Hobie 17

Originally posted by Gladys Its not launching and recovering i'm worried about its just that sailing with cadets you inevitably get someone leaping off and seeming that theres always plenty of soaked people swimming around capsizing isn't an issue (theres always a rescue boat to walk up the mast anyway).

Sorry Gladys but Dermot is quite right about taking out a
boat that you cannot right on your own. Relying on a
safety boat for righting shows bad seamanship and sets a
bad example to your Cadets.

If the worst was to happen, the boat capsized and you
were unable to right the boat on yr own then you could be
deemed negligent. Likewise if your cadets seem to view a
catamaran as a mobile diving platform. If you are an
instructor you must take reasonable care of your cadets.

Originally posted by Gladys I've just found another option but it may be a bit big: Hobie pacific with cruising wings and furling jib, can you sail that single handed with just main.

You can sail any cat singlehanded - if the wind is light enough. The main thing is, you should not head out on a cat that you cannot right with the crew you have onboard. You should never depend on outside assistance. So, singlehanding a Hobie Pacific is out. You would never launch and recover it on your own anyway.

Edited by Dermot M

For 4/5 people you might get away with a Hobie 18 Formula (park bench mounted on each side) or, if you can find one, a Hobie 21. Both big & heavy.

Yes you can race Dart's singlehanded. 

The Dart 18 singlehanded is raced off the same handicap or one point lower under SCHRS (I think thats correct).  You just leave the jib and crew on the beach.  Really good fun, fast and manageable.  The Darts have a singlehanded event, which is always a highlight of the year.

Otherwise, the 15 (Sprint / Dart / Whatever) has a number of different formats that would suit.

As for the gap in the market for a cat that can carry 4/5 people - I think you are definietly moving away from the beach cat market there and moving into large crusiers!

 

A Dart 16 is, from experience, quite happy with an adult and three kids (up to about age 15 or so) on board. Not full performance, obviously, but certainly not struggling. And that's with the standard two sail set up. There's a fair range of options now, up to three sail twin wire. Rotomolded, so all but bulletproof.