hobie 18-Biloxi to Mexico

in the process of getting my 2 boat team ready to sail from Biloxi to Cancun, Mexcio and am just looking for any advice that would help us out (how to strengthen the boats, how to add any dry storage on them, etc). We are just in the preliminary stages and aren't planning on doing it until next summer.

We've done several long trips including Key West to Biloxi, which was an absolute blast. The trip was fairly easy because we had a vehicle (and hotel room) meeting us at our different stops, but we have never crossed the border or been stuck on a boat of that size for weeks at a time. I am a certified captain with a sailing endorsement, and have 20 years of experience on sailing hobie cats so i'm not too worried about navigation but i know there are a ton of factors i am over looking. Planning on doing it with no electronics except for a handheld vhf to talk between our boats and of course an epirb or SPOT. i know it sounds crazy, but thats why we're doing it.

please don't tell me we won't make it, or not to do it...just looking for advice or anyone that wants to join.

Don't go in the spring or early summer. After the last two Texas 200's the wind was about as constant from the south as you can get! That's on the nose for the whole of the S Texas coast! H 18's or larger would be the way to go as they'll take a bit of weight. That said, make sure the boat is about perfect if you intend to put some serious punishment on it. Oh, larger hatches make access nice.

Dan

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Dan St. Gean
'82 H 18
'96 H Wave

No advice but major Kudos

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1985 Prindle 16

Buy a bigger boat.

I'd bring a spare shroud or two, or at least 100 ft of dyneema line in case of a failure in the rigging. I have heard of a 16 losing the mast (broken shroud) and being restepped, while at sea during an island hop to marthas vineyard, in 5 ft seas. It's a better option than hitting the epirb and getting towed home ( or abandoning the boat, if your rescuer won't tow it)
Good luck, prepare well and get there safe! I'm planning on doing the Cuba Run , key west to Havana on a Tiger, should be fun!!

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

is there a website for the cuba run??...i'd love to do it.

thanks guys for the info btw. its myself and 3 buddies that are ready to do anything on a hobie...we love the water and love to be on a catamaran. have limited funding, but it all goes to building faster and stronger catamarans. very low budget (no road crews) but we don't care, just enjoy pushing it to the limits.

keep me posted on any endurance races....we're ready for it. we race all the time in the triangle races, and although i think they are an absolute blast, i'm ready for more extreme races.

It's a google newsgroup, just search on Cuba Run 2010 and it will pop up. Officially it's F18, inter 20s and those sort of boats, but check into it and see what they say. It's definitely going to be an adventure!

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

There is the Great Texas 300 coming up soon. Sailing over 3 days from South Padre to Galveston Island. I think registration is closed already though.

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

Read this account of a group of guys who sailed around Baja California.