We changed into our sailing gear and went out to the boat.

A brand new white Hawk floated at the end of a jetty facing into the lightest of breezes. Richard and I got on the cat, pushed off, and immediately laid along the hulls in front of the beam.

We moved away and put in a tack looking for some wind. There was very little to none but even so the Hawk seemed to generate its own apparent wind. We headed to the far end of the reservoir in a series of slow beats.

When we could go no further we went about and raised the spinnaker. It gave us a gentle pull.

We were moving slowly which was more than could be said for the Laser which was stationary with its sails just hanging with no wind what ever.

We gibed letting the kite float out and away from the front stay. Pulling it in with care we moved away again on what would be called a reach if we had wind. We brought the boat in to the jetty looking back to see the Laser still had not moved.

What an amazing boat it could be sailed in next to nothing just on its apparent wind. We handed the boat over to a Dart salesman and went off to change.

When we came back out from dressing the Hawk was only 6 boat lengths from where we left it.

We analysed our sail and concluded that to be a Hawk sailor it was best to have learned to get the best out of smaller KL beachcats.

If you can get a KL 17 or 15.5 Tonic going in light airs you have a head start on the Hawk.

The Hawk excells in the layout of the work area which is second to none.

We need to try the Hawk in a blow to fully evaluate it.