Prince Planet Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 After traveling to the most amazing sailing destination recently, I noticed that there were no good 14ft cats (or for that matter larger cats) available for hire... Plenty of sailboard and kitesurf equipment... but nothing for the serious sailor who wants to self-skipper. My question is this? How many would travel to particular destinations – on a regular basis – if they knew that there were good, high-performance cats available for hire? I'm not talking about Hobie Waves or crappy, overused 'everyman' resort catamarans etc - rather a good fleet of decently maintained Windrush etc...? I know that if this facility was offered, in a destination that GUARANTEED superb sailing, GUARANTEED strong and consistent winds, beautiful, pristine beaches and turquoise, pollution-free water – and to top it off – fantastic nightlife, infrastructure, safety and excellent value for money, then I would be going at least once a year... How do others feel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korwich Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 After traveling to the most amazing sailing destination recently, I noticed that there were no good 14ft cats (or for that matter larger cats) available for hire... Plenty of sailboard and kitesurf equipment... but nothing for the serious sailor who wants to self-skipper. My question is this? How many would travel to particular destinations – on a regular basis – if they knew that there were good, high-performance cats available for hire? I'm not talking about Hobie Waves or crappy, overused 'everyman' resort catamarans etc - rather a good fleet of decently maintained Windrush etc...? I know that if this facility was offered, in a destination that GUARANTEED superb sailing, GUARANTEED strong and consistent winds, beautiful, pristine beaches and turquoise, pollution-free water – and to top it off – fantastic nightlife, infrastructure, safety and excellent value for money, then I would be going at least once a year... How do others feel? I can do this almost every weekend during summer, its called living in the Newcastle region, and can nearly do it every weekend during winter if I was allowed by the "war office". And it does'nt cost me a packet, and I don't have to leave the country. So why would I go on holidays to do something I can do every weekend at home. Just my thoughts Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Planet Posted July 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2011 Hi Phil, if you'd just been where I'd been, there is absolutely no comparison - and I agree Newcastle may seem like 'paradise' to locals - but trust me mate... the experience of sailing between and around islands, an extraordinary home-base, guaranteed 15-20 knot winds every day - 25 to 30 degrees in the middle of a Sydney Winter - not to mention the 'summer' season - nightlife to die for, cheap local meals and an unforgettable holiday experience? Now, honestly... PS I'm keeping the location under wraps for now... just gauging interest for the moment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TornadoSport260 Posted July 26, 2011 Report Share Posted July 26, 2011 Koh Samui? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Planet Posted July 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 Nope... but nice guess TS... I did hope to get more expressions of interest by now tho'... don't cat sailors travel outside OZ? How hard can it be to get enthusiastic cat sailors to travel to an absolutely fantastic location, with guaranteed strong winds and sunshine, and developed, modern infrastructure – if provided with nice boats to sail? Am I the only one who would appreciate that? Maybe I should run this by Laser sailors... haha.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TornadoSport260 Posted July 27, 2011 Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 The idea isn't new. These guys have been doing it in Greece for some time. http://wildwind.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Planet Posted July 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 Hey TS, that concept is cool... but a teaching facility is something beyond what I had in mind... I simply wanna have maybe 6 to 8 good boats available for a group of like-minded sailors at my 'secret' destination... and see if a group of sailors might be interested to travel once a year (particularly in the off-season) to this destination... The bigger picture involves a resort/hotel dedicated to cat and/or dinghy sailing at this destination... but that's down the track for now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sando Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 I holidayed in Denarau Island Fiji two years ago and heading back in October for a week. Yeap the only thing with a sail was a Hobie Wave with a cut down old hobie sail. Oh to have my own boat there to really enjoy the moment. I remember having the same thought when visiting Lake Taupo NZ. Sando Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Planet Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Yes Sando, that is the problem - no dedicated 'sailors' resort... at least not close enough to Oz that also has the infrastructure, safety, and wind and water conditions and great weather we all love... Well, if I have my way, that will change as soon as I can get the 'right' parties interested... but of course I do need expressions of interest... Are there any others out there - maybe a group of 4 to 6 cat sailors (friends) who would be keen to travel to a resort not too far away – and have a blast of a time onshore and offshore? Let me know... PP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Holiday destinations with fast cat to sail: TanzaCat: