Looking to get into sailing a hobie cat in NJ

Hey, I have zero experience sailing, but it is something Ive wanted to get into for a long time. I'm interested in learning to sail a hobie cat. I dont know anyone who owns one of these boats, nor any place that gives lessons on these boats. I have read up on the basics of sailing and the 'Learn to sail a hobie cat' section on hobies website, but I feel this is not enough information to get me started. Im currently looking for a hobie instructor in the Cape May or LBI area. Is this my best course of action? Does anyone know of any instructors in the mentioned areas?

Try contacting your local Hobie dealers and ask them the exact same question:

Dealer Details:

BAY CATS
316 BAY AVENUE
OCEAN CITY, NJ 08226
Phone: 1-609-391-7960
E-mail: [email protected]

HARVEY CEDARS MARINE
6318 LONG BEACH BLVD.
HARVEY CEDARS, NJ 08008
Phone: 1-609-494-0111
E-mail: [email protected]

CLEWS AND STRAWBRIDGE
310 LANCASTER PIKE
FRAZER, PA 19355
Phone: 1-610-644-3529
E-mail: [email protected]

Thanks Skipshot, Ill be contacting Harvey Cedars Marina and Bay Cats.

I know Don at Bay CATS http://www.baycats.com (Ocean City) rents Hobe Waves and has sailing lessons. Used Hobie 16’s are fairly easy to come by in South Jersey. There are usually a few (beaters) on Craigslist for under $2k. As for places to sail that depends on if you will be a trailer gypsy or keep it on a beach (or yacht club). Many Jersey shore communities have “Hobie” designated beaches where you can keep your boat on the beach with a permit for a few hundred a year. Stone Harbor (at 122 street); SeaIsle City (at 22nd and 346th); Ocean City (various location); Brigantine; just to name a few. There are a few Marinas and Yacht clubs that support Hobies. Look for one that has a good beach launching area. Spray Beach Yacht Club http://www.spraybeachyc.org on LBI is Hobie friendly and is home to Fleet 267. They hosted a great regatta for Hobie and have great facilities supporting beach cats.

Daily Launching from a trailer is harder. There are few boat ramps adjacent to nice sandy beaches in Jersey. Trixies Landing near Bekeley Island County Park (near BayVille) has good trailer launching to the upper Barnegat Bay; The Beesley Point Municipal Ramp and J.F.Kennedy Park provide access to Pecks bay (Behind Ocean City) and The Stone Harbor Beach (122nd street) can daily lauch if you have beach wheels and a few friendly to push the boat over the dunes to the beach.

Hobie Division 11 covers the Jersey shore area http://www.div11.hobieclass.com. The Division and the Fleets are a great resource to learn about Hobie sailing in the area. Go the beaches where they sail Hobies, talk to the sailors, maybe if your lucky you can bum-a-ride. Div. 11 is having a regatta in Wildwood in August. We had over 60 boats last year. Come check it out. And have a Hobie Day.

_________________
John Latimer
'79 Hobie18 - Magnum
Sail#4854

Thanks danneskjold, Im waiting on a response from don at bay cats, and Ill be checking out the Hobie Division 11 website. Thanks for the great info.

Both Bay Cats and Harvey Cedars marinas give 1 hour lessons on the cats. How many lessons should my girlfriend and I expect to take before being able to sail together without an instructor?

The length of time to learn is infinite, but a more down to earth answer is - it depends on you. How enthusiastic are you? How athletic are you? How perceptive are you? How much risk are you willing to take?

Just go for it and forget about time.

I live in Cape May and keep a boat at the Hobie beach in Town Bank on the bay, I can help you with lessons if you want. I would suggest a 2 hour session to start with perhaps another session to follow up. I have been racing Hobie 16's for 25 years and have taught many people to sail including my kids. You can reach me (Randy) by email at [email protected]

Thanks for the replies guys. Randy I sent you an email.

A "BIG" FYI: Randy Payne is the current H16 Division CHAMPION !!!!!!!! and Division 11 H14 CHAMPION also !!!!!!!!


Good luck at the H16 North Americans, Randy ..... (I'll be working on the menu for the RHYC Points Regatta, any requests from the Div 11 Champion ......)

_________________
HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11