Ok. Here's Joe battling it out at the U.S Multihull Championships..... on Hobie Waves.
I don't mean to offend anyone who enjoys sailing their Wave, but come on.... using a poor sailing resort-type 'multihull' for the U.S Multihull Championships?! Even the H14 would have been a far better choice for some good racing.
Very few if any dynamic tactics due to it's very poor maneuverability.
Perhaps the Corpus Christi yacht club choose this boat platform to merely attract more sailors for more race sponsorship by the local establishments.
Opinions?
While not what you would expect from the The Hobie Alter Cup, the Formula Wave class has been putting on some really good and consistent racing for some time. Getting 86 boats on the line is a big deal.
Hope they get some high wind action before its over, I know the Wave sailors can get pretty aggressive!
I know the Wave sailors can get pretty aggressive!
Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper boats?! (sorry.... had to!)
Pretty sad when they all go down the downwind lay-line like sluggish monohulls.
Even the H14 would have been a far better choice for some good racing.
Pretty sad when they all go down the downwind lay-line like sluggish monohulls
Clearly you’ve never raced a H14. One blown tack can easily cost you 20 seconds sitting in irons. Sail straight to the gate on the downwind leg. And if you weigh more than a flea, the boat sails like a slug.
The Wave might not be the sexiest racing class, but for better or worse, it’s where catamaran racing is right now, so a sensible choice for the campionships IMO.
sm
I don't mean to offend anyone who enjoys sailing their Wave, but come on....
While you've been away...
Wave racing (Hobie Class and Formmula) has gotten huge. They're even referring to the Formula Waves as F13s. 🙄 The way things are going, it'll soon be the largest catamaran racing fleet in the US. Lots of reasons...cost, ease of transport/launch/rigging, older sailors enjoying the tameness, no need to line up crew, etc. Mostly, they are just glad to have a big fleet to race one-design. There are a ton of bada$$ sailors in Corpus right now, and, while it may seem akin to watching grass grow, flowers bloom, or paint dry, I'll guarantee you it's competitive.
I've been pushed hard toward the Wave but like you am not particularly a fan and haven't drank that kool-aid. My God, the bows on the thing are only like a foot and a half long.
That said, back in 2010 when mostly just old fat guys and little kids raced the Wave, I was given one to race after helping with RC for several days at a Mini-Mega. First time on one was the day before the Wave portion of the event (for about 30 minutes). I took 5th in the 2010 Wave (Hobie Class) National Championships and have the Numeral 5 Penant (trophy) to prove it!
I'm not a Wave fan, but the class has gained a lot of traction.. it's a very simple set-up and allows for a wide range of racers. It comes down to what type of racing you want to do... In the 90's, I was racing my P-19, a J-24, and an Ensign... Each boat has a different culture and style of racing. Knowing many of the competitors there, the common consensus is the competition is very tough with several World Champions racing.
I think it's ironic that US Sailing is pushing the full anti-plastic water bottle campaign.. at an event with plastic boats...
It's cool that so many chimed in to try and set me straight on the Wave thing. Finally some traffic and a lil' spirited debate! I appreciate your opinions. However, I'm still not convinced that the Wave is the current craze of cat racing, but then I never wanted to smoke marijuana either, and most people do these days... at least that's what a LEO friend of mine says. God help us.
Even the H14 would have been a far better choice for some good racing.
Pretty sad when they all go down the downwind lay-line like sluggish monohulls
Clearly you’ve never raced a H14. One blown tack can easily cost you 20 seconds sitting in irons. Sail straight to the gate on the downwind leg. And if you weigh more than a flea, the boat sails like a slug.
The Wave might not be the sexiest racing class, but for better or worse, it’s where catamaran racing is right now, so a sensible choice for the campionships IMO.
sm
Yes Steve, the H14 was the first cat that I started sailing/racing on back in 1978-1979, not my boat, but she was the impetus that made me want my own cat. I suppose like the Wave, the H14 can get into irons if you let her. I didn't have any problems tacking her once I figured her out. But she would fly. I remember her being very agile when I treated her right.
I would think that there are far more H16 sailors than wave sailors.
Anyway guys, thanks for all your comments!
Rick White and Stan Woodruff are there in spirit.
I would think that there are far more H16 sailors than wave sailors.
Well this regatta (Altar Cup) was in Hobie 16s last year, also in Texas, and there were only 28 boats
No offense to anyone who enjoys cruising around on a Hobie Wave—it’s a fun, durable little boat, perfect for resorts and casual sailing. But using it as the platform for the U.S. Multihull Championships? That’s a head-scratcher.Ok. Here's Joe battling it out at the U.S Multihull Championships..... on Hobie Waves.
removed link
I don't mean to offend anyone who enjoys sailing their Wave, but come on.... using a poor sailing resort-type 'multihull' for the U.S Multihull Championships?! Even the H14 would have been a far better choice for some good racing.
