Paul from Southampton, Ontario

My name is Paul, and I live in Southampton, Ontario, Canada, not far from Toronto.

Which Tiwal model do you have?

I have a Tiwal 3 with a 75-foot square sail that is non-reefable, and I’ve had it for less than a year.

Where do you sail?

I sail primarily here on Lake Huron, one of the Great Lakes in Central North America. There are some smaller lakes near here that are quite interesting, and I’ve discovered they have pretty strong corridors of wind, so I’m very excited to take my boat to those smaller lakes.

If you look on a map, Lake Huron is pretty darn big. We get these rollers coming off Lake Huron that are as big as ocean waves. I know what ocean waves are like because I lived for eight years in Hawaii. It can be pretty rough, so I really have to look at a wind app before I take my Tiwal out because the winds can pick up, and it can get really rough out there.

What was your experience before Tiwal?

I’d never owned a boat myself before. In Hawaii, where I was for the last eight years, I was part of the Waikiki Yacht Club, but I didn’t own a boat. However, I met a lot of sailors, so we would go out for sails there.

When I was younger, in college, I learned on an Alberg small sloop. Then I graduated to a Shark 24-foot sloop-rigged hull, which is a very nice learning boat in the Great Lakes and very popular here, I think on the East Coast.

That was a good boat to learn on. Hobie Cats have been fun too. Going down to the Dominican Republic and taking a Hobie Cat out really got me thinking about why I wanted to get a Tiwal. I just love that independence with a single boat that is very portable.

Single-handed or double-handed?

I bought the Tiwal mostly for myself because I like going out there, going fast, and doing my own thing. However, a lot of people want to come out with me because it’s so interesting and colorful, and people haven’t seen a Toolik. So, I bought it to use solo, believe it or not, but it’s fun to take out people and then drop them off and then take off.

How is it going so far?

It took off very well. Of course, the Canadian winters cut my season short last summer and fall, but we kept at it. I’m eager to get it out a few more times.

What characteristics surprised you?

There are a lot of things I like about it. I love how it looks; it looks really cool. Also, the portability. I have a little truck, a 4Runner; I just throw it in the back there. Or even in my wife’s Santa Fe, you can throw it in the back there and drive to a smaller lake.

Fortunately, I live here on Lake Huron, so I have the dolly, and I can move it just from my place. I keep it inflated most of the summer, and then I just bring it down to the water, put the mast on, and take off. But then I can take it apart and drive it off to another smaller lake pretty easily. So, it’s the looks, the portability, and the maneuverability.

It’s just so user-friendly and comfortable too; it’s easy to sit on.

What is your best memory with your Tiwal?

The very first time I took it out, it was quite a calm day. Because it was my first time, I took my son out; he’s a bit of a sailor too. The winds were relatively light, five to eight knot winds. We just had so much fun; it was just so easy to get going and maneuver.

For me right now, that’s my best memory. I’ve had a few other memories, but the first memory I think was the one I cherished the most, and it’s fun being out with my son.