Orangesoda is finally a voice of reason. I can't understand why everyone is looking at this so negatively. Let's look at it from a glass-half-full perspective:

We should all thank the Hobie company for what they have done for catamaran sailing and what they continue to do. How many companies fork over 60 boats and a staff to assemble them for a World Championships? Sure they'll sell them, but would (could) any other company take that risk?

Then there is the question of promoting the sport. No other company offers such a broad range of boats and lasting designs as Hobie Cat. How many new cat sailors do you know that could jump on an A-cat or F16, not to mention an I20, and sail it off the beach with a minimum amount of instruction? Without Hobie's introductory level of boat, how many new sailors do you think would be buying catamarans? This humble foresite is what made Hobie Alter a legend and what continues to fuel the company and the entire sport. Does Hobie make the fastest boat? No. Is thier's the most advanced design? No, but so what. Hobie is a wonderful springboard and despite the low-tech design of the H16, Getaway and Wave, they are fun to sail (just ask Rick White), and one-design racing is just more satisfying than handicap.

I enjoy seeing lots of different boats on the water at a regatta, but I don't think Hobie's very difficult decission to promote only thier product will hurt anyone. Case in point: The treasurer of NAMSA, Bob Blackington, is also the racing commodore of Hobie Fleet 61. He loves to sail multihulls and will get behind any organization that supports multihull events and I think most sailors feel that way. I'm speaking for Bob here, but having seen his enthusiasm on the water - even after we pitchpoled my H20 - I think this is a fair statement. This is an opportunity to see other classes grow under the NAMSA fleet structure. It is not about greed or about Hobie trying to shun other boat owners. On the contrary, it is a BUSINESS decission that is designed to preserve a one-design fleet and promote a product. I'll be joining NAMSA and HCA and I'll look forward to seeing a NAMSA fleet take hold in the Denver area. I'll also join friends on the J-24 circuit and maybe I'll even get a chance to race to pitifully simple (but wildly popular) Laser - against another Laser, I hope.