Im 21 years old brazilian, i never had any form of contact with sailing all my family ( including me ) are on the aviation industry somehow during the pandemic my dad had this crazy ideia to buy a 27ft sailboat so we can actuality go outside a litle, it was strange at first, we lived on the boat for about half a year we made a lot of friends for life and i learned that sailors are the most heartfull people in the world, we learned the basics ( after all sailing and flying the airplane are kinda similar in the physics aspect ) and i fell in love i fell in love so much Unfortunately brazilian currency is devaluing and we had some problems that made us sell the boat. Fast forward 3 years and my dad want to retire and move to the beach where he can buy a sailboat again and i am SUPER excited, BUT any of us remember and didn't learned how to sail properly so i ( as the younger one ) am assigned to learn it so i can teach my parents, also i want a sailboat to enjoy sailing whenever i want, after all my parents are older and don't have all the energy to stay on the water all day😂 Now i have a new challenge, to buy / reform a laser or hobby cat. here in brazil, its a very nieche thing out here so it is ABSURDLY expensive, my sallary is not good but im saving all i can so i can sail again For now i just look at people on the water with a smile bc i know i will have one someday 🙂 (We treveled to the beach and the hotel is in the front of a marina so i see people sailing all day 😂 i got emotional here and decided to tell this long story ) happy sailing everyone
What an incredible journey you’ve had! It’s fantastic that you discovered your passion for sailing and made lasting friendships. I’m excited for you and your family to start this new chapter together! Good Luck!
Great vid thanks. I learned on a 420, and despite owning 3 cats since (progressively faster of course!) I’m glad for learning the ropes on a monohull. That said, the best boat to learn on is the one that you have access to and can be safe on, mono, cat, tri…they’re all a great time on the water with plenty of stories for the land.
I learned on a Hobie 16 and had a great resource called Joy Rider TV. Everything that I know came from Joy rider TV. I almost bought a Hobie 18 as my first boat, but the guy selling it told me that "I probably should not buy his boat. " which he was right. I wish I had it now though. Most of the time, I sail with my dad, and we are not small 200KG plus. The 18 would be better for us now.
Great point on monohulls that they avail themselves easier to the many small ponds and lakes. I truly enjoy open ocean sailing taking me many miles out and down the Atlantic coast in a '85 H16. I get a real smile out of zipping by 30' to 50' sailing boats out 12 miles, as they motor along the coast, and wondering what they must be thinking of me and my Blue Hawaii sails. Lol Learned a great deal watching Joyrider videos, always picking up some bit of information that "clicks" in my head and has me adjusting to sail safer, further, and farther. Thanks as always Joe!
I learned to sail on a Hobie wave. It was a 4hr/2 day class. I swear by it. No prior experience and when I got done, I felt like I could make it from a to b in any wind direction. They taught us to set up the boat and things like sidestays are pretty much cg, put wheels there. Everything that goes up, gets put up first, that way no beating up lower parts. Small things I still use and was instilled immediately, no bad habits.
I pretty much learned on a Hobie 16. Recently I’ve sailed a laser a few times and didn’t realize how physically challenging it is until I tried it. You’re right, it is a lot of work just to go 10 knots in a mono hull whereas on my Hobie 16 it’s hard to stay under 10 knots in good wind.
I just started with a 6 hours course during a trip with my partner in a Topcat K2 at my 45 or so, 2 years later I made the crazy thing of buying a inflatable HappyCat NEO (4,20m) as my partner has a family house in an estuary. After 6 august sailing (15-17 sailing days) and packing well it after the season it looks brand new. I am happy and feel that I have a lot to learn yet. Modest personal record or 11 knots. In the other hand I'd like to try one day monohulls single handed, well open skiff (former open bic) or a Tiwal in case of opting for winter easy storage. In my personal case I am less interested in speed and most interested in "understanding the wind" (important in estuary with elevations around) and the combination with tidal current, selecting tacking points (not easy in estuary with tidal current), etc. Waiting for retirement to become better sailor.
Very useful indeed just bought a 4.3 metre Windrush which is an older cat but in perfect condition and do have some experience sailing BUT going out for first time on this after a few years on power boats so will be sailing very carefully for a while, keep up the good work, excellent videos, greeting and best wished from Australia!
I'm a sailing junkie and currently have 6 catamarans (5 being Hobie Cats 14T -16 - Getaway - 18 - SE21 - and a Shark) I don't think there is a better and more versatile small sail boat then the Getaway! I call it the minivan of Hobie Cats :) It is so easy to sail, set up and own, as well as it can be sailed in most any weather conditions whether single handed or up top a crew of 4 or 5. The Getaway is not the fastest of the fleet by a long way, but I find my self sailing it the most of all the boat in my fleet!! I enjoy your videos!!
I grew up sailing on a tartan 27 and a J 24 a little. Also had access to a hobie 14. My next boat was a jet 14 mono which has a spinaker and a very large sail area... Many fun capsizes. I now sail a 1981 Prindle 16 on Lake Erie in Ohio, which can get very exciting! I sail mostly with my kids who also love it.
Learnt on a Wayfarer, then a Topper to start racing as a kid. Got good enough to become a regular crew on a competitive Hobie 16 in handicap races. Fell in love with Hobies right there but could never afford one or have space for one, so windsurfing was my adrenaline sailing for many years. I’ve now got my baby….a 10 year old refurbed 16 and I love her!! Joe your vids are awesome - thank you for the hours of entertainment Hopefully I’ll see you one day in either Vass or Flixtoe - being a Norfolk boy I do like a day out to the east Anglia’s version of Brighton beach !
