18th Hobie 16 World Championships - Fiji

Next 16 Worlds .When and where?

2009

Puerto Rico

At least that was the heavy rumor.

Does Hobie sell those fancy long thin tiller extensions that some of the teams were using(see Tim Shuwalow).They look like they are carbon but thinner then the hot sticks

Pics?

If they're carbon, they're not class legal in the North American Region (conductive).

If you go to Qualifying races day one pictures last page you will see Tim Shuwalow walking with one .There is also some earlier pictures in that set of his boat and tiller.I do not know how to post pics sorry

This it Mike?

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HCANA Class Member

That's about the same length as a 17's tiller.

Thats it.Looks like my carbon fiber laser tiller.Only a lot longer

I know a guy that can make that.

Just keep this in mind:



= no carbon fiber

Kevlar would be OK, but you'd need to protect it from UV exposure.

I actually think that is what he uses. I'll find out.

I've been told that Puerto Rico 2009 was anounced in Fiji ,there are still details to be worked out but all looks good.

A letter of intent was received for Puerto Rico.

This means that the organizers have lots to do before the bid is accepted.

Appropriate Sponsorship companies, Sponsorship funds in the $300,000 range, Beach, Hotel Venues and provided boat agreement are some of the major things to work out.

Then the real work starts.

Fiji was an amazing event with what they offered on site. Lots of work.

Geez... they had a whole clothing line for sale. All kinds of stuff. Bands, food, entertainment, crafts for sale. It goes on and on.

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

The tiller looks like what we used (for the first day) in Nuemea. They were carbon and Kevlar wrapped. Broke like (maybe easier than) Popsicle sticks. We had to "Make" tillers that night from locally found aluminum tube... a nightmare.

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

I spoke with a bloke prior to racing one day about his "quiver" of tillers. I think he had about 4 there. Most of them were hollow with a hole drilled in one end to accept the tiller pin.

One was kevlar. Another was PVC. He called it something else, but I got the understanding it was the Oz equivalent to our PVC. Another was made from a very light pool cue!

He had another one which was an noodly as can be. I want to say it was the 'PVC' one, but this one was much more flexible than any PVC I've seen. I wondered how you could steer with the dang thing it was so loose. Of course, he said it never breaks!

I can't tell you how much I have invested in Hotsticks because I would drop the tiller in the water at high speeds and it would bend back like a pretzel. Eventually the fiberglass splits at the very end.

Bottom line is: other than the limitations re carbon or whatever class rules say, the Aussies are using just about anything long enough that will fit in the yoke of the tiller!!!

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Peter Nelson