7 day 100 mile sailing trip through the keys on a Hobie 16 

If only Tom Hanks were as dedicated to Wilson as Zoey is to that particular hat.

Great trip. We did the forward hammock trick on our Hobie with good results. Also set our tent right on the tramp for wonderful, bug free sleeping. We spent 8 wks over 2 winters sailing and camping from Tampa to the Keys. Lots of fun. Good going.

This just blew my mind more than any other sailing video I've ever watched. Simplicity is freedom.

Because of your sailing videos , I came across by accident , I got a trailer sailer. I grew up sailing until I was 16. Got my license and parents divorced so boat left lol. I'm now 55 and want to know how that first video ( end of last summer or so) for me set my life in a positive direction and sparked something in me,😁I'm grateful to you for that.

Sane people: Sail Hobies on small lakes and ponds Sam: Sails 100 miles across the Keys.

Hey Sam, you know your way around the Navionics app really good, a future Navionics tutorial would make a great episode.

My wife and I have done a stretch of the Columbia river on a sailing dinghy every summer since getting married in 2012. It's some of our favorite vacation time. Nice to see we aren't the only "crazy" ones. The first time we got out onto the river with 6ft waves from wind vs current, my wife looked at me and asked, "Would other people call us crazy?"... "Probably!" was my answer, both grinning from ear to ear.

I knew I had seen those blue hulls and yellow rudders before! We saw you right outside Boyd's by Stock Island in January. We towed our Hobie 16 down from GA and noticed y'all tucked in close by the highway one morning from our campsite. Wish we could've said hey but y'all were gone the next day! Now we know why. Too cool.

Bruh! You went out on the ocean on essentially a cast away sailboat .. love it. Speaking of that. You should try to make a boat using natural resources if you can do that.. then .. you my man.. are a free human capable of traveling the entire world on your own accord.

What a great time! I'm sure you had an adventure! It always makes for great stories to tell when you get old.👍

Thanks for taking us along Sam!! ⛵🌴

Thanks so much for sharing. In my opinion this video displays the best example of the enjoyment of sailing and friendship one could possibly ask for.

I like that cargo net idea for the front. I think I'll try something similar, as I'd like to be able to bring a cooler and other gear for day trips and overnighters.

replace those pvc tiller extensions with smaller 1" bamboo ones, they will work much better and be easier to hold

Epic adventure on a shoestring budget. Thanks for bringing us along for the journey, Sam!

This is just as much fun as your big adventures!

I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do this with my hobie 18. Great reference video for anyone interested in attempting this themselves

The keys are probably the best environment for a hobie sailing trip imo, at least in the US. Lots of infrastructure, lodging if the weather gets too bad, beaches, mangroves in emergencies, and tons of shallow water boating opportunities that bigger boats can't enjoy. Plus amazing water and temps and food spots accessible from the water.

Great video of Sam Holmes Sailing with Zoey - So cool to see you both out on the water having a great time! Thanks for sharing!

Looks like great fun! Thanks, Sam!

I like the buoys on your mast to prevent turtling. I have a boat bumper lashed onto mine from last summer when we went camping for a week with Hobies and made a video. It's actually considerably lighter than the Hobie mast float and seems to do the trick. My boat capsized twice and it worked as hoped.

Good to be back on board !

That is a good way to look around and explore the keys. awesome.

_VERY_ cool! Good times! Seems like a fun trip and a fun way to travel.

I'm glad to see that a Hobbie can be sailed smooth and with quite much luggage on it.Until now I was always under the impression that it flies away.Good to know.Thanks a lot.

Love your videos great job very interesting looking forward to the next one thanks.

Sam on the phone: "Hi, Sir. What are the fees for a 16'er to go through the Panama Canal?"

This is awesome. Another inspiring adventure.

Loved the video! Awesome to see other small boat camping adventures out there.

This is pretty dam neat Sam , always looking for the next adventure you are Angus

👍👏Looks to be a fun trip! Thanks for sharing 😄⛵️

I love sporty sailing cats. a ‘70s Prindle 18 was my 1st intro to sailing & I have her still. they’re low maintenance, low draft & high performance. have a blast, guys.

This is great, thanks so much for sharing this!

Looks like a wonderful time

More please these videos are amazing

Great trip, Sam! Research about the adventures of Beto Pandiani.....his first one was from Florida to São Paulo on a Hobbie! Cheers from TX.

This is a really inspiring video. Thanks!

silliest most brilliant expedition!

Been sailing 16s and tigers for years. Started when I was about 17 I'm 53 now and just got off the water aka ocean last weekend on my 16, It also helps to live in Florida right on the water lol ⛵⛵

That looked like fun!

That's awesome Sam!

Love your small boat sailing videos, Sam. I just bought a 23-foot Sea Sprite that I’ll be sailing around New England. Will have to share some videos and photos. The Sea Sprite will be taking the mooring where my Hobie currently lives.