Love sailing our cat! Grew up sailing a sailfish tiny boat several times a summer. So happy to be back to sailing now that we finally bought a cat. What a waste of time waiting 20 years to buy it. 🤷♂️
My first sailing course was with some 4,5m monohaul for 2 days. Then a course on some 40+ feet cruising sailboat for 3 days. Then I started sailing with 40-45 feet sailboats (have had 10 years of experience on a motorboat prior to that). 5 yrs ago tried catamaran (5,2 m) for the first time. I just loved it. But it was rather big for transport, I hate having a trailer with me for that. So I've found a Row&Sail XCAT 2 yrs ago and I love it. It's an awesome compromise, it weights around 80 kg total, can transport it on the roof of the car, (dis)assemble in 45 mins, take up to 3 person (250kg max). It will never do anything like Hobie 16 kind but it's fun for solo or two people not trying to chase some speed records. It needs very light wind and is perfect for improving sail technic in light winds. This year I'm adding Atlas 2 from Vakaros + US wind sensor for more joy :) We'll see how it goes.
Learned on an Apollo AMF 15 (monohul) and progressed to a Hobie 16. Loved starting that way but also, never going back 😂. I sail my Hobie alone about 95% of the time. I now also have an RS zest which I use with the kids and for a shorter sail - wish it had 2x the horsepower though, haha! Thank you Joe!!!
I started on an Optimist dinghy. And I've been sailing monohulls my whole life up until now - I bought a Hobie FX One last fall. Really looking forwards to the warmer weather so I can start catamaran sailing! =)
When I was 5 my neighbor, whom only had 1 leg, owned a Hobie cat and I've wanted one ever since I saw how spry he was on it (in the driveway). Years later I did a fly-along with a guy on a 15', and another about a week later on a 27'... a few days before I bought my 21' swing keel trailer sailor. This is what I learned on. I loved that boat and sailed her several years on Lake St.Clair (MI side). Had to sell it when I moved to another state. Now that I'm settled again (years later), I think I'm finally looking for that catamaran that I've wanted for 44 years. But I still love the monos and a Laser, Sunfish, or Buccaneer always catch my attention. But I don't care for paddling unless I'm in my kayak, so maybe it's a 27' with a diesel... Hahaha. I may never decide!
I started sailing on a Sunfish but really Learned to sail on a C-Lark 14 ft Mono-hull with Jib. Also a Laser and a San Francisco Pelican. I've crewed and sailed mostly mono-hulls up to ten Meters and prefer being the Sail Trimmer on crewed race boats. I've learned most of what I know sailing the Puget Sound San Juan Islands day and night racing. To be honest small or large boats have their own magic. I believe you should learn on a fairly fast
I bought a small 18 sailing dinghy as my first boat. Found it..well..boring. Went out on a hobie 16 with a person from the boat club and the dinghy went up for sale that night and bought a Nacra 5.0 within 48hrs lol. Excellent video as usual Joe
Nice Video, great perspective. I did the whole progression from Opti, Laser, 420, 470, and now Finn and Star. Kilos keep piling up 😢 I tried cats a few times but never really got into it except for the speed. I know it can be sailed quite technical, but I never had access to something like a Nacra or a Tornado.
Just here to say that Joe nailed the different aspects IMO. I heavily recommend learning on small monohulls to learn the fundamentals. And I agree the cats biggest perk is being able to take relatively inexperienced people for a spin. Something to maybe think about when getting one's first boat for cheap: Choose an ubiquitous design for widely available and cheap spare parts. Trailers, Covers, Sails is all more niche for cats.
Learnt my dinghy sailing on an Optimist which is like a soap dish with a mast .very stable and very forgiving. Yes i was aged 40 and didnt fancy capsizing! With my fellow sailors average age of 10 years i had lots of fun learning how to get the best wind in the sails, tack without stalling the boat and gybe with a degree of confidence and yes we sailed all through the winter months in shorts and an anorack ! Well it was Greece so all was good ! Laser was my aim. 3 sails double handed with the amazingly forgiving tutor Mina and on my own . She forced me to learn how to capsize ....it had to be done and was ok but going to my teaching job afterwards with wet salty hair that day was not so great! Next stop Wildwind!real Laser sailing! Oh bouy (!) What fun! Reaching at high speeds so exhilarating! 4 years later at Wildwind my first flying the bay on board a 420 rigged Laser ....my best sail ever! Rainbows in the spray! And the fastest gybes i ever did close in shore . Cooler than a catamaran? Thats for the viewer to decide . I felt that sail was my coolest 20 minutes on this planet .thanks Wildwibd 😊❤
I am an experienced sailor, but when I was 15, I learned on my best friends 11' Styrofoam monohull that had a mast and boom stuck in it and a rudder off the stern as well as a dagger board stuck through it. It was fun, but at about 18, mom bought into a timeshare, Grand Shores West, on Redington Beach, FL. The resort had a couple Hobie 14s, a few Hobie 16s and a number of 5m G-Cats and thats when the BIG fun started. My favorites were the G-Cats for their stability and extra tramp space. A lot of people liked going out with, when I was sailing so the extra tramp came in handy a lot of the time. The jump in FUN going from the styrofoam monohull to cat was matched when I bought my own catamaran. I bought a 1987 Prindle 18 and that one was the bees knees for me. So much fun! So powerful, so seaworthy 🥰❤. That was 1993 or so. Twin trapeze and everything 😃👍 I joined the SAMS (Southern Association of Multihull Sailors) club and got to know other like-minded folks out on the beaches. Usually out and around Honeymoon Island. Good times. Thumbs up Joe 😃👍
I learned sailing on a Spanish Patin, a single handed catamaran without a rudder as I've been 8. Great fun if you have enough space for tack and jibe.😊
@@JoyriderTV When do you start your season? This year race video between Tornado and Tiger!! 😃😃 And make the try to sail only with the main sail when strong wind, with the Tiger, absolute awesome . I made it, the hulls have less tendency to pitch pole so you go very very fast. Also have you tried with strong wind being 3 ,2 on trapeze and 1 on the stick Absolute crazy also. I guess sailing like this on the Tornado also must be crazy, I didn't have time to try it But also race on good wind between HB 16 and Tiger, C 2 or Tornado could be a great moment!! We cannot wait for these videos 🤣🤣
My first boat was a 16' homemade fiberglass over wood mono haul and I had 0 experience sailing when I got it and I sailed it alone and with a friend. Next I got an 18' Solcat catamaran and it was a fun fast boat even faster than the Hobie 18. I sailed it both single and with friends. Now that I'm older and not a nimble I have a Capri 14.2 that I sail alone or with my wife and grandkids
Great video LOL I clearly ducked this up - learned to sail on my dad's keel-boat - upside there is a very small head below and a sprit-burner stove. Took a girlfriend on a sail on the laser - she never got the "tack" thing and ended up soaked.. never talked to me again. now thinking a MiniCat for some play while living on a sailboat.
