So we made it back yesterday from Destin. What a trip!!
We arrived on Monday and since we couldnt check in, we went straight to the Gulf Shore Park and put in. Since it was really our first time on the boat in any wind, we just took it easy and got acclimated. My wife was starting to warm up to this sailing thing!
My parents came in on Tuesday- they owed a hobie in the late 70's when they first got married and hearing their stories my whole life was what has made me want a Hobie.
We got to the bay around 10 and got the boat rigged. Dad and i went out and cpsized the boat to practice righting it. With him at the helm was my first time on the trapeze. What a rush when you fly hull too high!!! Then came the capsize and catching the shroud on my leg- what a bruise now! Got the boat around int he wind and righted without much drama. Now that I had the confidence, it was time to have fun!!
We proceeded to sail all day Wed and Thursday with great winds that built to 20-25 both days. Once my wife went on the wire and in the air, she is now hooked and seems to be thinking about sailing as much as I am!! We even were able to figure out both getting on the wire together.
One note- I was wanting to know how fast we were sailing. I found the greatest app ever- "GPS Speed Tracker" You can start a track and it will record your course, speed, Max Speed, Avg Speed, distance, etc. I put the phone is a Pelican case clipped to the tramp. What we got shocked us. Multiple trips that we hit 19-20 Mph and even averaged 12 mph over an hour trip. How does this sound to compare to what this boat should be capable of with 20+ winds and only about 170lb crew weight?
Thanks for all the input, we are now searching for some good lakes close to Chattanooga that have better wind and maybe even some more active sailors.
Will try to post pics soon
Oh yeah- Only bad part of the trip was coming up I-59 in one lane construction and watching the shrouds and trap wires come untied and fall off the back of the tramp. By the time I could pull over, it was too late, they had already hit the pavement and were mangled
Well, I had been figuring I should put new standing rigging since I didn;t knwo how old it was.