[quote=Edchris177][quote]10 in 10 years isn't all that bad, it just sucks 4 of em were last month :)
At least i got the nerve to sail solo in 20-25 [/quote]
4 in a month, HA HA. I thought I was doing pretty good this year, I never dumped at all. Til the day we went out in 20-25, & I let my buddy drive! He managed to flip us 4 times in 3 hours, one of which was the first time my 5.7 ever pitchpoled!
I try not to dump it when solo, as I lose 15 minutes getting it back up again. With a buddy, who cares, you are back on your feet in a couple of minutes.
I don't see how sailing a beach cat in 20-25 shows lack of judgment. Maybe if those winds are the harbinger of an intense approaching squall line, or hurricane. Otherwise, 20 knots is where the fun begins. I have soloed my 5.7 in 30, (dumped it & had to right it solo). I find 30 solo is a lot of work, but 20-25 I can still have fun solo, though I can't get as much speed as I'm forced to depower, & point. I don't attempt to gybe solo in those winds. If I have a gung ho crew, 20-25 is where it's at. Fully powered, surfing off waves, & hull speeds of over 20, that's why I got a Cat. Sure you may dump it, but you have to expect that if you push things as hard as you can. I know more experienced sailors would sail through situations where my buddy & I go swimming, but as I gain more experience, I find I just push things harder. The great thing about Beach Cats is you can continue to live on the edge.
I met two 60ish Irish chaps who live a few miles down the shore from me. They have a Hobie 16, & Dart 18. We all go out when the wind is honking & see who can stay upright. Those two have sailed/raced together for 40 years, & go at it as hard as the boats will stand, great fun. I think the Dart 18 is a great high wind boat. It has 5' less mast than mine & a smaller sail plan. I don't hesitate to swap boats in 20 winds.
We did a 15 mile reach in those conditions last July, two on the wire, myself braced against the traveler casting. Pulled into a long bay to tour the cottages, then back out for a screaming run home. It wouldn't have been half as much fun had the wind been 10-15.
Almost everything I've broken has occurred in stronger winds, but Hell, it's a hobby, you have to live with some costs.[/quote]
