Tandem Island wins Sailing World's Best Rec Boat of the Year

Hobie Mirage Tandem Island wins Sailing World's Best Recreational Boat of the Year

By sailingworld.com | Posted: December 17th, 2010

Now in its 25th year, Sailing World's Boat of the Year contest continues to deliver the most anticipated awards in the sailboat-building industry. Topping this year’s field of winners at the overall Boat of the Year is the RS100 by RS Sailing (Hants, England).

Other winners in Sailing World’s 2011 Boat of the Year competition are:

• Best Crossover: Beneteau First 30 (Beneteau USA, Marion, S.C.)
• Best One-Design Keelboat: J/111 (J/Boats Inc., Newport, R.I.)
• Best Daysailor: C.W. Hood 32 (C.W. Hood Yachts, Marblehead, Mass.)
• Best Recreational: Hobie Mirage Tandem Island (Hobie Cat Co., Oceanside, Calif.)
• Best Grand Prix: Gunboat 66 (Gunboat, Newport, R.I.)

Images of Sailing World testing the Tandem Island can be seen here.

Sailing Worlds Boat of the Year article can be found here.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

That's awesome. I knew I picked the right boat when I bought the TI.

Now I own an award winning boat.

_________________
H@mmer
"Intelligence is nothing without imagination"

Shame they did not post any real review of this winner, just a few pics! Gonna make you buy their January/February 2011 issue to read all about it.

Whatta tease,..

But congrats to Hobie. The new "stretch AI" is great. Of course, we knew that.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Next up: Gunboat 66?

Congratulations to Hobie for making such great, fun boats, and to Sailing World for recognizing a great boat when they see it! Two, if you count the Gunboat 66, and I sure do!

Congrats! We knew it was a winner when we saw the first pix of it!

_________________
Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

My sailing blog
Our sailing videos

Speaking of which, why is that video still private? Can Dan make it public again now?

Now ya went and did it! Got me lusting after another sailboat.
The Gunboat 66 is my new mid-life crisis!
http://www.gunboat.com/66-gallery.php

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Good stuff.

I wonder if they tried it out when there was some wind. In all those pics of the TI looks like wind was almost non-existent and most appear to be using the pedals. If they didn't try it out in more wind they are missing out on some major fun.

_________________

I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

All of the trials for these awards are done after the Annapolis boat show. Each product gets a time slot... so conditions are what they are. Good thing we do have pedals. Some products likely suffer badly if there is no wind at all!

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

For me, this is my dream boat - http://www.beneteau.com/en/sailboats/pr ... O_CODE=399

Now I just need for my numbers to match those of the lotto numbers...

_________________
H@mmer
"Intelligence is nothing without imagination"

Makes sense. That is just one reason why the TI (and AI) rock!

I am just saying their jaws would drop and a big smile would form if they could try them out in some wind.... LOL.

_________________

I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.

They did sneak in the TriYak for a last minute test.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

They spoke of a new accessory for the TI - a furling gennaker

Is there any more info yet?

Matt,
I noticed the Sailing World article mentioned the new "roller furling Jennaker" option. When will it be released for sale? how much will it be? are there any videos or specs on it?

Louis
Atlanta Ga.
2011 TI

The jib system is not going forward for some time. We had to step back and redesign. We need more time for testing.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)