Fun on my 18'

This is only my second season with the Hobie 18. And I'm just back from 5 days of solid sailing on the big lake (Lake Michigan). Before this 18, I sailed a Prindle 18 for 10 years or so. I just discovered the joys of having the ability to furl a jib in strong winds. I was able to sail in wind I never would have taken the Prindle in, and while I do not yet have all of my trapeeze replacement equipment, and I'm not too sure if I can right this boat on my own. I'm 6'4" and 270lbs, so I think I have a chance to solo right her. Anyway, despite my lack of experience with this boat, I was up on one hull quite a bit with no jib, and I think on a couple of those waves I was flying out of the water.

Anyway, one thing that crossed my mind and wouldnt go away is;
I was taking a very fast down wind run back to my beach (headed to shore cause the wind was getting even stronger, and I was thinking I shouldnt be out in this wind alone), and was surfing down the face of and running up the back of some pretty good swells. All of a sudden the word pitchpole entered my mind and wouldnt go away. I scooted as far aft as possible and the run went fine, but geez I was flying, thank god I thought to pull up the daggers on my turn, cause I wasnt going to let go of the tiller till I hit the beach, (I think my rudders need an overhaul.) When I did hit the beach she almost came all the way to rest out of the water, barely had to push at all, FUN FUN. Anyway, my question is, How hard is it to pitchpole an H18?

Pitchpoling happens to the best of us mate. I just did it once last Saturday as I was taking my father out on the boat. I find that maybe once every three times I take out my boat I pitchpole, but that's probably a lot since I sit forward more in my boat than most other cat owners do. Probably just lack of experience on a Hobie, I'd make an estimate of maybe once per seven trips for an experienced sailor? Hobies do love to pitchpole though.

I've also found that by sheeting in the main sheet all the way, then continuing to pull until there is about a foot of clearance between the boom and the tramp, it sucks the bows towards Davy Jones in the time it takes for you to say "Look how fast we'r..."*bubble bubble gurgle plunge*. I try to avoid that mode as much as possible now, does anyone else find that this is true?

_________________
Sail Fast, Live Slow.

~Nate

While some of us love to do the "Wild Thang", or lift the hulls waaaay into the air, I was taught to sail with Grace and with Decorum. That does not translate into 'go slowly'. Remember, the 'flatter' you sail, the faster you will go. The upwind hull should just be kissing the water surface.

Pitchpoling takes away from valuable sailing time, so try some of these tips: when you get hit by a puff, bear off a touch (turn slightly out of the wind). Next is to ease the main sheet and/or traveler, and then look at your trim - try moving your weight more towards the stern, whether sitting or out on the wire. Once the puff has passed, you can 'pump' the mainsheet to maintain your speed.
Look out for waves ahead of you, as Hobie's do not submarine well beyond the front cross bar.

I find H18's very hard to pitch, H16's do it all the time.

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

Very hard to pitch? Man, I'm wayyy more inexperienced than I originally thought. Any more tips for us would be appreciated (thanks in advance).

_________________
Sail Fast, Live Slow.

~Nate

Nate, where do you sail out of?
We occasionally visit cousins in Fairfield CT, not too far from you, I think.

Check us out at http://www.kanatasailingclub.com

So, go fast, have fun, and NEVER cleat the mainsheet, always hold it in your gloved hand. That way, when things get exciting, you merely let the mainsheet slide through your hands, releasing pressure on the sail, and life will be smooth and comfortable.

You sound like you need to learn to FEEL the wind.
Look at the water, read the ripples, and when you feel a puff coming, get ready to release the main sheet, turn out of the wind etc.

Have a local Hobie sailor explain to you how and when to adjust your mast rotator, downhaul and outhaul. Generally speaking, you will want a fuller sail in light winds, and a flatter sail in heavier winds.

Good winds

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

I wouldn't necessarily say that the 18 is a very hard boat to pitchpole, but it is certainly one of the most forgiving cats in that respect, especially if you're someone who came from say a 16...talk about opposite ends of the spectrum.

Anyway, when sailing the 18 downwind in high wind and/or chop, in most cases, bearing off and easing the mainsail (and jib) will prevent the boat from pitchpoling, if you react soon enough. Whatever you do, don't head up. Doing so might prevent you from pitchpoling, but you will most likely go over sideways. Downwind sailing in high wind can be challenging because you have to look in front to watch out for waves, but you also have to look behind to watch for gusts.

The 18 can really be pushed hard downwind. There have been times when I've stuck the bows under up to the front crossbar, eased the sails, and the boat popped back up.

