It's been nearly 3 months since we bought our TI. This is my first venture into sailing for fun instead of racing & I'm loving it. I have been taking it very easy getting used to the TI & letting my two eldest children (11 & 6) get used to sailing.
Today with a warm (air temp 32 Deg Celsius) & pleasant 15, gusting 20 kt SW breeze blowing, we pushed off from our favourite launching site at the Port Adelaide Sailing Club. This time we didn't reef the sail as my children had now worked out that if they hike from the trampoline, Dad will pull more sail on & the TI takes off. I don't know who had the bigger grin, my two very wet crew or myself.
After two hours of blasting up the river & then a sleigh ride home, we beached at the sailing club very wet, but very happy. My kids didn't want to pack up, but as it was already 7pm (it's currently daylight saving in Aus, so the sun isn't setting until 8:30pm), I convinced them that we could always come back next weekend.
The TI is an absolutely fantastic craft. A joy to sail, a joy to rig & de-rig. We still have a lot to learn about the TI & so we are looking forward to this summer. The only mod that I'm planning is a couple of Haka Bench Seats to make the ride a little drier for the winter months.
Thank you Hobie for producing such a wonderful craft! (By the way, my children have christened the boat 'Wet n Wild')
_________________ Rob, 2011 Hobie TI
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