Hey everybody, Let me start by saying the I am turning 18 in 3 days and will no longer technically be a youth according to US Sailing and etc. I have been racing catamarans since I was 12 and have been to every national youth catamaran championship in that time (well only three but still everyone). There has been a lot of progress in promotion of youth sailing. I believe that the strongest help to this effort has been the U.S. Sailing Multihull council and particularly Mr. Arthur Stevens. More youths do need to voice their opinions (such as Mindy). It is an excellent idea to make a youth forum, but one for youths not one that adults talk on. Kids need to discuss this and talk about it without the interuption of adults until the conversation is over. It is almost an experiment and it must be a controlled experiment to work effectivley. If the adults want to pitch ideas about possible boats then let the kids talk then review it and look at it to see what is the most realistic possibility that will provide the best oppurtunity for youth sailors then do it, whatever works. I have tried to help out youth sailing in many ways but it is tough. It is frustrating to have U.S. Sailing, the NAHCA and NAMSA working in 3 different forces, why not join up? Who cares if you don't have the same opinions and ideas? Everyone involved loves the sport and wants to promote it and get youths involved for the future. Infact, I am not even going to bother with my opinion on what should be the trainer or youth boat. Because this conversation, like all the others will just get burried and forgotten about because not enough people will read this and make it a joint effort to act on it. What you need to do... is make a youth forum (as Mindy brilliantly suggested) and have everyone interested in the promotion of this sport monitor is and draw conclusions from there. -Todd Riccardi Hobie 14 #14 Hobie 18 #16797 (just sold)
P.S. I have been toying with the idea of having a youth championships(for fun) on hobie 14s in Newport, RI in the spring on the boats that are used in the frostbite series. If there would be any interest let me know. It would be a good preview of how kids like the 14 and we arleady have 3 or 4 youths in the series and more in the surrounding area that may be joining.
P.P.S. The Hobie 14 is DEFINATLEY NOT a step back in the promotion of youth sailing. As long as the youths are on the water its a step in the right direction, eventually they wil lee the bigger and faster boats and upgrade when they are good enough. And I have heard many excellent sailors say "if you can sail a 14 well, you can sail anything".
