|
|
|
Shoot 'Em!
In 1982 I brought a Wylie Wabbit to Hawaii (Kaneohe YC). After much criticism, righting tests, etc. we were allowed to continue to sail in the Ocean Racing Fleet. To date, these have been the wildest rides I have ever even heard of. When Kim Desenburg (the Builder and hard core Wabbiteer) visited us with several other Wabbiteers, we shared stories and after them telling us of sailing without hatches and towing in swamped boats, we told them of our downhill rides in the coastal races around Oahu. At the end of our session, they (the guys who sink their boats for fun) told us "You guys are crazy!". To date we have done races like Waikiki to Pokai Bay, 30+ miles, beating an SC50 by over 20 minutes. In an offshore triangle, downwind, in a rain squall with 45 knots (measured by the big boats we caught)we did 6 miles in 14 minutes (25.7 knots...average over 14 minutes). The Wabbit, although not as fast as a Melges overall, is a way faster sled and sailed safely (with flotation and closed up), has withstood 23 years of hard service with many more to come. By next year, we are supposed to have H-4 (H1, 2, & 3 are freeways)an Inter-island, car and truck carrying ferry. Once in service this would allow us to "Tow" our Wabbit to Maui and return in the 70 mile, downwind, across the Kaiwi (Molokai) Channel, Lahina Return (to Waikiki)race. Stay tuned..... Brett Phillips BTW,
we have been known to wear snorkels and masks. |
