Wow, This thread has gotten surreal.. especially in context of the ISAF meeting report on the fate of catamaran racing. After reading this thread I expect that .. ISAF will want their fee for each individual boat plaque for the ISAF Wave sailor.

It's been my observation that in the last 15 years of regattas on the Chesapeake... Close proximity to Washington DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Annapolis and the Tidewater area... Maybe 10 million people? Regatta organizers have fielded about 3 inquires about Wave Racing... I haven't seen one show up yet... much less three to race.

The recreational sailing beaches of old are empty. Even if a Wave sailor trailer in to rig and go sailing... they are unlikely to see another Wave on the water...

So... HOW are you going to get a racing class when you can't even get the basics of one boat chasing another off the beach?

I think you need a very different model of how to grow this class other then invitations to major weekend regattas using a IWCA or NAHCA rule set). IMO... it is irrelevant whether it's a Hobie points or Open regatta... To the guy who bought a Wave for family fun at their beach property... this is just white noise. EVEN if you got his attention... never having sailed with another Wave... He simply won't get interested in the notion of a race.

So, before you divide up the handful of wave racers on what rules to follow.

Is the Wave Class about getting cat racers from other classes who now want a cheap very simple boat?

Or is the Wave Class about ID and attracting Wave owners who are attracted to the social aspects of a fleet of catamaran sailors and bring the boat out to play but have never raced before and get talked into giving it a spin... Just like the good ol days of Hobie, Prindle, etc etc?

Is there another model that the class is going about?