New Hobie AI 2 doing well (so far) in tough "R2AK" adventure

Roger bought second AI just for the race and is trying to sell it in AK, since it's too $$$ to ship back. Must have lost a bundle on electronics & gear too.

That's real dedication. Or determination. Or some "D" word,..

Here's how he prepped:
https://www.facebook.com/R2AKTeamDiscovery

_________________
The Wind Is Your Friend...

I absolutely agree that Hobie should buy his boat for PR. It is an incredible feat and an incredible story. Some film maker should get on board and make a movie based on Roger's story. This is the kind of movie I'd pay to see. Thankfully, it had a happy ending and didn't end when the wave swept him overboard. Being leashed to the AI shows how prepared he was for all that was thrown at him including hypothermia.

Very cool tent setup on his AI:

R2AK: And you were able to get back on?
Roger: Yeah, I had a uh, surfboard leash, so all I did was crawl back on. But when I washed off I broke my tiller bar, so it was just back there all mangled up. I lost both my tiller bars. I lost a lot of stuff.

Can anyone shed light on what a 'tiller bar' might be?

I've followed this race from its launch in Victoria, I was there mid April, lovely part of the world but so is Queensland but a bit warmer! I am in awe of the sheer guts of the competitors, you just have to be so mentally strong especially if solo on an open boat. Words fail me, well done boys!

_________________
John
2011 Tandem Island
Ocean Kayak Cabo
Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT
Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro

I'm guessing he had "Hiking stick(s)" or a system of steering other than stock.

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

Roger had some sort of auto pilot. A long white tiller can be seen in some of his pictures. It was attached to the rudder and then positioned on his haka at the other end. The system was broken when he pitch poled at an angle onto a beach just north of Cape Caution. Of course, he also broke a shear pin in that crash. A good example of the value of stock, nylon shear pins instead of some SS pin or rigid aka/ama arrangement.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

What is this AI 2 of which you speak?

_________________
2012 Mango Tandem Island
and assortment of mods.

An AI 2 is simply the new generation AI with the reverse angle bows and Vantage seating

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker