just exploring to see if any one still sails multi hulls or is there only tea bags and wind geeks?

Sure! Why not! As long as I can find willing crew. We've been out in 30-35kts on a TheMightyHobie18. Just for fun (not racing).

Yup.

A fellow cat sailor pulls up and asks "why I'm all wet"?
I went out singlehanding w/main only and as soon as I got the boards down and rudders locked down I went out on the trap & ping! my trap adjustable line snapped and all I saw was the boat going over! but wait! I held onto the main sheet and pulled myself back on board w/o her going over (I pushed the stern away from me and into the wind to keep her from flipping).
I call that a tea bagging in 18-20 knots.
Big wind in Denver? cold maybe but big?

No good sailing in Denver.........I sail in Georgian Bay (off Lake Huron) all summer. Great westerly winds!

There is some great wind in Oklahoma.

The last time I took my Hobie 14 out the wind was blowing 30mph, and gusting higher, me and a buddy took the boat out. We broke a shroud, and ended up demasting and drifting to bank! No serious damage so it is all good.

I was out in 30 kts steady gusting 35 about 3 weeks ago. The race started at 25kts steady and the big winds kicked in when we were starting the last lap. We got around fine but I'm not sure I enjoy it over 30 on a Tiger.

Tiger Mike

that happened to me this weekend. but I had a crew on board who brought the boat round and waited for me to swim back to it!

As hard as I try to sail in moderate wind, the Sh*t always hits the fan. So I would have to say that most of us in Florida sail in big wind many times per season, if there is a season.

I havn't got the skill to take the 5.7 out in big wind but when it's really blowing onshore and theres no other boat out I take out a 14ft Arrow. They've got flat planeing hulls with a single centreboard so when the boat really takes off it has a 3ft waterspout off the front of the centre board with water going everywhere that nearly drowns me on the wire and the boat skids all over the place over reacting to every move or flex of the tiller. Absolutely great fun.

JeffS,
Where is Kingston SE,South Australia?
near Melbourne?
or Victoria?
West of there?
Thanks,
Dan in Hawaii

G'day Dan Kingston SE is in South Australia 300km South of Adelaide and 550 km North of Melbourne. Come and visit and we'll take both Arrows out for a play in real wind or the 5.7 if it's normal wind. Where in Hawai are you I've got fond memories of my honey moon there.
regards Jeff

Jeff,
We sail in Kaneohe Bay. it's on the east side of Oahu.
Blasted around today in 18-20knots. Went outside the bay to do some big swell surfing on my Hobie 20.

I put a video on Beachcats Australia.ning of us in a 30kt puff with big rain drops about a month ago the A class behind us delaminated his centreboard and the 5.7 in front of us pitchpoled. Hopefully this link will work
Beachcats Australia.ning

We snorkled Hanauma bay at dawn and must have driven past Kaneohe Bay as we cruised around the island so many years ago.

Let's get this tread moving again,
Jeff S normally I would call your bluff but since you are an aussie I believe you.
I've spent years on Georgian Bay and I've raced in Florida a handfull of times and I know those guy's are full of it.
There is absolutely no wind in Florida unless there is a thunder cloud bearing down on you and the only time it blows in Georgian bay is when it's drysuit weather and the ice just melt (which could be June).

I'm talking consistant wind blowing every time the sails go up not your once a year storm and oh crap we are caught in a blow.
I'm talking 15-18MPH every day all day for at least 8 months a year. Any takers? I know Rick W is out there and he's going to say something like it blows here in Florida Keys all year but dude, I've seen the pics you take and if there ain't any white caps then it's under 15MPH.

You'll like this one, I was crew on my 5.7 with new big head main sail and we were trying to get it tuned so the big head would lay off in the puffs but we ended up pitchpoling and I got stunned on the spin pole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbiznaTG2AY