Hi
I am a relatively new cat sailor with lots of windsurfing experience. I am not around other cat sailors so I can't observe for the obvious.
I have an old HC14. It works perfectly except for when I tack I have to dilly dally around with flicking the tiller bar out around the stern and then realign it so it floats in it's metal universal joint when I grab it again. This can be an exciting nuisance in strong winds. Am I doing something wrong or is this a feature?
Alan,
Sounds like you are doing it correctly. It doesn't seem natural at first, but you'll get used to it. You should try doing it with a motor hanging behind the boat like I have. It's a real pain.
This winter, you should get copies of some of the sailing videos that are out there. Hobie has a couple and Rick White (the owner of this site) has a whole series of instructional tapes. Also, check around for cataraman sailing books by Phil Berman, Jake Grubb or Rick White / Mary Wells.
Jack Hoying
Prindle 18
Fort Loramie, Ohio
Hey mate it just comes with practice. I know when i went from lazer to hobie cat i was so out of it. What you can try is. Buy some thing to make your tiller float. When you go into a tack through it off and keep stearing with the tiller bar. In time you will learn how to keep hold of both the tiller extention and the mainsheet. Just get on the water and practice thats how i learnt.