I JUST BOUGHT AN H-18 AND HAVE BEEN LEARNING HOW TO SAIL IT (FIRST IN KEY BISCAYNE, NEXT IN FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH AND FINALLY LAST WEEK IN TAVERNIER KEY, FLORIDA). THIS CAT FEELS PRETTY POWERFUL EVEN IN LOW WINDS (5 TO 10 KNOTS)AND I HAVE BEEN SAILING IT WITH THE MAINSAIL ONLY, NO JIB. MANY OF THE EXPERIENCED SAILORS AROUND US INSIST THAT WE SHOULD BE SAILING IT WITH THE JIB SINCE IT IS ALMOST ESSENTIAL IN TURNING THE BOAT AROUND. AM I NUTS OR DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT EASY UNTIL I GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE BOAT AND WITH SAILING?? DOESN'T THE JIB ADD QUITE A BIT MORE SAIL AREA (AND THUS MORE POWER)TO THIS BOAT??

The jib does alot more than help tack the boat! In the hobie catalog there is a book called catsailing for the 90's. When I got my 18 I bought it. It will answer a lot of questions. I have been racing for 3 years & I am still learning from this book. Do what feels comfortable & safe!

Doug Ramsey
hobie 18
#4383

If you want to chat about your boat. You can call me during the day at my office 409-886-9577.

Doug Ramsey

Is SOMA a massage technique?
Are you from the Kendall area?

Actually I think there's nothing wrong with single-handing the TheMightyHobie18 with the main only. This is a good way to get a feel for the boat. Yes, the jib does help bring the bows through the "eye" of the wind when tacking. If you get stuck "in irons" you can either "fall off", gain some speed and try the tack again, or you can sail the boat backwards by turning the rudders in the direction you want the sterns to go. Then you grab the boom and push it into the wind.

SOMA in San Francisco stands for SOuth of MArket street. It also stands for the ubiquitous drug in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World."

David Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067

Soma is also a muscle relaxant (good stuff - doesn't make you loopy but reduces the pain so you can sail more! )

HEY! THANKS FOR THE ANSWERS!

SOMA ARE THE TWO FIRST LETTERS OF MY TWO DAUGHTERS NAMES, SOPHIA AND MAYA! I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS A SUFFIX THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SUBCONCIOUSNESS AS IN PSYCO-SOMATIC ETC.
WE WERE THINKING OF NAMING THE CAT THIS BUT WE HAVENT BROKEN THE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE YET. PER WEBSTER'S IT IS "AN INTOXICATING PLANT JUICE OF ANCIENT INDIA USED AS AN OFFERING TO THE GODS.." PRETTY COOL TOO! ANYWAY FOR NOW I WILL SAIL WITH THE MAIN AND UNFURL THE JIB AS I GET COMFORTABLE. I WILL DEFINETLY BUY THAT BOOK ON CAT SAILING.

THANKS AGAIN,

FRED

They sell that book on this web site also. Sorry Rick & Mary for the hobie plug & not you guys who run a great web site!

That's okay, Doug. If you are talking about "Catamaran Racing for the 90s," I just assumed you did not realize that we are the ones who wrote it and published it. So, we appreciate the plug for the book, regardless of where people buy it.