the horse's mouth

Before You Buy A Boat And Go Sailing...

I think you should learn how to sail. A bit of common sense also comes in handy if you want to venture out on the water. "See that thing staright ahead, it's called a beach."

But Joe, I've seen catamarans sail onto the beach in Florida.

How To Sail Through The Surf. (A Blast From The Past.)

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again....and again.....and again....and again. Oh for goodness sake, take a sailing class, old man!

Bye, Bye Brasil. Hello Australia.

Travessia do Pacífico - Parte 10- Austrália from Eduardo Teiman on Vimeo.

Beto Pandiani and Igor Bely sailed across the Pacific on a Clairefontaine 25 foot beach cat from South America to Australia. The journey started in September 2007 from Vina del Mar, Chile and ended at Bundaberg, Australia in November 2008. This is one of many videos chronicling their journey. Mais videos.
It's funny, I didn't know that I could understand Portuguese.

Via the Fatu-Hiva Team

Aloha Friday.

The kitchen sink of photos from Hawaii.
If you don't want to go there after looking at these photos, then I'm lost at how I'm going to persuade you.....it's actually your lose.

Why Don't You Just Sail A Keelboat? [Part Two]

Try doing this with your Beneteau.
On second thought, maybe using this photo is not such a great idea. It must be a son of gun to get that cat on and off the roof rack.

Via Conjuminando, who got it from Velablog, who read al post di Francesco Vado pazzo per Cindy, who found Cindy here.

Wednesday Wipeout. [Video]

Wednesday Wipeout. [Video]

Ouch!

Wednesday Wipeout. [Video]

This is from the video archives.

Technorati Tags: sailing, sailing video, sailing wipeout, hobie cat, hobie wipeout

Sailing Photo Of The Day. Paper Tiger Cat.

Peter Robbins sailing PT 888.

The Paper Tiger Catamaran is an exciting 4.3m (14ft) single-handed catamaran that provides competitive one-design racing for beginners through to champions. The class rules ensure tight control over the major dimensions of the boat which guarantees exceptional racing, yet they provide the freedom to experiment with gear and equipment for the boat.

Background from Wikipedia:
In 1967 when Ron Given was discussing with friends how he planned to design a father and son training catamaran which he proposed to build on a simple mould by sticking plywood together with fibreglass tape, his friends began to comment that he may as well use sticky paper. Eventually, the word 'paper' and also the description of 'paper boat' kept coming to mind during talks about the new boat. As a result, 'paper' soon became part of the name, followed by 'tiger' because the tiger is an active member of the cat family. By the end of 1967 five Paper Tigers were built and one made its debut at Cat Week during January 1968 at Brown's Bay, New Zealand. By the end of 1968 the New Zealand Paper Tiger Catamaran Owner's Association had been formed.

Class Information:

• The 14 foot, one design hulls can be professionally or amateur built from fibreglass with foam sandwich or marine ply with both methods providing a long competitive boat life.

• A minimum hull weight of 50kg ensures that the Tiger can be easily handled by teenagers, adults and veteran sailors.

• The Paper Tiger points high into the wind, has an exhilarating acceleration, runs well downwind and above all is deslightfully responsive. These attributres thrill the pleasure sailor and racing skippers.

Specifications:
The basic specifications for the Paper Tiger Catamaran are set out below. For more detailed information, please refer to the Class Rules.

• Length Overall  4.26 m [14 ft]

• Beam (width)  2.13 m [7 ft]

• Sail Area  9.29 m2 [100 sq ft]

• Mast Length 6.78 m [22 ft 3 in]

• Weight (unrigged) 50 kg [110 lb]

• Weight Rigged 73 kg [160 lb]

Do you want one? Buy the plans and build one.

Links:
Paper Tiger Catamaran International Association | Paper Tiger New Zealand | Australian Paper Tiger Catamaran Association | NSW Paper Tiger | Victorian Paper Tiger | SA Paper Tiger |

Technorati Tags: paper tiger catamaran, cat sailing, catamaran sailing, sailing, sailing photo of the day

Boat Of The Day, Quack! Quackamaran.

The Ducky, an inflatable catamaran from the Ukraine.

Technorati Tags: ducky inflatable catamaran, beach cats, cat sailing, catamarans, sailing

Happiness Is A Beach Cat.

