Hobie Cat manufactures watercraft, and the term “Hobie Cat” now also refers to some of the company’s products, most notably its catamarans. For those who’d like to learn to sail a Hobie Cat, there are several key things to remember, which are outlined below.
Keeping Balanced
Sailors should sit just in front of the tiller on the Hobie Cat’s upwind side, facing the sail. When the boat begins to heel or tip over with the wind in its sails, one’s weight should be balanced further outboard. One foot should be tucked beneath the hiking strap for additional balance, with the sailor’s forward hand used to control and hold the mainsheet while the aft hand steers.
Getting Started with Steering
Hobie Cats are steered by the sailor pushing the tiller away from their body in order to turn toward the wind; they can also turn away from the wind by pulling the tiller toward them. The movement of the tiller should be kept to a minimum to avoid oversteering. This approach will help keep the Cat moving in a straight line while the need for sail and other craft adjustments are monitored.
Launching the Boat
When launching from a dock, the sailor should first step aboard while keeping their weight on the trampoline platform. Checks should be made to ensure that all sails are unsheeted and loose. Next, the sailor should ask someone to untie the line securing the boat to the dock – if no one is around, this should be untied before stepping aboard the vessel. Next, the sailor should sit facing the sail and check that there aren’t any boats (or other obstacles) too close to be able to navigate the catamaran from the dock. Launching is easy if the wind is blowing away from the dock: simply allow the wind to fill the sails and move the vessel downwind, using the tiller to navigate.
Seasoned catamaran sailors like Hobie Cat instructor Paul Simonson know that if the dock is windward, launching is likely to be a little more challenging. One solution is to walk the vessel to the end of the dock and then let the wind fill its sails. Alternatively, trim the sails and shove off using one hand on the tiller so that steering can begin straight away.
Righting a Hobie Cat
If the Cat tips over, stay with the boat if safe to do so; the vessel won’t sink and is simple to right. It’s easiest to right the boat when the mast and bow are pointed into the wind. In this position, the vessel can be better controlled and there will be less wind resistance.
For more information about sailing Hobie Cats, take a look at the embedded PDF.