New guy in Denver: Looking windy lakes and boat info.

Hello Cat Owners!

I'm a new guy on the scene here in Denver and I just bought a 1988 H16 Tropical Paradise. Boat, mast and trailer only, but I've recently found a main sail and boom on Craig's List at a great price. Still looking for a jib sail. Is the "Tropical Paradise" model any different from any other H16? Just curious as I've never heard of the model.

Also, Looking for reliably windy places to sail in the Denver area including any of the mtn. lakes like Granby or Dillon. I'm also interested in any local clubs.

Thanks so much. Any help on this would be great. I haven't sailed an H16 since the early eighties! I was crewing in a race on Lake Bemidgi in N. Mn. We were winning until and I weighted the leeward bow too heavily and we pitch-pulled. We still got second!

Cheers,
Todd McDowell

The local Fleets website is:
http://www.hobiefleet61.org

The commodore currently is John Cox and his contact info is on that site.
The next race in Division 5 is @ Angostura Res. in Hot Springs, SD on August 8th and 9th. If you cant make it to that race the next one is at Lake McConaughy, NE over labor day weekend.

_________________
1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD

When I used to windsurf a lot, Aurora res (out East of Aurora a bit) was the best local lake. In the late fall, you get conditions where its windy in the western part of Denver and the foothills and these conditions generally would not be good at Aurora. Otherwise, Aurora almost always had higher winds than the other Denver lakes. No power boats or jetski's allowed which was nice. I havent been out there for maybe 4 years now but I doubt things have changed much (except for all the housing developement now built up out there). The one thing I would check on is their Zebra mussel policy as this seems a big deal in Colorado at the moment.

Ive sailed a Hobie 14 a fair amount at Elevenmile res West of Colorado Springs at 8600 feet. It can get windy up there and you generally need a good wet suit or dry suit.

thank you tom and walt.