With 0 experience how long would it take to learn to sail a Hobie Wave so that I could sail it from Ballina to Yamba on one of those days that's windy but the swell is really small?

Not too long to learn but even in a 15kn westerly and not far offshore the ocean can be lively. Be sure to have some kind of backup and know the sea and weather. It doesn't take long to learn to sail but can take years to learn seamanship.

It's about 35 nautical miles so easily done on a day sail. The biggest headache will be over run at Yamba and swell at entry on the bar there too. If wind drops out you're stuffed. Wouldn't mind doing it myself on the Nacra.

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saltiest1 said..
It's about 35 nautical miles so easily done on a day sail. The biggest headache will be over run at Yamba and swell at entry on the bar there too. If wind drops out you're stuffed. Wouldn't mind doing it myself on the Nacra.

I surf bars consistently on a sup paddleboard and have an extensive knowledge of the tidal movements and also knowledge of reading surf maps
for 25 years. Does this help with the seamanship side of things?

Is the general basics of sailing pretty much like learning to wingfoil but without the foil and a bunch of pulleys and levers?

those bars are nasty for boats in swell.

If you do all that around Ballina you might know Brad Hampson. Would be worth having a chat with him as he's a great waterman with a great lot of ocean experience on a cat and mono hull.

With 0 experience how long would it take to learn to sail a Hobie Wave so that I could sail it from Ballina to Yamba on one of those days that's windy but the swell is really small?

Hi Gibbo.
This will depend on how often you get out and how much you are prepared to push yourself.
Start easy, but go out often. Sail in various conditions.
If you have a mate who is familiar with beach cats, go out with her or him and pick up as much as you can.
It is a learning experience and the more different situations you have under your belt the better you will get.

Now, that being said.
A mate and I bought a Windrush in Perth many moons ago.
We practiced by sailing between pubs on the Swan river and there used to be some beauties.
After a season we reckoned we were ready to sail out to Rotto and catch the Fremantle Doctor back.
Left very early. Got there, had a beer and a pie at the pub and headed home.
Wind died and the doctor didn't arrive. No water, paddles or any coms gear.
Started drifting north away from the traffic.
Came ashore way up north at about 3 am.
Had a freezing night sleeping on the beach.
No brecky and still no water.
Launched at sunrise and eventually got back to Freo about lunchtime.
Sunburned, dehydrated, half starving and very late for work.

My advice is prep for the trip.

gary

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garymalmgren said..
With 0 experience how long would it take to learn to sail a Hobie Wave so that I could sail it from Ballina to Yamba on one of those days that's windy but the swell is really small?

Hi Gibbo.
This will depend on how often you get out and how much you are prepared to push yourself.
Start easy, but go out often. Sail in various conditions.
If you have a mate who is familiar with beach cats, go out with her or him and pick up as much as you can.
It is a learning experience and the more different situations you have under your belt the better you will get.

Now, that being said.
A mate and I bought a Windrush in Perth many moons ago.
We practiced by sailing between pubs on the Swan river and there used to be some beauties.
After a season we reckoned we were ready to sail out to Rotto and catch the Fremantle Doctor back.
Left very early. Got there, had a beer and a pie at the pub and headed home.
Wind died and the doctor didn't arrive. No water, paddles or any coms gear.
Started drifting north away from the traffic.
Came ashore way up north at about 3 am.
Had a freezing night sleeping on the beach.
No brecky and still no water.
Launched at sunrise and eventually got back to Freo about lunchtime.
Sunburned, dehydrated, half starving and very late for work.

My advice is prep for the trip.

gary

Sounds like you discovered the ultimate pub crawl. Thank for the advice.

Preparation !


Late '70s sailed Whitsundays in Hobie 16 2up
Did sightseeing flight in FlyBoat to get orientated
GearBag tied to mast
Camped on the beach at Hamilton Island as still pristine
Tide went out of sight
Had to wait for return
Coming back from Hayman to Airlie, hanging off the rudder at full strap
Did full forward roll,but hung onto trapeze,as passed mast
Sodden,but survived,back to Airlie under Jib.

Left Hobie at Noosa,as towing back to Tamworth behind Renault 16TS a tedious struggle .

Agree preparation and competency are the key to success. Join the local off the beach club sailing club and race, fastest way to build the necessary skills.

My favorite sailing holiday was 2011, my brother and I took a Taipan 4.9 sloop (Beachcat) around the Whitsundays over 10 days unsupported. Two spearguns on the tramps, goon bags of booze in the hulls, lifting the boat up the beach each day sleeping on the tramp covered by the mainsail. Primative, but heaps of fun blasting past cruising boats (also trying to outpace Camira) 20+ NM offshore double trapped.

But now I shudder to think what would happen if a chainstay or other rigging fault occurred as we pushed the boat hard sometimes in 2m swell. We did carry a handheld VHF and EPIRP.