[quote]
Interesting. Hobie will be in a bind, long term, if they can't find a way to bring in young blood with money. [/quote
HOBIE!!?
Dude... we are all in this boat together..... it's on fire... the shore is 1000 meters away and the ONLY solution is to paddle in the SAME DIRECTION together.
Sailing catamarans won't go away.... Builders won't go away... The opportunity to race your catamaran is going away bit by bit as we age and attendance drops off.
The goal needs to be... how do you introduce non sailors and sailors to racing and what is the level of racing that gets them into the sport.
The BUILDERS should not be tagged here..
Racing is a social thing and we are in the boat along with builders who also race boats and we need to solve the problem and paddle faster and more efficiently.
I have zero patience for dithering or policies that get in the way of everyone in the boat rowing in the same direction or those that say... "ah... I want my own boat because you other guys are ...... fill in the blank..."
Mark, with all due respect, it is not up to Hobie Cat Co. or any Association. It is up to us. We must each work with what we have to grow the sailing programs. Some examples. Check the results for our Wave Class at
www.sailsandpoint.org All Wave sailors were under 20. At the HAVAMEGA at Lake Havasu, twenty two Div 4. sailors from the Northwest made the 1,400 mile trip down to race. Six sailors were in their early 20's or younger. Our teams took 2nd in H-17, and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the Tigers. We brought back two of the Event Waves to add to our fleet at Sail Sand Point. Tomorrow, we will have our Div. 4 AGM at the Sand Point Board room. The discussion on the Tiger, F-18 and Wild Cat has been an extensive Email exchange with over 30 messages to guide our Division on this critical issue.
We all need to step up and take part to grow our sport.
Caleb Tarleton
Sail Sand Point Board
Hobie Fleet 95, Div. 4
US SAILING Multihull Council, and Youth Multihull Championship Comm.
H-17 # 6446
