long distances

Probably was us. You could tell if they all had a colored ribbon from their sail.

Let me know next trip and you could be on the water instead of watching from land.

_________________

Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

The Ai Is surely suitable for long trips.
We are preparing for a 7 day trip as we speak.
Alone I'd go with the single, not the TI.
A loaded AI can already be a handfull to move around or to drag up onto the beach, with a TI it will be even harder, with a highly increased injury risk.
Remember back and shoulder injuries are the most common kayak related injuries.
With 2 people I go 2 AI's, safety in numbers, on can help the other....

Might be a bit of a problem, the Ai / TI both do not feel at home in rough surf, do develop a mind of their own in the surf, and a lot of care, preperation & luck is neccessary to land safely in rough surf ( waves 1m+).

Rough surf landings are a reality that you have to deal with once in a while. For surf above 1 m, I often choose to ride the kayak from the back like a long board. I use my body as a sea anchor. Now with two outriggers and a mast it may get tricky. What do you do if you have no other option but a rough surf entry?

_________________
Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

Worst case, secure everything, time the sets and start in right after the peak wave breaks. Pedal or sail on the back of the waves if you can. You can opt for a paddle only landing unless your tramps are out. If so, pull up you rudder and bungee the mirage drive pedals so that the fins are against the hull. I took my drive out for one rough landing and it took a nasty beating when it was washed overboard on its leash.

Long whitewater breaks will wash you inshore without too much drama, but steep shorebreak will turn the boat and flip it in a flash. Best thing to do then seems to be hanging off the rear Aka and floating just behind the boat like a sea anchor. I have a surf leash that I can still grab if I need to let go of the Aka.

Have foot protection on and be prepared to eat it a little on the reef or rocks.

Stay between the Hobie and the waves, and resist the urge to swim after that new VHF Radio you forgot to tether down.

And those cool Hobie brand hat and sunglasses you used to be wearing will probably fit the next guy who finds them.

_________________
The Wind Is Your Friend...

The worse entry I've ever done, I swam to shore and hauled the kayak with the 100' anchor line. I should have used a sea anchor to keep it straight but it worked.

I wonder about the mast. I could tie it and use it as a sea anchor and pull the whole mess from shore. Better tie the outriggers to the haul.

_________________
Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

The guys from the Transparentsea Expedition travelled 420 miles down the East coast of Australia in AI's, landing every night, mainly through surf. Yakass met up with them and told me they would hop out behind the breakers and swim their boats in through the surf. They are mainly pro surfers, so I guess they knew what they were doing.

_________________

The last few times I had to come in through rough surf, I took down my mast/sail and bungee'd it to the right side aka and rigged my lines like I do for travel, so no loose lines to tangle in. Worked well, but I timed it well, so not the best test.

_________________

Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

I think you are spot on recolon. That is what I meant with well prepared. Mast down and secured, probably amas foldet in and secured, and then swimm it in.
I think it would be worth a try to swimm it in backwards. (rudder up of course).
Would be much safer to lay on the bow and to hold on to the cross bar, feet left and right, instead on the bow, with the rudder which can be damaged ( injure you) and all the lines of the rear well.

If you choose to keep the akas out, the tramps have to be rolled up in rough surf. The forces of a dumping wave on a tramp would most likely cause some damage.

All right! I new I could scare some actual expedition type answers! The transparent sea expedition looks something like what I want to do, except a lot longer.

So they swam them in every night. This means the boat must stay somewhat straight while getting pushed forward as long as you are surfing it from the back. That's all you need and you could come in almost anywhere if it works. Some kayaks will go sideways as soon as the wave picks them up (the Scupper pro is not too good in that regard).

_________________
Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

I took my first river trip on the Missouri from Defiance to the confluence withe the Mississippi - 45 miles in just under 7 hours.


see full report at :
viewtopic.php?f=71&t=31301&p=123378&hilit=+river+sailing+#p123378

Ok, so I need to test the Island on the east coast somewhere. Some place where I can do a multi day trip sleeping on the shore. Any idea?

_________________
Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

We are going to do the coastal everglades trip (Flamingo to Chokoloskee, about 70 mi w/ no side trips) about the middle of Jan. Will have firm dates by Dec 10.

Then, in the latter part of Mar, we are doing the Florida Big Bend Water Trail--100-130 mi depending on stopping point.

You are welcome to join us. We usually avoid any kind of serious surf landings on these trips. We make no effort to do these trips in the shortest time; rather, we like to fish and relax along the way.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Looks great! You probably do a lot more than the 70 miles with all those islands in the way? Can you setup camp anywhere along the way?

_________________
Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

No, as in almost all National parks, they have a permit system which requires you to pick your sites you plan to use. However, between the coastal everglades sites (beach sites) and lots of "chickees" in the interior of the glades plus some land sites, there are many places from which to choose.

The Florida Big Bend is not a park but rather a series of refuges and reserves. Generally, you can't camp in these at all, but the State set up this paddling trail with a few--not many--designated sites. However, the paddling trail is not used, certainly not like the everglades, and their system keeps useage low. Nevertheless, I'm sure it can be done, even in a group of AIs.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon