The Island are tough and can take a fair bit of wind.
As for your better half out sailing you..... recommend:
- sell the AI
- buy a TI (much faster than the AI) which should overcome your weight disadvantage.
Reefing can put less stress on the kayak ... and paradoxically can increase your speed on certain tacks.
The Island can capsize .... just about all capsizes are from the leeward Akas / Almas folding in unexpectant.....
Ocean surf can do you in ..... only for experienced sailors....even then....stuff can happen....
- Aka pin failure
- Aka brace pop offs
- Aka attachment to H-Bar - break free
- Rudder pin snaps (hitting submerged sandbars...)
- Mast mount retainer bolt snaps ... folding mast over...
- Tiller screw snaps
Of course .... all of these happen at the worst time....offshore sailing or in the surf line / shoal line to port entrances...
You can find a few of these failures on YouTube feed (see links below).
Enjoy.....safely.
https://youtu.be/y-pdwxsolgYhttps://youtu.be/UW4QqMrIrVUhttps://www.youtube.com/c/powersjr2WW/s ... ak%20hobie2021-04-25_10-39-44 by
Jim Powers, on Flickr