HOBIE 18 vs HOBIE TIGER

I just chatted with the local SA Hobie representative whom was recently in Australia for the Tiger champs.

What he said was interesting;
1. The Hobie 18's in Australia were all in in extremely good qualitative condition
2. There ware approx 30 to 40 Hobie 18's on the start line
3. They were very fast and almost giving the leading Tigers a proper run for their money.


I found the above very interesting because;
1. My boat is quite fast in winds less than 7 knots. As I found out when the wind went +7 to 29 knots I was almost dead in the water.
2. I got a proper hiding in last years Tanzanian Tanzacat with H16's properly thumping me when the wind came up. Hobie Tigers properly put my face into the dirt and did much more.

Any comments;
1. Do you find the same issues
2. Any suggestions how to correct this slowness for when the wind picks up.

Cheers
Richard

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Richard Stephens

Richard, I don't have experience sailing against Tigers and 16's, but I know from reading many posts by others on the subject that an H18 and H16, with evenly matched skippers, the H18 should beat the H16 handily, particularly in higher winds. Light winds the H18 usually struggles against the rest, given its greater weight & displacement. That is of course assuming that the skippers are able to sail their boats equally effectively in high wind and light wind.

The H18 has a taller mast and therefore higher aspect ratio sail than the H16, which helps it generate lift more efficiently. The symmetrical hulls are more efficient (so long as the sterns aren't dragging) and the daggerboards allow the boat to point higher (though not as high as a Tiger, with it's higher aspect ratio daggers). The much higher aspect ratio sails of the Tiger will allow them to beat you handily at higher wind speeds, but in light winds the greater sail area of the H16 and H18 will likely make the gap between you and them smaller.

If you're doing great against these boats in light wind, but not so much in higher winds, it's likely due to the tuning of your sail shape. If the sail is too full in higher winds, you'll generate an excess of both lift and drag, having a hard time in holding the boat down and keeping your speed up. It could also be the mast rake you're sailing with - too far forward and you won't be able to point as high, potentially losing that speed & pointing advantage over the H16. In all though, it's really tough to say anything for certain without knowing more about the specifics of how you're tuning the boat and sailing it, how they're tuning and sailing, and their skill level at sailing their respective boats.

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Mike

'79 H18 standard 'Rocketman II' sail #14921 RIP
'78 H18 (unnamed) sail #14921
'08 H16 sail #114312
'97 H21SC sail #238

Richard:
from my limited experience....
In light winds, an H18 sucks, as it is relatively heavy at 400 lbs.
In medium to high winds, it rocks, and properly trimmed and sailed, it will fly.
The H16's will keep with you on the upwind, but on the downwind due to larger sail area, you should beat them.
Tigers and other F18's are another story.
Upwind they are much more efficient, and should smoke you.
Downwind, because they have a spinnaker, they should also smoke you.
(except in choppy waters with a light weight crew....when they may pitchpole).

My suggestion is that you travel to Saldanha for one of their high wind/flat water regattas and get a F18 or a H16 sailor to crew for you.
Better still, get a 49'er to crew for you.
and get used to 'driving' the boat, keep it smooth and always flowing.

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

You might have your boats confused here. Australia recently held their national F18 championships. No H18's complete in these (different class) and nowhere in Australia will you find 30-40 active H18's sailing together.

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2007 Hobie 16 - 'Slingshot'
1996 Hobie 18 - 'Onrails'
Hobie Bravo - 'Hobie Bites'

Sorry, thinking about this more it would have been the 2015 Hobie Nationals. In which case we had 9 H18's, 5 Tigers and 5 Wildcats.

_________________
2007 Hobie 16 - 'Slingshot'
1996 Hobie 18 - 'Onrails'
Hobie Bravo - 'Hobie Bites'

anyone got pictures?
would have loved to have sailed there.....
one day....

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

_________________
2007 Hobie 16 - 'Slingshot'
1996 Hobie 18 - 'Onrails'
Hobie Bravo - 'Hobie Bites'