Very few if any dynamic tactics due to it's very poor maneuverability.
Perhaps the Corpus Christi yacht club choose this boat platform to merely attract more sailors for more race sponsorship by the local establishments.
Opinions?
The Wave’s maneuverability is limited, and its tactical ceiling is low. It’s hard to showcase dynamic racing when the boat itself doesn’t reward nuanced strategy or precision handling. Even something like the H14 would’ve offered more depth and excitement. I get the possible rationale: the Wave is accessible, easy to sail, and might attract a broader pool of participants. That could mean more entries, more sponsorship, and more local engagement. But at what cost? If the goal is to crown the best multihull sailor in the country, shouldn’t the platform demand more?
@cat-scratch Honestly, I’d bet there are way more active H16 sailors than Wave sailors, especially among those who race seriously.
@keving So maybe switching to Waves this year was a move to boost turnout, even if it meant sacrificing some racing quality
If the goal is to crown the best multihull sailor in the country, shouldn’t the platform demand more?
I have never raced a Hobie Wave, but I have no doubt that the top competitors are just as skilled in racing tactics as Hobie 16s, F18, or any other fiberglass or carbon cat sailors (though the tactics may be a little different). The wave does allow for other less skilled sailors, or sailors on a tighter budget to join the fun. I fully support U.S. Sailing holding this regatta in Waves every few years.
A few years back the folks on 1design.net from Cocoa, Fl used to have the weekly Wave Intergalactic Championship. They couldn't call it Nationals or Worlds due to ISAF rules.
They had lots of fun and a bunch of trash talk.
I wonder what Bass Pro Shop will make more of next year, the Wave or the Hobie 16.
@cat-scratch Honestly, I’d bet there are way more active H16 sailors than Wave sailors, especially among those who race seriously.
What hasn't been mentioned here is that many (the majority?) of the Wave racers also own/race other boats...some of them several other boats...H14s to N20s and everything in between, including H16s. I know many of them personally who are highly skilled and race a LOT, so I would refer to them as serious.
Again, for the Wave-only regattas they attend just for the opportunity to do more one-design racing, regardless of the boat. At other (around the marks, not distance) races where there may not be a strong fleet for one of their other models, they will form a Wave fleet.
I expect this is just a U.S. thing, but, I'm tellin' ya', the Wave craze among serious racers is real, and they will soon outnumber the H16-only racers (if they don't already). That may seem counterintuitive given the dominant history of H16 racing fleets, but it really doesn't surprise me. Everything else is bat-poop crazy these days, why not multihull racing? 😯
Saw this on the bottom of the event website.
No idea what is next years boat or even it has been chosen yet. Probably safe to say it wont be the Wave. Regardless, watching the few videos it sure is nice to see that many boats at the starting line and then see it divided into a gold and silver division.
I would expect to see the Wave back again in the next few years.
Jonathan
Mesa, AZ
Solcat - gone
P16 - gone
P19/spin - gone
Nacra 20 - gone
Prindle 18-2 - gone
Nacra 20 - current
Whats next? F18? Wave? lol
Now this.... this is catamaran racing.
Double crew, teamwork, perfect choreography and succinct communications. So much more interesting and rewarding.
You make a great point. The Hobie Wave may not have the same speed or complexity as the 16s or F18s, but the racing is still very tactical at the top level. It’s also one of the few boats that really lowers the barrier to entry, which is huge for keeping fleets healthy and welcoming new sailors. Rotating the regatta into Waves every few years feels like a smart way to balance accessibility with competition.If the goal is to crown the best multihull sailor in the country, shouldn’t the platform demand more?
I have never raced a Hobie Wave, but I have no doubt that the top competitors are just as skilled in racing tactics as Hobie 16s, F18, or any other fiberglass or carbon cat sailors (though the tactics may be a little different). The wave does allow for other less skilled sailors, or sailors on a tighter budget to join the fun. I fully support U.S. Sailing holding this regatta in Waves every few years.
Totally agree with you. The Wave fleets aren’t just made up of casual sailors — a lot of those folks are seasoned racers who also own and compete on other boats. That’s what makes the Wave scene so interesting: it’s serious racers choosing the boat for the one‑design racing opportunities, not just convenience. And yeah, the growth of Wave fleets compared to H16s feels wild at first glance, but when you think about accessibility, simplicity, and the fun factor, it adds up. If multihull racing is going to get a little “bat‑poop crazy,” the Wave craze is probably the best kind of crazy.@cat-scratch Honestly, I’d bet there are way more active H16 sailors than Wave sailors, especially among those who race seriously.