http://www.tanzacat.com/ two day round the marks then four day sail to and back from Zanzibar and another day around the marks. Fiji Challenge http://www.fijihobie.com/ eight day racing fast cats from Pacific Harbour to Upriasing Beach Resort to the Intercontinental to the Treasure Island to Denarau Island Chinia Wai Hai Asian Championships http://www.hobieclass.com/?Page=9020 free cat use (only one year old boats), $140AUS entry fee for 5 days around marks racing The Philippine Challenge: http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Philippine-Hobie-Challenge---Aussies-rule-after-five-days-sailing/81616 five day raid style event racing from beach island to beach island. Would need to be on par with these I think to gain traction PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humungus2 Posted August 7, 2011 Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 Went to Fiji serveral weeks ago. The winds were good. The water was warm but there was only a couple of hobie 16s and they needed some serious repairs. Nice at the resorts but the main towns suck. I would have been nice to have a sail there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NACRAJON Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 Holiday destinations with fast cat to sail: TanzaCat: http://www.tanzacat.com/ two day round the marks then four day sail to and back from Zanzibar and another day around the marks. Fiji Challenge http://www.fijihobie.com/ eight day racing fast cats from Pacific Harbour to Upriasing Beach Resort to the Intercontinental to the Treasure Island to Denarau Island Chinia Wai Hai Asian Championships http://www.hobieclass.com/?Page=9020 free cat use (only one year old boats), $140AUS entry fee for 5 days around marks racing The Philippine Challenge: http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Philippine-Hobie-Challenge---Aussies-rule-after-five-days-sailing/81616 five day raid style event racing from beach island to beach island. Would need to be on par with these I think to gain traction PM I assume this is PM the Canberra Hobie dealer, you should have told me last year you were only paying a couple of hundred bucks to compete in China, I would have been in for it. This has me interested, what site do you view to keep up with coming events? Also I have never sailed a Hobie 16 before, what are the qualifying criteria? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Planet Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Hi Guys, this is a nice way to promote existing OS cat regattas - so the thread has been worthwhile... My concern is that there are apparently no destinations that can boast a reasonably well maintained fleet of cats for hire - even if it's just a few - maybe 6 boats – that would see us travel as a group of friends to that destination to sail 'em... which is a real pity IMHO... PP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Hi Jon, I’m not a Hobie dealer. The International Hobie Class Association website is a good starting point, googol it. Criteria for sailing a Hobie 16 is: fun loving, like to meet other fun loving people (99% of them anyway), a like of colour over white, a love of rum and an understanding that if you know how to sail a cat and think they noise dive regularly you are actually wrong and need to learn how it is possible for lots of other people in the world to sail Hobie 16s fast and not ever noise dive (well once every other season anyway). You seem to have the right stuff as your have turned your T4.9 into a pack horse and sailed it for fun and enjoyment. Hi PP, Business Plan: When I retire I’m buying a caravan park on a beach on a bay north of Newcastle. Putting two 40hp-RIBs and 10 Hobie 16s on the beach and running 4 events each year outside of school holidays of 5 day duration with an accommodation (cabin, couple of BBQ’s and breakfast for a fee) and charging each team/crew $500 entry plus a damage deposit (if you break one badly you lose your deposit and buy the boat and you are not invited again) for your family to have fun (and the non-sailor on weekend and school holidays) I’ll have a couple of Hobie Waves and a Getaway to rent. For the punters who think like “I know boats” I'll work something else out for them involving cheap old 14ft cats. Why hasn’t anyone in AUS thought of this before? If it’s left for me to do you are going to have to wait about 8 to 10 more years. Have you got a better plan that will start sooner? Enjoy your sailing, wind, sea and smiles are free. PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Planet Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Is 'noise-diving' when you let out an unholy scream as your leeward hull heads towards the bottom - just b4 you get catapulted into the forestay? Actually, Hobie 16's are fun... PP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I think you are describing "pitch-poling" the extreme version of "noise-diving". noise-diving can be foreseen and in most cases controlled or at least managed so that you are up and sailing quickly again and the crew is not scared shirtless (arrr... the old days of skimpy PFDs and topless crews) all cat are fun:) "pitch-poling" is usually reserved for the novice cat sailor and first time crew (this is designed to turn them off and allow the rest of us more beach space) or the gung-ho "it's 35+knots lets go for a blast" mid fleeter with a fetish for pain "noise-diving" is a rare event for most of the competent cat sailors who know their limitations in boat handing noise-diving beat sitting in an uncomfortable or cramped position going slow while getting wet and cold or hiking on something with less than 8 square metres of sail and a centre board. PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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