The salt spray stung my face. The hulls vibrated and groaned. This was speed. Six inches above the water, six feet out from the side of the boat, I had the most fantastic view as the hulls of my Hobie 16 sliced through the clear blue sea leaving perfectly cut water closing in behind them. This is catamaran sailing. Exhilarating, fast and furious. Another small wave, adjust the tiller round up slightly, lean back and up we go, yes clear airtime again and crash we come back down, the lee hull submerges but pulls out in a flash and we carry on as before. As we come into the surf close to shore we ride down the wave front, pull hard on the tiller and flare off the top. Pure adrenaline.
I have just come back from my hols. Two weeks in the sun and sailing a free Hobie 16 was daily entertainment.
These catamarans are built for the surf. They are a two-man, twin-trapeze speed machine, capable of about 25 knots in ideal conditions. Designed in the sixties by a surfer, Hobie, they are simple to rig, and having a characteristic banana shaped hull they have no centre board. The rudders have a patented kick up mechanism that is robust and simple, the idea of these design characteristics is to allow you to ride the waves, much as a windsurfer does and travel right into the beach. This allows the very cool sight of two people with broad grins sail in on the surf, right onto the beach, and get off on the sand.
Hobie was a man who loved the sea. He recognised the need for a light fast catamaran that was strong, simple to sail and gave him as much fun as he had on a surf board. The 16 is the perfect boat that fitted these design criteria exactly. Any visitor to the many all inclusive beach resorts will notice many of these boats on the beach in front of their hotel. This is testimony to their durability and safety. The same visitor will find that many people want to take these boats out, so he or she may have to wait their turn, testimony to there popularity. They are pure fun in the sun, the most fun you can have on the beach with your lifejacket on anyway.
Built from fibreglass originally and now from polyurethane composite, they are strong and light, easily managed by the two people who are needed to sail them to their potential. My wife and I had no trouble rigging and lifting one to the waters edge. They are best sailed in a breeze up to 20 knots. The view when both of you are out on the trapeze is one of spray, hulls slicing through the water and coloured sails contrasting with the, hopefully, deep blue sky.
Now in grey old England this may seem like an unnecessary dream. Yes I agree. Skimming the surf in the pacific is a stark contrast from beating into a stiff easterly down the Orwell River in Ipswich. At £3000 for a new one here this too adds to the unlikely benefits of owning one here. But in their element on a surf beach or in a New Zealand harbour these craft are king.
I write this opinion praising the hobie 16 as a reminder to you all. It is spring, no doubt your next beach holiday is on your mind, and can I recommend a catamaran holiday in the sun. Try an all inclusive that has free water sports, and I guarantee there will be a hobie 16 sitting on the beach. Don’t walk past it to the volleyball, get on it. It is easy to sail. It is great fun and the excitement of getting these up to speed is fantastic.
Happy hols.
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