comes right up once its orientated correctly. I don't think I could do it without the bag unless it was really blowing. I'm 160lbs, or 72kg

Ehhh, righting a boat also includes getting back on it and sail away !

Wouter

In reply to Karl,

Same experience here; at the time I was 85 kg, back then in 2001 and 2002. Did about 50-100 hours on that boat in different conditions.

I righted it once singlehandedly without aids in 20 knots wind other times the "rescue boat" at hand had to lift the mast tip up and give it a swing.

Interestingly enough the F16 class got a boost in founding activities during and right after the last week of may 2001 when I was in Greece at this sailing resort. Typed up the first "more serious" mail in a Greek internet cafe with a Greek keyboard. That was an experience in itself.

Wouter

I'll bet that dude's internet id is "cutelittlegirl17" or something like that...