Tiwal 3R review – David from Delray Beach, FL

My name is David, and I live in Delray Beach, Florida.

Which Tiwal model do you have?

I’ve had a Tiwal 3R racing sailing dinghy for 7 months now.

Where do you sail?

I mainly sail in West Palm Beach, either in the intercoastal, which is saltwater, or in a freshwater reservoir called Lake Mangonia.

How do you use your Tiwal?

My typical sailing session is alone. I really use the Tiwal for my own sailing training. It’s nice to make mistakes when nobody’s watching—nobody else is in the boat. I like to use it in a variety of wind conditions. I’m really learning and testing myself. Sometimes I sail in multi-handed boats with other people after I’ve improved my skills.

What was your experience before Tiwal?

I bought the Tiwal just as I was getting my first round of serious sailing instruction, which was mainly in a keelboat, a J22. The dinghy sailing, I’ve been figuring out on my own.

How was the first handling with your Tiwal?

It’s going very well. I think maybe because it’s inflatable and buoyant, at least at my level of sailing, it’s reassuring to know that it’s not going to go under the waves—it goes over the waves. There’s still plenty of splash when it’s wavy, coming from the sides and under the hiking rails. I think it handles wonderfully.

How is it going so far?

It’s been going great. I love the fact that it has all the rigging and controls of a Laser, so it’s a real sailboat. I feel like I’m getting real training, and when I find myself in a Laser or another single-handed racing dinghy, it seems very familiar.

What is your best memory with your Tiwal?

The one time I took it out on the ocean from the beach at Key Biscayne near Miami, I was out there for a morning sail. I hadn’t been offshore before—most of my intercoastal sailing is more like sailing on a saltwater lake. Having the consistent winds and waves of being offshore, along with the open sky, was a wonderful experience.

Where would you dream to sail with your Tiwal?

I’d love to take it to the Florida Keys next. I’d like to go on a road trip with my wife. We have a minivan, so we could pack all our stuff, load the boat in the back, and plan stops at various boat ramps and beaches along the way to launch the Tiwal. She enjoys open-water swimming, so while I’m out in the boat, she’s swimming. It’s a great way to spend the day together.