Learned cold turkey on a monohull with another newbie crewmember who was a passenger a couple times on a friend's boat many years ago--just that and good ol' viking ancestry was all the experience we had between us at the time. Want to own and learn both types.
Thanks for the comparison 👍 I sailed for a few summers as a kid (age 10-13) in Ireland. I had a Laser Radial, I was a heavy kid 😂 Now I'm 37 and suddenly have an urge to get back into it. My problem is I'm living near Lyon in France 3 hours from the coast. I rented a Hobie 16 twice in the last two weeks on a small lake and was surprised how it could get speed from little wind, its great. I'm still stuck between a monohull and a Cat 😂 Im leaning towards a monohull because of ease of transport due to the fact that there are a couple of lakes around, trailering a cat seems a bit more painful than a monohull so i would probably keep it parked at one lake. at least with a monohull I can keep it at home and trailer to whichever one I want relatively easily. Although I will certainly miss the extra speed of a catamaran for inland sailing 👎
Yes, that's probably the most usual reason for going down the monohull route for many people. Trailering the cat isn't so hard - it's just a process of dropping the mast - gets easier every time.
I learned on a small 420 sail boat. I think taking a course at a local sail club on a small dinghy and then purchasing a cat is the best options. It can be a bigger cat, but you then have to go out on calm days (8-12 kt) and carefully watch the forecasts for your first season.
Thankse for a great video I learned to sail in the good old optermist I have to disagree with the statement that you look cooler in a catermeran as I thinke you look as cool or maybe even cooler when sailing something like a rs 500 or a 49er
I started crewing for my dad age 7 age 13 i was sailing the boat back home after the race all on a hobie 16 my first time age 14 on a hobie 14 if u can sail a hobie 14 u can sail anything
I have sailed a LOT of both since I was kid. I am 60 now. I have raced for decades and used to teach. Catamarans are much more fun because overall they are faster in moderate to higher winds. Monohulls give you more feel regarding balance, sail shape and sail trim and therefore will make you a better sailor sooner. That is if you want to race. If you just want to have more fun, then get a cat. A Laser, which is the worlds most popular monohull and is an excellent boat to learn on. Never heard of the boat he is describing....must be mostly in Great Britain. Use the smaller, junior rig for learning on a Laser.
Thank you Joe,that's my idea from the beginning. I'm learning and improving on a Laser,but my goal at some point is to buy a cat. By the way,what do you think about the RS cat 16?
I learnt on a Hobie 16 in the 1990s. Twenty-five years and still sailing the Hobie 16. I agree that learning your craft (pun) on a monohull, you will be a more skilled sailor. I have a lot more fun on the catermarans. If it's blowing dogs of their chains, then a monohull like the Laser 1 takes some beating. It takes more skill to pin a monohull down, than a catermaran.
My 8yo son is learning sailing now on Optimist, but also sail with me on Hobie 16. So he can definitely say what is better if he would speak English. Maybe a few years later he will give an answer in this question. 😃
Just wondering if it's worth mentioning that a small catamaran (H14/H16) without daggerboards is the easiest option to get out and in through the surf - if that's an issue where you sail.
I'd been sailing monohulls for ever. Borrowed a mates Dart 15 couple of years ago. Bought one couple of weeks later. Monohulls now seem dull and slow - only sail one now for club racing - mixing the Dart up with Lasers on a start line on a pond just doesn't work. Once you had a cat, you'll never go back.
I prefer mono hull because for me it looks like a real boat not like a pontoon :-) . I learned on an Invitation that looks like a Laser. I had a 29er and now I have a RS100 and RS700 that I take occasionnaly.
You left something out - if you want the speed of a cat with the responsiveness and turning quickness of a mono-hull, then a trimaran is the answer. Yes, they are absolutely notorious for pitchpoling, but they do hold nearly every sailing distance and speed record these days.
Ha! Yes, of course . I often forget the trimarans. Thanks for the reminder. I still have to get out on a small one. I particularly want to try the Diam 24
I believe that someone who has learnt sailing on a small dinghy has a better feeling for the sport across all of its sub-categories. Example - on a small monohull like a Laser, if your sail or weight is in the wrong position you'd know about it immediately.