Sam, you're awesome as always, thanks for sharing this trip! If you're ever in DFW, I'll take you up for some powered flight instruction.

Love this trip. thanks

Great adventure Sam.

Hi man ...your so cool your so optimistic ..love to see your videos ...continue having fun - love you man

Hi Sam! I had a Hobie 18 that I would flip and it was tough to right. I bought a blimp bubble thing for top so mast wouldn't sink. Funny thing, never flipped again in 2 yrs. I had a lot of fun that fast boat.

Wow Sam. I sail a hobby cat in Key Biscayne park but don’t ever do distance trips. That’s pretty brave to do it on a hobby cat 16. I’ve been out there when the wind gets up and it loves to hop on one hull if you’re pushing it. Such a cool trip!

Great video, thanks 👍

Life is good Sam!

Cool video man y'all take care ⛵❤️👍

Super clean Jetta wagon, man.

Cant wait for sam to do an Atlantic crossing windsurfing.

Very good video!

Pirate from Beaufort ,South Carolina saying AHOY AND SAFE TRAVELS.

Hard core as always👍

Most epic 100 mile cat race was the Hogsbreath Round the Island Race from Destin to Pensacola and back. Fastest time was less than half a day, some of the best cat sailors ever competing. Good times...

Oh man! Yall sailed right next to my boat moored in boot key harbor marathon. I used to have a sol cat 18 that I sailed in the blue water off the coast of Galveston. I'd love to do that adventure in the sol cat. During the onset of pandemic I explored in the keys Backcountry gulf side east of kw in Jewish Basin/ waltz Basin. Got lots of mangrove snappers spearfishing. White sand and clear water looks like the Bahamas there. Have fun stay safe!

Don't forget about the center of gravity. Putting all the weight up front might effect the sailing characteristics. Maybe a jib will help with more efficiënt tacking?

Great video

Living the sweet life !

Great adventure

Next vid: Sailing to Madagascar on Lazer, 89 days. But fr great work love your vids

Last time I check Sam he was crossing on a small cat to Hawaii. Now I see he has downsized more!! Guess this is truly essential sailing!

Don’t forget to save the bales, lol… Wonderful views in key west…

Nice trip. Also someone has a nice VW wagon. I drive one too!

I never thought I would be into hobie cats but I'm totally into this

I don't know if the record still stands, but the Hobie 16 used to hold the title of fastest sailboat in the world. You should see what they do on them in the Columbia River Gorge at Hood River. They fly them.

Fun and adventure is your game 👍

Thanks!

This is a childhood fantasy of mine

Take the journey across Florida Bay to the gulf side of the everglades. There are some great beaches to camp on up there.

Such a cool vid

They rolled right by my boat at the bridge to nowhere in Marathon harbor. I seent it!

Zoe is a keeper!

Awesome 👍👍

Thanks it'd inspiring

Why not get a jib? Tacking much easier. Besides it will sail much better. It was designed to sail with a jib. GET ONE! I grew up sailing a Hobie 16 and never once thought about rigging it without its jib.

I want to do that! Great video

Zoey is beautiful and this video is awesome. I am hoping to get a Hobie 16 tomorrow. We'll see if I can close the deal. I will look to this video on how to travel long distances.

i also have a Hobie 16. is the steering feels stiff make sure the rudders are lock completely down. mine wasn't the first few times and keeping her in the wind was tiring!! once they are down its effortless! awesome video!!

Zoe's back more please Sam I love Florida keys what a cool place

very cool

There are some friends of mine out in key west right now prepping for a trip to the Bahamas in there boat. They were in marathon a month or so ago I think.

Pretty cool.

Great video. The additional weight in front of the tramp may increase your chance to pitch pole in higher winds, so be careful. Cheers.

Great change up...

Nice!

Mate, some of the biggest Hammerheads and Bull sharks I have ever seen are around the seven mile bridge and points south, always be careful splashing about in a tiny dinghy in those places. I always enjoy your vids. Thanks

You got to check out picnic island between ramrod key and little torch!

Zoey and her hat 🤣🤣👍🏿

Cat on the Keys, I like that :-)

This guy isn't wasting it...

I did my Hobie cating in Keys. Found that a jibe takes more room than a monohull and centerpuched a parked boat.

Well done my friend, tell Zoe to get a string for her hat 🤣

Lock those rudders in the fully down position. Running them up and unlocked will cause them to break in half.

Hobie sailing is the essence of sailing… bet you’ll wish you had the jib though. Great spot to do this.

So AutoPilot is Zoe... Maybe Bigger trampoline/ Washing machine/ tub in front & Likely needs a jib, have sewing machine, no?

Hey Sam, why don't you use the standard jib for the 16? Makes tacking easier of course. The jib also reduces weather helm. Also the mast seems way too takes toward the stern. What's the downside? (Long time cat sailor)

This is as fun as your Atlantic crossing.