One of the Best Days EVER!

Nice! Yeah GREAT boat!

Fyi... makes me nervous to see people put both legs under hiking straps. I'd place one under and the other with the strap in your arch. What concerns me is when the boat goes over and you slip down and wedge into the strap.

Great point! Thanks Matt! Because the factory ronstan blocks suck so bad I've been thinking of using my knee on the stern side to put pressure on the tiller if I have to use both hands to haul on the mainsheet in high winds. That gives me another reason not to put both legs under. On the verge of picking up a 6:1 from an old 16 or similar.

Almost all of us in the class use this Harken Fiddle:
http://www.catsailor.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=9239&idcategory=441

In light air you can turn off the ratchet, and turn it on in wind.
Also, we us 1/4" Salsa, as it does not kink, easy on the hands and runs through the blocks cleanly.
Here is the link:
http://www.catsailor.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=15783&idcategory=0

Wow! Thanks Rick! I had a feeling this would be a great forum and thanks for the tips. Question and yes, I'm ignorant; How does the ratchet work? Does it work by maintaining tension on the sheet and yet let it go out easily without engaging the cleat I'm assuming?

The ratchet bites into the sheet and only ratchets inward when you are sheeting. When you east the sheet the shieve does not move and the line has all the friction as it runs past the shieve. Which is great for heavy air. Also, by the block biting onto the sheet, it makes it easier for you to cleat and uncleat. Without the ratchet, it is often very difficult to uncleat in heavy air.., a good way to capsize if you cannot let the sheet out. And it looks as if you have a pretty cold water situation in Vermont.
When the air lightens up, you simply switch the ratchet off and now it is free wheeling in both directions, making it very easy to play the sheet both in and out.

Harken has a Ratchamatic, but we cannot seem to get it in a 4:1 set up. I tried, but could not make it work. The Ratchamatic bites into the sheet when there is tension, and as soon as you release the tension, the block becomes free wheeling automatically.
Come to the North Americans and Nationals and you will learn a ton of things to make the boat go faster.

PS: I totally concur with Matt on the hiking.., you could break a leg, drown, or whatever. YOu need to be able to release yourself from the boat. Another safety tip as a single-handed sailor.., never let go of the boat. In heavy air it will blow away from you far faster than you can swim.., even if you are Michael Phelps.
Hope this helps,
Rick
Hope this helps

Thanks Rick! Great description of the ratchet. Couple of things; I wear 2 different wet suits. One (dry suit actually) is for extreme cold rated to 30 degree water. That will be coming out soon. The other I was wearing in the video you viewed underneath the rain gear (water isn't that bad and is still around 68 degrees. Champlain is around 63). It's perfect for these current temps although I was still sweating my butt off that day. I carry a bottle of water and snacks in the small black bag on the tramp as I dehydrate from the wetsuit. I'm out for up to 4-5 hours sometimes. I NEVER have the mainsheet cleated in heavy air. The nature of this area is that it is extremely gusty and is very common to get hit with a gust to 34 or more when it's blowing a steady 15-20. If anything, it forces me to really tune in to what's happening around me. I've developed a great feel for the boat and how it responds in those situations. Never dump it anymore and not afraid to push it to the edge. I am fully aware of the situation that can occur being separated from the boat if it dumps. Happened the first time I dumped my H16 years ago. I NEVER let go of the boat. EVER after that experience. A gust to 36 hit, dumped me and it was blowing 25 sustained and barely cought it and I'm a smokin' swimmer. Suicide on a 16 flying solo. I was out today in 15-20's and just put one foot in the strap and the other outside (stern side)hooked under my arch. Worked good. That's why I loved my Aquata trap harness. It had a quick realease and I put it to good use on occasions. Sold it with the 16. Also, I tie a trailing line about 20 feet long off the back of the boat in heavy air. Just drags back there. Never had to use it but it's nice to know it's there if I need it.
I think that would be a perfect choice in a 4:1. I would love to try one first. I like having the main free at all times as I'm never sailing in light air. I think a 6:1 would give me the leverage I need to avoid the fatigue in my hands if it wasn't a rachet.
Thanks again! Steve

Ps, how fast do these things go. I clocked an average speed of 16.6 mph or 19.1 knots on a run a couple of weeks ago. Is that good or crap? What do you think of this? http://www.harken.com/blocks/hobiewave.php

Curious; Why would Hobie Cat put hiking straps on the tramp if people would be breaking legs and drowning? Seems like a liability nightmare to me! Maybe the same reason they put trap wires on the 16's and such so people could dump the boat, have it turtle and get dragged under and drown not being able to release from the harness. HMMMMM..... Perplexing! 😉

That carbo 4:1 is the one I tried, but it was not as effective and one I now use. The carbo is sitting in a box
RIck

Rick, what was the reason (if you could describe your experience with it) the 4:1 wasn't as effective? I am concerned that going to a 4:1 won't allow me to feather out the main in the puffs. I noticed that with the factory bocks, If I sheet out about a foot of line the sheaves will let out maybe 4 or 5 inches. I definately don't want to lose that ability to dump air if I need to without realeasing a ton of sheet.Thanks, Steve

Both systems are 4:1. The fiddle one just works better and with 1/4" Salsa, the line flies out beautifully

How would you hike without hiking straps? <img src="<>/confused.gif" alt="confused" title="confused" height="15" width="15" />

Just use common sense and you will be fine. <img src="<>/cool.gif" alt="cool" title="cool" height="15" width="15" />

Exactly my point! Thank you!