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Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
http://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=55687		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  PassWind [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:23 am ]
Post subject:  Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
weather was setting up for a late afternoon 15mph sustained so like a good boy, I got all my chores done and was hitched and ready to roll out the driveway by 3:30pm. By 4 I was unloaded, rigged, and ready to GO !!

Seems like I wasn't the only one watching the forecast because Sailboats popped up like dandelions in a fresh cut field. They were EVERYWHERE !!

.. So it wasn't long until some unofficial contests of speed took place. I was by far the smallest craft and it wasn't long until, despite my best efforts, it was quite obvious I was outclassed (in boat only ..) and that even with my supertuning skills, the old V1 AI was no competition for the big guys (who prolly pay twice the AI cost in docking fees per year) .. but I had fun, got many a wave and thumbs up .. and one gentleman in a 40+footer even said "Thats the COOLEST boat he'd ever seen". I asked if he wanted to trade .. for my tortoise

After playing around for a couple hours and looking at the sun reaching down to cover itself in a blanket of horizon .. I thought it best to head off on the 3 mile run back to my launch on a straight close reach point.

Winds were still up and steady and I was just all smiles knowing I'd make it back easily and with time to spare when I spot another "little guy" off to my left about 3/4 miles away ..moving at a really good clip on a direct intercept course ! As the distance closed to about 300' he changed course and assumed my tach dead ahead of me .. GAME ON !!

It took about two minutes for me to close the distance enough for me to read "Dumas" on his sail - about the same size as the AI or a bit bigger heeled over and trimmed nicely but he couldn't hold me off. He kept looking back, smiling and waiving ..

.. but Soon the Hare had caught him with my right Ama just inches off his rudder !! a quick flick of the controls and I slingshot out to his side and easily walked my way past him. We were both all smiles. He asked what I was sailing and I said, "Oh .. its just a kayak - but its a HOBIE Kayak !!" and just like that he'd had enough and tucked tail off on another point.

Returning to base camp, I realized it doesn't matter if your the Tortoise or the Hare as long as you're out on the water with a big smile

(unfortunately .. I didn't even think to take a picture of "The Hare" as I was pretty focused on gaining on my prey)

Image
Author:  Haliboo [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
PassWind wrote:
and one gentleman in a 40+footer even said "Thats the COOLEST boat he'd ever seen".

!! a quick flick of the controls and I slingshot out to his side and easily walked my way past him. We were both all smiles. He asked what I was sailing and I said, "Oh .. its just a kayak - but its a HOBIE Kayak !!" and just like that he'd had enough and tucked tail off on another point.


Great story...
Author:  TI_Tom [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
Awesome story.

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Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
Optimally sailed, the AI and TI will easily outpace most centerboard boats of any size, except for DDW. It's the dedicated performance multi-hulls where you get outrun, and often badly.
Author:  PassWind [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
Tom Kirkman wrote:
Optimally sailed ..


We'll have to get together some time so you can show me what I've been doing wrong all these years :wink:

Quote:
It's the dedicated performance multi-hulls where you get outrun, and often badly.


Have you spent much time on any ? I ask because I've lusted after and hope to own a Corsair sometime in the near future and would appreciate your opinion
Author:  TI_Tom [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
Ha! I've been lusting over Corsairs too. If I had no budget constraints a Dragonfly would be really nice.

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Author:  ChangeMan [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 9:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
Come on Tom and Alan.
Are you sure this looks like fun in a Corsair?
Image
Author:  TI_Tom [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 9:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
Yep. More room for the family too. Albeit definitely not as versatile or simple to set up as our AI/TI. For now I will enjoy my TI and keep dreaming :D

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Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
ChangeMan wrote:
Come on Tom and Alan.
Are you sure this looks like fun in a Corsair?
Image



YES.
Author:  PassWind [ Tue Aug 18, 2015 8:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
ChangeMan wrote:
Come on Tom and Alan.
Are you sure this looks like fun in a Corsair?


Abso-FREAKIN-lutely !!
Author:  ChangeMan [ Tue Aug 18, 2015 8:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
In the Milang to Goolwa Freshwater Classic annual race we try and win on handicap in our division.
No not in the TI as it doesn't have a handicap.
This year there were 179 starters and it would be great to be first over the line in a Corsair.

I wonder if you guys would lend me an Americas Cup yacht for next year. :D
I think that would be the only craft with a greater buzz than the Corsair.
And who cares what your handicap is when you are first over the line, having a beer while the others slowly appear.
Author:  Media1der [ Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
Nice!

It looks like that on Muskegon Lake every time we go out. We try to stay out of the way of the big guys ... but that may change as we log a few more hours and and a lot more confidence!

The TI does turn heads. There are a number of Mirage drive kayaks in our area, but we're the first Island. From the response we're getting at the Muskegon Yacht Club, we will have some company, soon. Heck maybe we can start a club in the next year or two!

~cfw
Author:  tonystott [ Sun Aug 23, 2015 3:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes your the Tortoise .. sometimes the Hare
ChangeMan wrote:
In the Milang to Goolwa Freshwater Classic annual race we try and win on handicap in our division.
No not in the TI as it doesn't have a handicap.
This year there were 179 starters and it would be great to be first over the line in a Corsair.

I wonder if you guys would lend me an Americas Cup yacht for next year. :D
I think that would be the only craft with a greater buzz than the Corsair.
And who cares what your handicap is when you are first over the line, having a beer while the others slowly appear.

The buzz from racing is right up there!

I remember competing in an overnight race off Adelaide in my quarter tonner, and as we approached a turning mark early in the morning, a Sydney-Hobart 42 foot ocean racer was coming away from the same mark.

We waved, and to a man, the whole crew on the other yacht looked down at their watches, as it dawned on them that our little boat was ahead of them on measurement handicap!
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