It’s rare for experienced cat sailors to switch to monohulls and be competitive - but it’s quite common vice versa… Nevertheless I’m definitely a cat sailor forever - and even though I had very limited ‘experiences’ on monohulls (VJ / Laser - and even a Fairy Duckling) - I pretty much learnt on a Windrush 14. Never looked back… If u r more into ’tactical’ racing, then learn on a monohull - but if u r more into speed ‘n strategy - then cats can’t be beaten. Especially if you don’t want the hassle of centreboards - an asymmetric-hulled design like a Hobie 14, Maricat 4.30 or Windrush 14 gives you more ‘bang for buck’ than a Laser ever will… and still teach you a lot about sailing in general. The only ‘plus’ I can see with boats like Lasers is the upper wind limit is higher… even though u r expending twice the effort to go half the speed. At least you can (theoretically) handle them in 23 knots +… 😜
I love the choices I made, but I make my kids do it differently. Learning on a catamaran can be nice because you can have a coach right on board. And progressing from trimming to driving over time allows a student to build confidence. That's how I learned on my first Hobie 16. This was in the 1990s in like so many people I went directly into racing and I've been obsessed ever since. I still have a Hobie 20, but have expanded my skill set throughout my career up through Maxi racing. I think catamarans was the right choice for me personally, but most of the people around me in big boats came up through monohulls like Lasers. I recommend starting with the hundred-dollar US sailing based course at some local club. Go bump around on the water in baby buggies. Join the club and stay. Make friends amongst the instructors and the other students so that you'll have sailing buddies. Our club throws in your first year' of membership which includes unlimited boat use. Then go find yourself a friend with a catamaran (our club does Hobies), Bahia or Quest. Hobie 16 is still the only boat I know that you can buy for under $1,000 on Friday at a yard sale and win in "B Fleet" that same weekend. Variation: in the United States pretty much every yacht club has a US Sailing certified course. You will likely find a waiting list at least a will not have to be a yacht club member. Then search online and on FBook for "Hobie Fleet " like "Hobie Fleet Santa Cruz", "Hobie Fleet San Jose" etc. Don't worry about not having a boat because you just need to show up to have fun sailing. Oh yes, if you're a teenager try a Laser if you get a chance.
Two things...the only boat I ever capsized in nearly 60 years of sailing, was a catamaran (it tripped the bows while tacking), and a crew member on a Paragon cat out of Maui told me his experience while racing the boat to Tahiti, was like two monos trying to get away from each other.
@@JoyriderTV I wasn't aboard during the race. My wife and I were vacationing on Maui, and opted for a sail and not a helo ride (way too many moving parts!). It was the first large cat I was ever on, nice boat, and unusual sailing straight up and down.
Sailing a dinghy(420, Laser) is like riding a horse(slow, fast, accurate) Catamarans are more like riding a bull. The sudden changes in apparent wind and the disruption it causes to a cats speed & sailing angles confuses everyone. Inexperienced sailors don’t get it. Experienced sailors just deal with it. Tacking in cats is terrible, whereas you can perfect it in a dinghy. Point of sail diagrams(45/45) are not correct for cats. Dinghy’s are far superior for learning & instructing.
Im 21 years old brazilian, i never had any form of contact with sailing all my family ( including me ) are on the aviation industry somehow
during the pandemic my dad had this crazy ideia to buy a 27ft sailboat so we can actuality go outside a litle, it was strange at first, we lived on the boat for about half a year we made a lot of friends for life and i learned that sailors are the most heartfull people in the world, we learned the basics ( after all sailing and flying the airplane are kinda similar in the physics aspect ) and i fell in love i fell in love so much
Unfortunately brazilian currency is devaluing and we had some problems that made us sell the boat.
Fast forward 3 years and my dad want to retire and move to the beach where he can buy a sailboat again and i am SUPER excited, BUT any of us remember and didn't learned how to sail properly so i ( as the younger one ) am assigned to learn it so i can teach my parents, also i want a sailboat to enjoy sailing whenever i want, after all my parents are older and don't have all the energy to stay on the water all day😂
Now i have a new challenge, to buy / reform a laser or hobby cat. here in brazil, its a very nieche thing out here so it is ABSURDLY expensive, my sallary is not good but im saving all i can so i can sail again
For now i just look at people on the water with a smile bc i know i will have one someday 🙂
(We treveled to the beach and the hotel is in the front of a marina so i see people sailing all day 😂 i got emotional here and decided to tell this long story ) happy sailing everyone
What an incredible journey you’ve had! It’s fantastic that you discovered your passion for sailing and made lasting friendships. I’m excited for you and your family to start this new chapter together!
Good Luck!
@JoyriderTV tysm, your videos are providing me with top-tier knowledge and advices so I can "study" keep it up 🤝
Great vid thanks. I learned on a 420, and despite owning 3 cats since (progressively faster of course!) I’m glad for learning the ropes on a monohull. That said, the best boat to learn on is the one that you have access to and can be safe on, mono, cat, tri…they’re all a great time on the water with plenty of stories for the land.
Yeah for sure - having a boat available that's easy to get in and out of the water makes a big difference
I learned on a Hobie 16 and had a great resource called Joy Rider TV. Everything that I know came from Joy rider TV. I almost bought a Hobie 18 as my first boat, but the guy selling it told me that "I probably should not buy his boat. " which he was right. I wish I had it now though. Most of the time, I sail with my dad, and we are not small 200KG plus. The 18 would be better for us now.
Great stuff! The Hobie 18 would certainly give you a lot more float with 200kg onboard.
Cheers
Great point on monohulls that they avail themselves easier to the many small ponds and lakes. I truly enjoy open ocean sailing taking me many miles out and down the Atlantic coast in a '85 H16. I get a real smile out of zipping by 30' to 50' sailing boats out 12 miles, as they motor along the coast, and wondering what they must be thinking of me and my Blue Hawaii sails. Lol
Learned a great deal watching Joyrider videos, always picking up some bit of information that "clicks" in my head and has me adjusting to sail safer, further, and farther. Thanks as always Joe!
Cheers Robert, it's always nice to know that the information is being put to good use.
Been a monohull Racing Dinghy Sailor since I was 14.... love Tigers etc but I still prefer monohulls
I learned to sail on a Hobie wave. It was a 4hr/2 day class. I swear by it. No prior experience and when I got done, I felt like I could make it from a to b in any wind direction. They taught us to set up the boat and things like sidestays are pretty much cg, put wheels there. Everything that goes up, gets put up first, that way no beating up lower parts. Small things I still use and was instilled immediately, no bad habits.
Amazing to get the hang of it in such a time.
That was a very good two day class that you're getting a lot out of!