What hasn't been mentioned here is that many (the majority?) of the Wave racers also own/race other boats...some of them several other boats...H14s to N20s and everything in between, including H16s. I know many of them personally who are highly skilled and race a LOT, so I would refer to them as serious.
Again, for the Wave-only regattas they attend just for the opportunity to do more one-design racing, regardless of the boat. At other (around the marks, not distance) races where there may not be a strong fleet for one of their other models, they will form a Wave fleet.
I expect this is just a U.S. thing, but, I'm tellin' ya', the Wave craze among serious racers is real, and they will soon outnumber the H16-only racers (if they don't already). That may seem counterintuitive given the dominant history of H16 racing fleets, but it really doesn't surprise me. Everything else is bat-poop crazy these days, why not multihull racing? 😯
Why Sail the Formula Wave Catamaran
I don't have a membership to Joyrider's channel. But I'm guessing that everyone he's conversing with on this vid are super-pro for Wave sailing since most all own their own Waves.
Yeah, the Wave is simple.
It's easy.
Some people are highly-gravitated to 'easy.' Especially in the USA.
Big whoop. (What a pompous opinion! 🤣 )
And many sailors enjoy their baloney sandwiches while sailing their monohulls 😆 . (from an old 1980 advert for Boston Whaler Supercat)
Have to wonder what percentage of Waves to the more advanced cats that Hardy Peters sells at East Coast Sailboats.
I don't see much Wave action in Europe or Aus. Are those sailors far more performance oriented?
Anybody have a 'membership' to Joyrider Tv and want to spill the beans about what the consensus is on this vid?
@damon-linkous I too hope not to offend and I understand both the numbers game, user base and need to grow/reinvigorate the sport but it is the “US Multihull Championships” not just the “Cat Championships” so if questioning why not other cats we also have to question why not the Weta.
James
ex H16, 2 H17s w/spins, H18, H18sx, Bimare F18HT, F24-1, 2 F25Cs
present Weta, Corsair Pulse 600, SeaRail 19 (folding)
@jlooby so if questioning why not other cats we also have to question why not the Weta.
I guess we'd have to ask US Sailing. The Weta is cool (and very wet!) but I have no idea how many of them are out there.
Do you know? I'd welcome them here, BeachTri !
@damon-linkous Hey Damon, No idea on the number of Wetas but its probably as accessible as the Wave and as a 3 sail boat with a deep daggerboard it is likely a more technical boat supporting more strategic/tactical options for the racers.
The US Multihull Championship/Alter Cup was raced in Weta's in 2018.
The US Multihull Championship/Alter Cup was raced in Weta's in 2018.
Haha thanks @mikekrantz
@jlooby well there's your answer.
@cat-scratch Whatever, you can certainly come out and race some of these people and see how long you look down your nose at them. SMH.
@damon-linkous Weta is next year too.
@xanderwess Thanks Chris, I wasn't able to find the page the US Sailing where they mention future Multihull Championship boat selection.
I found this page that mentions the 2026 venue
Columbia Sailing Club
Columbia, South Carolina
Located on Lake Murray
https://columbiasailingclub.org/
But that doesn't have the boat selection.
(Chris Wessels)@cat-scratch Whatever, you can certainly come out and race some of these people and see how long you look down your nose at them. SMH.
So, so sorry that I offended a wave sailor. Not to mention a Formula Wave event chair-person.
This thread was more or less tongue-in-cheek type of opinion. It sure did get a lot of responses, eh? Perhaps more than other recent threads. Maybe threads and opinions like this will draw more sailors out of the woodwork and might bring more traffic to TheBeachcats. That would be ok, right?
Not that anyone wants sailinganarchy-type stuff.
Perhaps the irony is that it brought Chris to the forum. Yay!
@cat-scratch Actually, Damon sent me an email reminding me that he restarted the forum and had all the old IWCA content in it. Did I find you dig at Waves offensive? Fucking right I did. But that is only because I know exactly how much work Went into doing 2 Alter Cups on Waves to get the numbers we did. I have hosted the 17 alter cup too .......got like 15 boats....I was super disappointed.
Must be short boat syndrome on my part for being so touchy. I apologize for my overreaction.
Anyway, the Wave is just the means to an end. The Average age of the Wave guy/girl is not young. But, it has managed to bring a lot of the older sailors off the brink of retirement or even out of retirement in some cases and that's something an F-16 or A-cat probably won't do. A Weta, maybe......just not a ton of those around.