A glass of sangria is pretty good also. I raise a toast to a local sailor.
Here's to fair winds and following seas for Edward during his race to Hawaii.
Have a great weekend!

Technorati Tags: beach cats, sailing, evk super blog, pacific cup

Sweet Thing.

The Unicorn Cat in action.
Dog you can build this puppy at home.

Here are her specs:

• Single handed 'A' class cat


• Trapeze and una rig


• PY of 775, ISAF 1.086


• Length 5.49m (18ft)


• Beam 2.29m (7ft 6in)


• Sail Area 13sqm


• Mast Height 7.93m (26ft)


• Latest Sail No 1098


• Portsmouth Yardstick of 775 compares with a
  Tornado at 693 and a Hurricane 5.9 at 691 and a
  Shadow with a provisional 732


• ISAF rating of 1.086 compares with a Tornado
  at 1.004, a Hurricane 5.9 at 1.009 and a Shadow
  at 1.069


• Superb boat in light winds with high performance
  up to F6 due to the flexibility of the rig settings


• Daggerboards for high efficiency and superb
  pointing


• Flexible mast with loose footed main. Adjustments
  to outhaul, downhaul, kicker and lower shrouds.
  With a full cut sail this gives terrific scope for control
  of sail shape


• Trapeze for the ultimate sailing challenge


• Una rig for simplicity of sail handling
  (13 sqm sail area to A class specification)


• Plans available for the skilled home builder from
  the RYA.

Technorati Tags: beach cats, boats you can build, catamarans, catamaran sailing, multi-hull sailing, sailing

What You Won't Be Seeing At The Olympics. Video Of The Toranado.

No cat attack at the Olympics!
Do you care? Should sailing be an Olympic sport?

The folks down under are not pleased.
Yachting Australia has expressed both disappointment and concern over the decision
taken last week by the ISAF Council to drop the Multihull from the list of events for
the 2012 London Olympic Games. Yachting Australia delegates supported the retention
of the multihull event throughout the ISAF Annual Meetings which took place in
Estoril, Portugal from 3-11 November.

ISAF was challenged with reducing the number of Olympic events from 11 in 2008 to
10 for 2012 in Weymouth. “To not include the multihull in 2012 is to disenfranchise
a large part of the sport of sailing,” says Phil Jones, CEO of Yachting Australia and
member of the ISAF Events Committee, which recommended that the multihull should
be retained. “The speed and excitement of catamarans is a real draw to young people.
They are the speed machines of sailboat racing. Whilst there is only a limited number
of countries involved in the Tornado Olympic Class, multihull sailing is an attractive
and truly global part of the sport.”

ISAF has been heeding the clear message from the International Olympic Committee
over recent years that for the sport to maintain its place on the Olympic Program it
must take steps to become more attractive to the media and the public. Changes to
the format of the competition have been made and a World Cup Series has been
agreed in effort to ensure more regular exposure for Olympic sailing.

“Catamaran racing is fast and comes across as really exciting,” says Phil Jones.
“The Tornado is one of the most telegenic boats in the Olympic Regatta. The boats
are big enough to carry on board cameras and tracking devices that can really bring
the contest to life for the viewer. To not have a place for it, or another multihull, is a
real step backwards for a sport that has the challenge of building its profile.
For us, there was just no focus on the bigger, long-term picture.”

Yachting Australia is also concerned over the process by which the multihull was
excluded. The ISAF Council voted to change the process recommended for the
selection of the events. This meant that there was no “run-off” vote between the
Multihull and the Keelboat.

“There was no real discussion over the implications of the change. It altered the
fundamental principles of the recommended system.” says Phil Jones. “Some
consider that the change, which was taken on a motion from the floor, was taken
with undue haste. Certainly many around the Council did not seem to appreciate
the full implications of the change. Those that used their first vote to support other
events may well have backed the multihull over the keelboat had they had the
opportunity. This change denied them this opportunity. I am sure that having had
time consider the implications, many will recognise that the change, put forward
as a mere simplification, was much more than this.”

Yachting Australia is concerned over the reaction to the ISAF Council decision.
“We understand that some will be very disappointed but the personal and vitriolic
attacks that we have seen do nothing to help the cause of those making them.
In fact, they only do damage. Yachting Australia does not consider this type of
reaction appropriate in any way.”