I pretty much learned on a Hobie 16. Recently I’ve sailed a laser a few times and didn’t realize how physically challenging it is until I tried it. You’re right, it is a lot of work just to go 10 knots in a mono hull whereas on my Hobie 16 it’s hard to stay under 10 knots in good wind.
For sure! I think everyone should have to sail a Laser at some point just to know....
Ill try going 10 this summer in a 1969 laser x4
In the 80 's I first learned to sail on a Prindle 16 cat. I also learned windsurfing and those were the greatest years of my life.
Good times! That would have been during the windsurfing boom when the sport was very popular.
Learned on a small Pacer sail boat, then progressed to a 29er skiff, currently enjoying the 29er.
Nice choice.
The 29er cooks on gas!!
I just started with a 6 hours course during a trip with my partner in a Topcat K2 at my 45 or so, 2 years later I made the crazy thing of buying a inflatable HappyCat NEO (4,20m) as my partner has a family house in an estuary. After 6 august sailing (15-17 sailing days) and packing well it after the season it looks brand new. I am happy and feel that I have a lot to learn yet. Modest personal record or 11 knots.
In the other hand I'd like to try one day monohulls single handed, well open skiff (former open bic) or a Tiwal in case of opting for winter easy storage.
In my personal case I am less interested in speed and most interested in "understanding the wind" (important in estuary with elevations around) and the combination with tidal current, selecting tacking points (not easy in estuary with tidal current), etc.
Waiting for retirement to become better sailor.
Great stuff.
The inflatable catamarans do such a great job in getting people on the water who otherwise wouldn't be able to get out.
Very useful indeed just bought a 4.3 metre Windrush which is an older cat but in perfect condition and do have some experience sailing BUT going out for first time on this after a few years on power boats so will be sailing very carefully for a while, keep up the good work, excellent videos, greeting and best wished from Australia!
Good luck! You're going to love it, i'm sure.
Thank you so much. This was extremely useful. Perfect outline and explanation. Greatly appreciated 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! I grew up on and learned on a H16 and I wouldn't have it any other way. Such a wonderful boat
Couldn't agree more!
Even just watching the video, an andrenaline bomb exploded in me. Just can't wait to start to season. Great video.
Ha! Great stuff.
I'm glad that i'm helping to get you ready for heading out!
I'm a sailing junkie and currently have 6 catamarans (5 being Hobie Cats 14T -16 - Getaway - 18 - SE21 - and a Shark) I don't think there is a better and more versatile small sail boat then the Getaway! I call it the minivan of Hobie Cats :) It is so easy to sail, set up and own, as well as it can be sailed in most any weather conditions whether single handed or up top a crew of 4 or 5. The Getaway is not the fastest of the fleet by a long way, but I find my self sailing it the most of all the boat in my fleet!! I enjoy your videos!!
YES!! The MiniVan of the catamaran world. Love it - it seems very appropriate.
@@JoyriderTV wondering if you are familiar with the Hobie 21 SE?
I'm learning to sail on a hobiecat 16 and it's great "others stand and I fly"
Yeah!! That's what it's all about!
I grew up sailing on a tartan 27 and a J 24 a little. Also had access to a hobie 14. My next boat was a jet 14 mono which has a spinaker and a very large sail area... Many fun capsizes. I now sail a 1981 Prindle 16 on Lake Erie in Ohio, which can get very exciting! I sail mostly with my kids who also love it.
Great stuff - that's a cool progression.
Thanks for sharing.
Another interesting video. Thank you, Mr. Joyrider
You are very welcome
Learnt on a Wayfarer, then a Topper to start racing as a kid. Got good enough to become a regular crew on a competitive Hobie 16 in handicap races. Fell in love with Hobies right there but could never afford one or have space for one, so windsurfing was my adrenaline sailing for many years. I’ve now got my baby….a 10 year old refurbed 16 and I love her!!
Joe your vids are awesome - thank you for the hours of entertainment
Hopefully I’ll see you one day in either Vass or Flixtoe - being a Norfolk boy I do like a day out to the east Anglia’s version of Brighton beach !
Ha! Yes, I never thought of it like that but yes, there is an element of Brighton.
Congratulations on the 16. Great times ahead!!
Love sailing our cat! Grew up sailing a sailfish tiny boat several times a summer. So happy to be back to sailing now that we finally bought a cat. What a waste of time waiting 20 years to buy it. 🤷♂️
But maybe the 20 year absence makes it even sweeter?
Mono Hulls like the Laser are so easy and quick to rig. More time on the water.
That's a great point. Less faff = more actual sailing time
Thsi was very helpful thank you so much!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks that was very helpful i'm looking to buy one of those hobies sixteen
Glad I could help
ANOTEHER GREAT VIDEO, TKS.
Thanks very much!!
My first sailing course was with some 4,5m monohaul for 2 days. Then a course on some 40+ feet cruising sailboat for 3 days. Then I started sailing with 40-45 feet sailboats (have had 10 years of experience on a motorboat prior to that). 5 yrs ago tried catamaran (5,2 m) for the first time. I just loved it. But it was rather big for transport, I hate having a trailer with me for that.
So I've found a Row&Sail XCAT 2 yrs ago and I love it. It's an awesome compromise, it weights around 80 kg total, can transport it on the roof of the car, (dis)assemble in 45 mins, take up to 3 person (250kg max).
It will never do anything like Hobie 16 kind but it's fun for solo or two people not trying to chase some speed records. It needs very light wind and is perfect for improving sail technic in light winds.
This year I'm adding Atlas 2 from Vakaros + US wind sensor for more joy :) We'll see how it goes.
Thanks for sharing, It's allways interesting to know what path sailors have taken.
Thanks Joe
You're welcome!
Learned on an Apollo AMF 15 (monohul) and progressed to a Hobie 16. Loved starting that way but also, never going back 😂. I sail my Hobie alone about 95% of the time.
