Peter has it right. It is the people, not the boat. You have to work with what is available, and build on that program. Check the picture to the left. Dan, 12, like Will Nelson, has sailed at Sail Sand Point for four years, starting with the Opti and Wave, now Hobie 16. Will and Dan tied for first in the NAHCA high points, Wave class last year, see http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/default.asp?Page=7220&MenuID=Rankings/10818/0/ Dan went to the Seattle Boat Show with me yesterday, and worked the Hobie Cat and Sail Sand Point Booths. (It was a no school, Snow day). Tom, 40 plus, crewed for me at age 12 on our H-16, then took over as skipper at 14. He also drove our H-18, until I got my own ride on the H-17 in 1987. He bought his H-17 in 1989, and we both still race the H-17's. There are several Hobie families in the North West with similar stories.

Many of our sailors have children that are growing up in cat racing, but many of our volunteers do not, and are helping for the love of our sport.

The H-16, love it or not, is very available, and a good platform for both youth and adults. We now have six H-16's at Sail Sand Point, all donated. Our volunteers will have all six, race ready for the 2008 season. The H-16's will be used in youth and adult classes, plus will be available for Monday night races, and Hobie Regattas. Our six Hobie Waves will also be used in the same programs and the free Fast and Fun outreach events.

Our youth that trained for the Youth Multihull Championship the past two years sailed both the H-16 and Tiger. The Tiger provided the spin training. This year, we will probably add spinnakers to H-16's to train for this event.

The real goal is to get the youth involved to expand our sport and ensure it's future. We may not be training Olympic Sailors, but we are helping develop sailors to enjoy our sport.

Caleb Tarleton
H-17 6446
MHC
Youth Multihull Championship Comm.
Sail Sand Point Board