Yachting Australia is considering what further action, if any, can be taken to
revisit the decision. “However much we might disagree, if we felt the decision
had been properly considered and made with those around the table fully
understanding the implications, we would accept it. Obviously we don’t consider
that this is the case. We shall be discussing the issue with colleagues from other
countries and IOC representatives over the next few days before deciding how
we proceed.”

Tags: sailing video, sailing, multi-hull sailing, tornado catamaran, olympic sailing

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A Blast From The Past.

The Hobie Monocat.
I almost bought one a couple of years ago. She's fast, fun and stable.

Hobie in it's infinite wisdom replaced her with the god awful rotomolded
(made from recycled Clorox bottles) Bravo.

note: (These are the same guys who stopped production
of the 14 in North America.)

Tags: sailing, hobie monocat, hobie cat, catamaran sailing, catamarans, multihulls

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No One Is Picking Up My Call From The Darkside.

No Lasers to be found. What's a guy to do? Look at scows?



I found an Melges 16 up at Clear Lake on Craigslist.
It looked promising at $700, so I threw a line in the water at SA and came back
with a definite don't buy from a scow guy who said the boat was an old warhorse
from the sixties that should be put out to pasture.
He pointed me toward an MC up in Sac-town.



Isn't it a big Laser that needs a few more blokes to carry it to the water?



I'm starting to think Hobie.
Puffy, she is one of those multi-hull watchamacallits that loves the beach.
I found an '82 Hobie 14 on Craigslist that has no soft spots, new running
and standing rigging for the same price as the Melges.

Should I take the plunge or wait on the beach for a
Laser to wash ashore?

Tags: laser sailing, dinghy sailing, hobie cats, hobie 14, M 16 Scow, MC Scow, beach cats, catamaran sailing, multi-hull sailing, sailing

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How To Launch A Beach Cat.

Chaos from The Tybee 500.

Tags: sailing, multi-hull sailing, catamaran sailing, beach cats, sailing video, tybee 500, video

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"Friends Don't Let Friends Sail Multihulls"

Edward, A Horse Is A Horse, Of Course, Of Course,..How About A Unicorn?
Sorry Steph, saying no to multi-hulls is verboten here at "The Horse's Mouth."

Why a Unicorn?
It can be built at home.
No crew problems - "Hey Phil, do you want to go sailing today? No thanks Joe
my wife and I are going up to Wine Country."
Easy to rig and launch single-handed
18ft waterline means good handling in sea conditions
Trailer fully assembled
Very light weight, hulls and cross beams 60kg minimum,
all up sailing weight 108kg minimum
Can be sailed for fun two up
Strict class rules but significant but flexibility in the design of rig and variation in
hull shape and materials

The Specs:
Single handed National 'A' class cat (A Cat baby, A Cat!)
Trapeze and una rig
PY of 775, ISAF 1.09
Length 5.49m (18ft)
Beam 2.29m (7ft 6in)
Sail Area 13sqm
Mast Height 7.93m (26ft)
Superb boat in light winds with high performance up to F6 due to the
flexibility of the rig settings
Daggerboards for high efficiency and superb pointing
Flexible mast with loose footed main. Adjustments to outhaul, downhaul,
kicker and lower shrouds.
With a full cut sail this gives terrific scope for control of sail shape
Trapeze for the ultimate sailing challenge
Una rig for simplicity of sail handling (13 sqm sail area to A class specification)

Edward, a wire does not make a boat complicated. Check out the Wiley Wabbits
that sail out of Berkeley.

Tags: boat building, beach cats, a cats, catamaran sailing, unicorn catamaran, sailing

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Sailing Photo Of The Day.

Not another multi-hull? Sorry Monsieur Agent du Tillerman.
Today's kiity is a Paper Tiger. She hails from Kiwiland with love. Hokey smokes
Bullwinkle, how come those Kiwis and Aussies have all the fun?
It's not because of vegemite...or is it?
14 feet of fun and she can be built in a garage by you or your Aunt Betsy.

Tags: sailing, multihull sailing, beach cats, paper tiger catamaran

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Beach Cat.

Have you seen my Hobie?

Tags: silly, humor, humour

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Sailing Photo Of The Day.

I don't care what the Tillerman says, Cats really are cool.
Photo: Richard Page.

Tags: beach cats, catamaran sailing, multihull sailing, sailing

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