I now also have an RS zest which I use with the kids and for a shorter sail - wish it had 2x the horsepower though, haha! Thank you Joe!!!
Nice! The Zest is such a good choice for kids, very user friendly.
I started sailing on optimists, a small monohull sailing boat but rapidly switched to catamaran. I still prefer the catamaran tho
Nice choice.
Thank you this has been useful
Glad it helped
I started on an Optimist dinghy. And I've been sailing monohulls my whole life up until now - I bought a Hobie FX One last fall. Really looking forwards to the warmer weather so I can start catamaran sailing! =)
Great stuff! You're going to love the FX1 - such a great boat.
Thank u from the Philippines 🇵🇭
You're welcome!!
When I was 5 my neighbor, whom only had 1 leg, owned a Hobie cat and I've wanted one ever since I saw how spry he was on it (in the driveway).
Years later I did a fly-along with a guy on a 15', and another about a week later on a 27'... a few days before I bought my 21' swing keel trailer sailor. This is what I learned on.
I loved that boat and sailed her several years on Lake St.Clair (MI side). Had to sell it when I moved to another state. Now that I'm settled again (years later), I think I'm finally looking for that catamaran that I've wanted for 44 years. But I still love the monos and a Laser, Sunfish, or Buccaneer always catch my attention.
But I don't care for paddling unless I'm in my kayak, so maybe it's a 27' with a diesel... Hahaha. I may never decide!
It's like there's too much choice.
Thanks!
I started sailing on a Sunfish but really Learned to sail on a C-Lark 14 ft Mono-hull with Jib. Also a Laser and a San Francisco Pelican. I've crewed and sailed mostly mono-hulls up to ten Meters and prefer being the Sail Trimmer on crewed race boats. I've learned most of what I know sailing the Puget Sound San Juan Islands day and night racing. To be honest small or large boats have their own magic. I believe you should learn on a fairly fast
Great stuff. Yes, I would agree - going sub 5m will make you a better sailor.
Sailing around PR must be so nice!
I bought a small 18 sailing dinghy as my first boat. Found it..well..boring. Went out on a hobie 16 with a person from the boat club and the dinghy went up for sale that night and bought a Nacra 5.0 within 48hrs lol. Excellent video as usual Joe
Nice, sounds like the cat sailing was an instant hit!
Excellent video. Thanks 🥰
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice Video, great perspective. I did the whole progression from Opti, Laser, 420, 470, and now Finn and Star. Kilos keep piling up 😢
I tried cats a few times but never really got into it except for the speed. I know it can be sailed quite technical, but I never had access to something like a Nacra or a Tornado.
If you make the trip out here to Wildwind we have a Tornado waiting for you!
That's a good progression.
Great vid, learned a lot 👍
Thanks, I'm glad that you enjoyed it
Just here to say that Joe nailed the different aspects IMO. I heavily recommend learning on small monohulls to learn the fundamentals. And I agree the cats biggest perk is being able to take relatively inexperienced people for a spin. Something to maybe think about when getting one's first boat for cheap: Choose an ubiquitous design for widely available and cheap spare parts. Trailers, Covers, Sails is all more niche for cats.
Thanks! Some very good points..
Learnt my dinghy sailing on an Optimist which is like a soap dish with a mast .very stable and very forgiving. Yes i was aged 40 and didnt fancy capsizing! With my fellow sailors average age of 10 years i had lots of fun learning how to get the best wind in the sails, tack without stalling the boat and gybe with a degree of confidence and yes we sailed all through the winter months in shorts and an anorack ! Well it was Greece so all was good ! Laser was my aim. 3 sails double handed with the amazingly forgiving tutor Mina and on my own . She forced me to learn how to capsize ....it had to be done and was ok but going to my teaching job afterwards with wet salty hair that day was not so great! Next stop Wildwind!real Laser sailing! Oh bouy (!) What fun! Reaching at high speeds so exhilarating! 4 years later at Wildwind my first flying the bay on board a 420 rigged Laser ....my best sail ever! Rainbows in the spray! And the fastest gybes i ever did close in shore .
Cooler than a catamaran? Thats for the viewer to decide .
I felt that sail was my coolest 20 minutes on this planet .thanks Wildwibd 😊❤
Sorry- a 470 rigged Laser not 420
Great stuff, thanks for sharing!
I am an experienced sailor, but when I was 15, I learned on my best friends 11' Styrofoam monohull that had a mast and boom stuck in it and a rudder off the stern as well as a dagger board stuck through it. It was fun, but at about 18, mom bought into a timeshare, Grand Shores West, on Redington Beach, FL. The resort had a couple Hobie 14s, a few Hobie 16s and a number of 5m G-Cats and thats when the BIG fun started. My favorites were the G-Cats for their stability and extra tramp space. A lot of people liked going out with, when I was sailing so the extra tramp came in handy a lot of the time. The jump in FUN going from the styrofoam monohull to cat was matched when I bought my own catamaran. I bought a 1987 Prindle 18 and that one was the bees knees for me. So much fun! So powerful, so seaworthy 🥰❤. That was 1993 or so. Twin trapeze and everything 😃👍 I joined the SAMS (Southern Association of Multihull Sailors) club and got to know other like-minded folks out on the beaches. Usually out and around Honeymoon Island. Good times.
Thumbs up Joe 😃👍
Sounds like a great way to get into it. So much fun.
It really shows how much joy can come from sailing!
I learned sailing on a Spanish Patin, a single handed catamaran without a rudder as I've been 8. Great fun if you have enough space for tack and jibe.😊
Wow, that would certainly do the job!
@@JoyriderTV maybe you need a Patin for wildwind?
Tornado, F 18, Eagle Cat = paradise 😃😃😃👍👍👍👍👍 Speed, adrenaline, waves jumps !!
yes, yes, and yes!!!!
@@JoyriderTV 😃😃😃👍👍👏👏
@@JoyriderTV When do you start your season?
