I got an email from a person named Stephen that asked me to post his message as he didn't seem to know how to do so. It is as follows:
With regard to the new directives from IHCA and NAHCA, I would like to share
some of my personal thoughts.


It serves no purpose to approach this from an emotional point of view, even
though for many of us it is an emotional issue.


Hobie Cat as a company, I am sure is somewhat tickled by these new
directives, but it may have effects they had not anticipated. The old "Law of
Unintended Consequences" comes to mind.


As a company, Hobie's greatest success has become their greatest burden. The
late 70's and early 80's saw an incredible growth of Catamaran sailing not
only here in the USA, but worldwide. The result is that there is an incredible
inventory of used boats out there, and its Cheap! Many people wanting to try
the sport can buy a used boat, and for a few dollars more, fix it up and have a
very serviceable boat. Because of the need for cheap fix up items, there are
many "after-market sources" for the necessary items. Since many of these "new
sailors" are not going to race, or not aware of the requirement for Factory
replacement items, and the rules of "one Design racing," they purchase their
needed items from sources other than Hobie Cat. Unless Hobie as a company is
selling parts to the owners of existing boats, it does them no good at all.


Hobie Cat as a company could, in large part, care less about all the people
sailing boats that have already been purchased. Just like automobile
manufacturers, they are only concerned with the boat you are going to buy Tomorrow.
After all, they are in the business of selling NEW boats.


In today's business environment where companies take a rather short sighted
view of things, they are more concerned with the profit and loss figures for
THIS Quarter or THIS year. That having been said, Hobie needs to sell new boats
NOW! They cannot seem to take the long term view that eventually, all that
used inventory out there will be depleted and eventually, people that want to
"class race" in a "strong one design class" will eventually have to buy a new
boat instead of a used one.


Look at the Laser as an example, how many similar boats are available, but
because of a strong class, if you want to race that "type" of boat, the only way
to go is Laser.
NAHCA has taken a step to strengthen themselves on a National level.


While I cannot necessarily agree with the stance they have taken, I cannot
disagree.
On certain levels, it makes good business sense, even though it is an
unpopular decision. It is my considered opinion that eventually, the strong survive,
and the weak fall by the wayside.


Hobie has been the proverbial 900 pound gorilla of the catamaran world for
years, and by our very nature, Americans love to be different. Sailors in
particular tend to be rather independent minded people, if we weren't, we'd be
sitting on the couch watching the NFL, or NASCAR with the rest of the masses.


That having been said, Hobie's, whether you wanna talk about the 14, the 16,
the 18, the 20, the Tiger or whatever else may come down the pike are NOT the
current "state of the art" but they ARE good boats, there ARE a lot of them,
and they DO have a strong presence at almost any event or venue you might want
to discuss.


There are certainly other Manufacturer's out there that have built boats that
may be better in one respect or another, and depending on what your
particular "Hot Button"
may be, there may be another boat out there that suits you better. If so,
hurrah for you, go for what makes you happy, but do not begrudge or detract from
those out there that LIKE to sail in a strong "one design class"


People are people, and we are all different, there are those that find a boat
and stick with it no matter what, because they LIKE it. There are those that
are constantly chasing the latest and greatest go fast boat they can afford,
and there are those that just wanna be different and stand out from the crowd,
and not sail what "everybody else is sailing." It is my considered opinion
that it is that diversity that keeps things interesting. Beyond that, God
knows, there are a lot of great sailors out there on any kinda boat you may want to
name, and I wouldn't wanna have to sail against every one of them.


However, if you want to race in a strong "one design" catamaran, almost
anywhere in the country, the Hobie is still the way to go.


Personally, I think there are certainly better ways to accomplish what they
are trying to do, and, if they do not take additional steps to strengthen the
classes, this may not achieve the results they have hoped for. There was a day
when someone said Catamaran, they meant Hobie, There were Hobies in TV Shows,
Movies, and commercials of every sort. Some additional presence in the public
eye would go a long way towards achieving the results "they" desire. But,
alas, publicity costs money, unless you can make it a point of National
discussion, anyone remember the hooha about the "New Coke" ? Unfortunately, I don't
think THIS particular discussion is gonna make the evening news.


This has turned into a rather lengthy diatribe, and so I will share a Final
and parting thought. (for today anyway) IF they are indeed trying to
strengthen the Hobie Class, it seems counterproductive, to in October announce that
they will no longer be building the 17 and 18 class boats, in effect sending them
to the boneyard along with the Hobie 14, and then in January, announce that
if you want to sail in a Hobie Regatta you MUST sail a Hobie. It seems to me
that you cannot have it both ways.
Signed,
Stephen