My first multi-hull; a Mirage Tandem Island
My first multi-hull; a Mirage Tandem Island


In my Hobiecat in Kamakura, about 50 km from Tokyo
In my Hobiecat in Kamakura, about 50 km from Tokyo

Kamakura, Kanagawa

A family having fun. Look at those smiles!
A family having fun. Look at those smiles!

 

Super-small and transportable Cat of 3.1 meters and a price tag of $4,000-$6,000. 


Hobiecats come in various sizes as the family expands...
Hobiecats come in various sizes as the family expands...
Hobiecats are also excellent for more 'advanced' fun...
Hobiecats are also excellent for more 'advanced' fun...

FUN CATS

My Humble Beginnings...

      For some reason, I fell in love with boats. I have always loved the sea and the oceans. However, I have never had the physical built of a tough sailor and never thought a guy like me would have a boat. As a kid, I sailed a few times but due to my overly enthusiastic attitude, I exposed myself to the sun for too long with very painful and red results.

       Do I even remember this pain that lasted 2 weeks?

No way! All I remember was the enormous fun and freedom that I had felt!

       But somehow the Maelstrom of life pulls us along and shapes our lives, rather than WE shaping our lives. Resisting seemed futile!

       But then the boundaries and walls around me came crashing down, and suddenly I (the guy in the picture) gave myself permission to do whatever the hell I wanted to do.

I am not saying that all those decisions were very rational and smart, but I certainly do have a lot of fun with my boat!

No sea legs, but still some first steps...

But because of my cautious nature, I tend to avoid lethal risks and decided that a multihull would be best and I went along and bought the Mirage Tandem Island, a Hobiecat product. I also wanted the boat to be portable, easy for a sailing abecedarian, but still being a bit of a challenge. During the Winters, this trimaran is stored on a parking lot. 

Hobiecats are low-entry FUN!

The great thing about Catamaran Fun is that you can start at almost any level. This type of Catamarans gets you very close to nature and helps you get rid of worldly stress. And you can do so by sharing it with your family and friends. 

 

You can educate your children about the sea and nature while enjoying yourself and becoming more healthy. Kids can learn to sail and use their bodies instead of playing computer games all day long. 

Catamarans come in various sizes

Catamarans can be as small as 3 to 4 meters (10-13 ft.) at a transportable weight of 37 kg and as big as 50 meters (150 ft.) or longer, weighting easily north of 100 tons.

The mini-cat on the left can be assembled in about 30 minutes by two people. Usually two people operate the cat, but one person can operate it easily.

      Under the right conditions this mini-cat can go as fast as 15-20 knots (= nautical miles per hour) or roughly 25 to 35 km per hour, a respectable speed.


The Next Stage...

      Many, but by no means all people, are in danger of loving catamarans so much that they want to go faster, for some more advanced fun.

      While the risk of injuries always exists, you may also expose yourself to an addiction that might last many years. Especially because you will build up muscle, and physical and mental toughness, you may even live a longer, but certainly a better life.

Adrenaline Addiction Alert

Hydrofoiling is like flying!

 

This is an inflatable model that pack down in 3 bags with a total weight of appr. 60 kg, which you can set up in about 1 hour.