This year race video between Tornado and Tiger!! 😃😃
And make the try to sail only with the main sail when strong wind, with the Tiger, absolute awesome . I made it, the hulls have less tendency to pitch pole so you go very very fast.
Also have you tried with strong wind being 3 ,2 on trapeze and 1 on the stick
Absolute crazy also.
I guess sailing like this on the Tornado also must be crazy, I didn't have time to try it
But also race on good wind between HB 16 and Tiger, C 2 or Tornado could be a great moment!!
We cannot wait for these videos 🤣🤣
@@frbo323 Yes, yes and yes again,
I should be back on the water - probably alone for April and then from May all guns will be firing!!!
@@JoyriderTV Top gun firing!!! 😃😃👍👍
My first boat was a 16' homemade fiberglass over wood mono haul and I had 0 experience sailing when I got it and I sailed it alone and with a friend. Next I got an 18' Solcat catamaran and it was a fun fast boat even faster than the Hobie 18. I sailed it both single and with friends. Now that I'm older and not a nimble I have a Capri 14.2 that I sail alone or with my wife and grandkids
That's a great progression- to start in a boat that you built is pretty special.
@@JoyriderTV I didn't build the boat. I bought it at a good price for a starter boat
Great video
LOL I clearly ducked this up - learned to sail on my dad's keel-boat - upside there is a very small head below and a sprit-burner stove.
Took a girlfriend on a sail on the laser - she never got the "tack" thing and ended up soaked.. never talked to me again.
now thinking a MiniCat for some play while living on a sailboat.
Ha! Yes, the 9 out of 10 girlfriends would prefer a keel boat - finding the 1 is the trick.
Learned cold turkey on a monohull with another newbie crewmember who was a passenger a couple times on a friend's boat many years ago--just that and good ol' viking ancestry was all the experience we had between us at the time. Want to own and learn both types.
Great stuff, having some Viking blood certainly helps!
Both is best
I learned in a monohaul optimist (bathtub) and went on to the rs feva and laser afterwards.
That's a very good route to take to be a rounded sailor.
Thx
No problem
Thanks for the comparison 👍
I sailed for a few summers as a kid (age 10-13) in Ireland. I had a Laser Radial, I was a heavy kid 😂
Now I'm 37 and suddenly have an urge to get back into it. My problem is I'm living near Lyon in France 3 hours from the coast. I rented a Hobie 16 twice in the last two weeks on a small lake and was surprised how it could get speed from little wind, its great.
I'm still stuck between a monohull and a Cat 😂
Im leaning towards a monohull because of ease of transport due to the fact that there are a couple of lakes around, trailering a cat seems a bit more painful than a monohull so i would probably keep it parked at one lake. at least with a monohull I can keep it at home and trailer to whichever one I want relatively easily. Although I will certainly miss the extra speed of a catamaran for inland sailing 👎
Yes, that's probably the most usual reason for going down the monohull route for many people.
Trailering the cat isn't so hard - it's just a process of dropping the mast - gets easier every time.
I moved from a hobie 16 to an F18 ,, and until today I will say the Hobie 16 is the best boat ever made
I would be inclined to agree!
Great vid
Thanks
Hobie 16 all the way
It's the start and the finish and everything in between!
I learned on a small 420 sail boat. I think taking a course at a local sail club on a small dinghy and then purchasing a cat is the best options. It can be a bigger cat, but you then have to go out on calm days (8-12 kt) and carefully watch the forecasts for your first season.
Yes, good call. Joining a club is exactly what I did and helped so much
I first started on a wooden Optimist pram, and then I moved on to a Laser. Although I intend to start sailing on a cat.
I think that's giving a great foundation to some solid skills.
Thankse for a great video I learned to sail in the good old optermist I have to disagree with the statement that you look cooler in a catermeran as I thinke you look as cool or maybe even cooler when sailing something like a rs 500 or a 49er
Yeah, whilst cooking with the kite up any skiff wins - but only while upright.
@@JoyriderTV I agree and sadly with me you usually find me flung somewhere in the water after a gust
I started crewing for my dad age 7 age 13 i was sailing the boat back home after the race all on a hobie 16 my first time age 14 on a hobie 14 if u can sail a hobie 14 u can sail anything
I absolutely agree
I have sailed a LOT of both since I was kid. I am 60 now. I have raced for decades and used to teach. Catamarans are much more fun because overall they are faster in moderate to higher winds. Monohulls give you more feel regarding balance, sail shape and sail trim and therefore will make you a better sailor sooner. That is if you want to race. If you just want to have more fun, then get a cat. A Laser, which is the worlds most popular monohull and is an excellent boat to learn on. Never heard of the boat he is describing....must be mostly in Great Britain. Use the smaller, junior rig for learning on a Laser.
Yes, the Zest is a more modern version of the Laser Pico, it's an excellent boat for learning.
I would agree, for plain fun, the catamaran wins it!
Thank you Joe,that's my idea from the beginning. I'm learning and improving on a Laser,but my goal at some point is to buy a cat. By the way,what do you think about the RS cat 16?
I think that is very good choice much like a more modern design of the dart 16 very durable easy to sale and fun
@@JoyriderTV cool,i can't wait to switch on a cat, and that's all because of your videos! 🤣
Cats are generally more athletic and half- cats are generally more cerebral. Both are fun!
Either way is a win
That’s huge question to ask
massive!!!
I learnt on a Hobie 16 in the 1990s. Twenty-five years and still sailing the Hobie 16. I agree that learning your craft (pun) on a monohull, you will be a more skilled sailor. I have a lot more fun on the catermarans. If it's blowing dogs of their chains, then a monohull like the Laser 1 takes some beating. It takes more skill to pin a monohull down, than a catermaran.
Absolutely! Thanks for sharing!
