Boat profile: Hobie Mirage Island Tandem - Het Beest

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Sebastiaan van Rossum tells us about the Hobie Trimaran With the Very Long Name that he and son Simon sailed at the Raid Extreme 2021.

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Tell us about the background of the Hobie Trimaran:

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My son and I took our Hobie to the Raid Extreme 2021 on the Lauwersmeer. Here is a little background about our Hobie Mirage Tandem Island, which we call Het Beest (the beast).

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I first saw the Hobie in the Canaries used by cool dudes for island hopping. They sailed it over the ocean from one island to the other: very impressive and lots of fun.

We bought our Hobie Mirage Tandem Island nearly ten years ago. We use it mainly for sailing on the Markermeer (the southern part of the Ijsselmeer).

Dreaming of island hopping in the Canaries we never got further than the Wadden Sea, although the Hobie is capable enough. It is very versatile. It is a fast, stable and safe sailing boat and the pedaling mechanism moves it fast if there is no wind.

Since you can take loads of stuff onboard, the Hobie also makes a good camp cruiser. 

We found it even possible to camp on board because you put a tent on the boat if you are prepared to improvise. 

Over the last years we used the Hobie for daytrips and afternoon trips on the Markermeer for example to the Marker Wadden near Lelystad or the new 'Trintelzand' near Enkhuizen.

Now our offspring are starting to leave our nest we spend more time on our sailing cruiser. 

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Still, the Hobie remains a wonderful toy. Especially sailing in a offshore wind on a windy day it goes like an arrow and can even plane.

One day we hope to take the Hobie to the Swedish skerry islands for expedition sailing.

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Will you return to the Raid Extreme 2022?
I certainly hope so. Maybe not with the Hobie as my son Simon may not join this time. I am still  working on it.