I would say make sure you're comfortable with righting the boat BEFORE you head out into high winds. But after that, you'll be impressed how hard the boat can be pushed.

sm

Come on guys! You can stuff an 18 in and bounce it. If you stay at the rear it will stand on its nose. Lots of bouyancy in those bows. The only time I ever lose the boat in a pitchpole is when double trapped and the crew can't hold me back. Around the jib we go! The 18 will back out of almost any pitchpole situation if you hold on and ease the sheets, sometimes just holding on is enough. I like the way it feels and sounds as the bow comes back up, kinda like a sub surfacing. If you pitchpole alot I would guess your mast is raked too far forward. Get Phils book and rake your mast correctly then sit at the rear crossbar unless racing in light air. I also suggest learning to sail flying a hull so high you are riding on the side of the lower hull dragging the lip of the top, dagger skimming the surface. The longer you can go the more manly you are

Caught in high winds on the SF Bay on a broad reach with 3 ft. waves and something wrong with the jib furler which wouldn't allow me to furl the jib, I finally pitchpoled my 18 into the back of a wave. It takes quite a lot to stuff the bows of an 18 but it can be done.

The question you asked is how hard is it to do. The question I percieve you are really asking is how easy or hard is it to do unexpectedly.

The easiest way to learn how to prevent it is to learn how to do it.

Sometime when you have righting assistance, take the 18 out in a blow, set it up on a screaming close reach, and then drive it down while holding the main, or even sheeting it in a bit.

If its blowing hard enough, Voila, bow stuff, and possibly/probably pitchpole.

Once you understand how to make the boat pitchpole, it is relativly easy to avoid that particular manuver and avoid the pitchpole.

A bit of a story to illustrate. When I first bought my 18, back when the dead sea was only sick, I went out with an experienced cat sailor, and was bragging to him that with the tall bows and bouyancy, the 18 was almost impossible to pitchpole. His reaction was to scoot forward a bit, sheet in and drive off suddenly and hard until the bows stuffed all the way to the daggerboards. Scared the bejesus outta me.

I learned the lesson and in 28 years of sailing the Hobie 18, I have been close 3 or 4 times, but only actually pitchpoled twice. Once in a 45 knot blow here in Colorado while trying to get back to the Marina, and once when sailing @ the H-18 Worlds in Melbourne. Keep in mind that most of my sailing is inland lake sailing where I don't often get into wave action over 2 or 3 feet.

To try and avoid the pitchpole on the H-18, sheet out, and head off gently, if the wind is blowing too hard, and the bows are burying, or the boat feels unstable, sheet out to depower, and head up. The H-18 is one of the most forgiving boats in this regard and really quite easy to keep on its feet. Most of the times I have gone swimmiing unexpectedly are caused by moments of inattention where a wave or a puff catches me by suprize, an equipment malfunction, or just an error on my part.

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Whip,

I am 6-1 and weigh 215 lbs and was also curious if I could pull my 18 back upright by myself. I previously owned a couple of 16's and had no problem with those. I took a friend out on Lake Tahoe, capsized the boat and instructed my friend to just float near the boat and offer no assistance while I tried to right it. I came close but no cigar. In my defense, the wind was light so maybe with a bit more air under the sails, I might have got it. I carry a righting bag with me now when I'm soloing which gives me that little bit of added weight I need to right the boat by myself.

I would think that with the proper technique and with your weight, you would have no problem solo righting your 18. Probably not a bad idea to carry a bag or righting pole with you though.

Although pitchpoles were a common thing on my 16's, I have yet to pitchpole my 18 although I've come close. Very buoyant bows! I actually used to enjoy the rush of pitchpoling back in those days but then again, I was in my 20's. Now that I'm over 50, I tend to try and avoid it. A normal capsize once in a while is still fun though. I figure if you don't capsize your boat once in a while, you're not pushing the limits!

Flying a hull? Yes you do go faster by not flying a hull but if you're not racing, it sure is fun seeing how long you can keep one up especially with squeeling passengers on board!

Tom
1988 H18M

Very good, thanks for all the info.

I sail solo 90% of the time, and 99% of that is on the big lake with waves. I’m pretty competent in handling wind gusts, it’s only the waves that had me questioning the 18’s ability to handle a nose dive. I feel much better now. I never did bury the nose, let alone up to the crossbar. As for sitting on the rear crossbar? Shoot I was all but sitting on the rudder lol.
I will, as soon as possible get competent with solo righting the 18. I own several top quality drysuits, and I have a pole coming, I can’t wait to push the envelope a bit, especially after searching “pitchpoleâ€

Haha yes that is a rather extreme video of a pitchpole.

Thanks for the tip about the mast rake, I checked and the sidestays were adjusted a little high, allowing the mast to move farther forward. I'm replacing my shrouds anyway, but I'll have to try it again without so much rake.

_________________
Sail Fast, Live Slow.

~Nate