My 8yo son is learning sailing now on Optimist, but also sail with me on Hobie 16. So he can definitely say what is better if he would speak English. Maybe a few years later he will give an answer in this question. 😃
I think he'll certainly end up being a better all round sailor by doing both! Great stuff
Just wondering if it's worth mentioning that a small catamaran (H14/H16) without daggerboards is the easiest option to get out and in through the surf - if that's an issue where you sail.
That's a very good point - I'm only sailing flat water these days and often forget about sea state.
I'd been sailing monohulls for ever. Borrowed a mates Dart 15 couple of years ago. Bought one couple of weeks later. Monohulls now seem dull and slow - only sail one now for club racing - mixing the Dart up with Lasers on a start line on a pond just doesn't work.
Once you had a cat, you'll never go back.
Absolutely, I would have to agree that unless there is a specific race going on in a monohull class catamaran are surely winning.
I prefer mono hull because for me it looks like a real boat not like a pontoon :-) . I learned on an Invitation that looks like a Laser. I had a 29er and now I have a RS100 and RS700 that I take occasionnaly.
That used to be me too. I eventually realized that it's not catamarans in general that look wrong, but the Hobie 16 specifically.
Yes, definitely better for being an all round sailor on the mono.
That's a great fleet that you have.
Learned on old Olympic class "Snipe" .....as a kid.
Nice!
@@JoyriderTV But at one stage of my life I did owned Tornado catamaran....
It was crazy...
@@istra70 such a great boat - certainly a lot of boat.
A monohull
fine choice!
You left something out - if you want the speed of a cat with the responsiveness and turning quickness of a mono-hull, then a trimaran is the answer. Yes, they are absolutely notorious for pitchpoling, but they do hold nearly every sailing distance and speed record these days.
Ha! Yes, of course . I often forget the trimarans. Thanks for the reminder.
I still have to get out on a small one.
I particularly want to try the Diam 24
Once you know the basics, you can pick up any small boat. The biggest challenge is rigging a new boat for the first time.
Absolutely!
just need another storage place for it and a place to launch. actually the major reasons I dont own one
Yeah I think that effects a lot of people, those catamarans sure do suck up a load of space!@
nahh the obvious progression is opi topper 420 rs600 rs700 thats deffintly the most commone :)
You’re probably right, I can’t believe I missed that one
I dont see how this would pertain to blue water sailing or circum navigation
I believe that someone who has learnt sailing on a small dinghy has a better feeling for the sport across all of its sub-categories. Example - on a small monohull like a Laser, if your sail or weight is in the wrong position you'd know about it immediately.
It’s rare for experienced cat sailors to switch to monohulls and be competitive - but it’s quite common vice versa…
Nevertheless I’m definitely a cat sailor forever - and even though I had very limited ‘experiences’ on monohulls (VJ / Laser - and even a Fairy Duckling) - I pretty much learnt on a Windrush 14.
Never looked back…
If u r more into ’tactical’ racing, then learn on a monohull - but if u r more into speed ‘n strategy - then cats can’t be beaten.
Especially if you don’t want the hassle of centreboards - an asymmetric-hulled design like a Hobie 14, Maricat 4.30 or Windrush 14 gives you more ‘bang for buck’ than a Laser ever will… and still teach you a lot about sailing in general.
The only ‘plus’ I can see with boats like Lasers is the upper wind limit is higher… even though u r expending twice the effort to go half the speed.
At least you can (theoretically) handle them in 23 knots +…
😜
I love the choices I made, but I make my kids do it differently.
Learning on a catamaran can be nice because you can have a coach right on board. And progressing from trimming to driving over time allows a student to build confidence. That's how I learned on my first Hobie 16. This was in the 1990s in like so many people I went directly into racing and I've been obsessed ever since. I still have a Hobie 20, but have expanded my skill set throughout my career up through Maxi racing. I think catamarans was the right choice for me personally, but most of the people around me in big boats came up through monohulls like Lasers.
I recommend starting with the hundred-dollar US sailing based course at some local club. Go bump around on the water in baby buggies. Join the club and stay. Make friends amongst the instructors and the other students so that you'll have sailing buddies. Our club throws in your first year' of membership which includes unlimited boat use. Then go find yourself a friend with a catamaran (our club does Hobies), Bahia or Quest. Hobie 16 is still the only boat I know that you can buy for under $1,000 on Friday at a yard sale and win in "B Fleet" that same weekend.
Variation: in the United States pretty much every yacht club has a US Sailing certified course. You will likely find a waiting list at least a will not have to be a yacht club member. Then search online and on FBook for "Hobie Fleet " like "Hobie Fleet Santa Cruz", "Hobie Fleet San Jose" etc. Don't worry about not having a boat because you just need to show up to have fun sailing.
Oh yes, if you're a teenager try a Laser if you get a chance.
Thanks very much for sharing your experience.
This is a great route to take.
Adrenaline hands down goes to the cat
For sure. Speed on tap!!!
Two things...the only boat I ever capsized in nearly 60 years of sailing, was a catamaran (it tripped the bows while tacking), and a crew member on a Paragon cat out of Maui told me his experience while racing the boat to Tahiti, was like two monos trying to get away from each other.
Wow! That must have been emotional! Racing to Tahiti sounds epic!!
@@JoyriderTV I wasn't aboard during the race. My wife and I were vacationing on Maui, and opted for a sail and not a helo ride (way too many moving parts!). It was the first large cat I was ever on, nice boat, and unusual sailing straight up and down.
Sailing a dinghy(420, Laser) is like riding a horse(slow, fast, accurate) Catamarans are more like riding a bull. The sudden changes in apparent wind and the disruption it causes to a cats speed & sailing angles confuses everyone. Inexperienced sailors don’t get it. Experienced sailors just deal with it. Tacking in cats is terrible, whereas you can perfect it in a dinghy. Point of sail diagrams(45/45) are not correct for cats. Dinghy’s are far superior for learning & instructing.
Agreed!
Cat.
Great choice!!