Hi Mark

Agree completely -

Catamaran sailing is so many different things and classes and groups , and seperate varied types of interests spread out across a vast continent ,it is difficult to get a total clear picture much less try to organize it all in a constructive mutually benificial way for all .
It is as they say like "trying to herd cats"

It just gets down to numerous good people involved each adding their own unique contribution .

question ? Where do catsailors find a complete list of Calif ,or as the new Governator says Caleefornia multihull events . Been to San Diego a couple times in the last year , my sister keeps an extra getaway artist flat in the downtown area by the civic center hardly used , I love it there, and would like to plan some times to visit and possibly charter a spin cat or race locally, as I,m sure other catsailors would also .

On the suggestions -for N A .

The changing conditions observed over decades is the once dominant Hobie class which until mid 80s had 75% of the total cat market which boomed due to its innovative fun colorfull catamarans ,new at that time.
All other cats and class types split up the remaining 25% of the total beachcat market in N A .

Numbers have declined and here in the midwest and MI the H div 10 is defunct -non existant ,-that is from previously having 300 boat regional chapionship events in the mid 80S and one local boat dealer selling 500 boats a year.
Now there is only one H dealer that is mainly a dingy oriented sailing club that sells very few a year.

When you read about the current H edict of H only boats applied in an area where they are non existant ,it makes you chuckle a little , then wonder what the is going on.

Class racing is the ideal and why H was so popular along with offering the fun party comradery aspect and fantasic natl. and world championship events and vacation type venues.-Hope they always continue for H-16s .

What we seem to be moving towards now to replace the H class 75% dominance is now with the fewer total numbers more and more sailing organizations and groups that include all types of catamaran for fun sailing and short races and for organized regatta racing also now Formula race groups that follow this philosophy.
All listed in the previous post {sorry about the length}

We need boat builders and dealers to support sailing organizations and racing events ,its important ,-and we need a stronger central organizational structure per NAMSA to be cognisent of the positive aspects of class racing , conserve those ,and become comperable to what H once was by supporting this concept of Formula classes with a National/-International basis as standard practise for the sport, already well on the way in N A. Cordination between the various Formula groups , existing classes ,and numerous sailing organizations across N A very important also , though as they say ,--all politics are local.

NAMSA has to become economically viable , A full time staff to organize and travel and meet in support of sailing class groups ,organizations ,builders and boat dealers ,and to work the sports marketing -sponsorship of events is imortant and hopefully will occur over time.
This will go a long way .-Most sports have a central organizational body that encourages partisipation and membership voting on issues and rulings.

The move from total brand orientation and control to one of inclusive sailing organizations and race groups requires updating and modifying not only our classes ,but our defintions and understanding of class groups , just like boat classes themselves ,unless they are periodically updated and modified they become outdated and less used.

THE DEFINITION of these design measurement based groups and classes is important conceptually , If we continue to define boats as only H or N or whichever brand we are ever reliant on the basic language and definition of brand and lack of knowledge and basic understanding or comprehension of what a design measurement is and how this forms race groups and Formula race groups .

Believe the sport of catamaran racing will benifit Hobie -N and all involved much more if it can be organized in this overall race group theme as per Formula 18 as one model that includes all types and brands to race in larger groups ,this concept expanded to each Length category with varied rules outlines particular to practical design limitations and goal in each Length or type race group category . An integral design measurement based rating system for all cats would help this transition and really help all formula type and development type classes become the predominant forms and eventually standard practise for the sport.

Outlined the concept of using ISAF rating to base all catamarans on , but converting it to the numeric scale that P rating uses of theoretic time to distance traveled . We should suggest all rating systems aspire to this so all types of rating systems can relate to one another directly and be monitored by a P rating time comparison type basis.
Actual cat rating numbers would change little ,and race events like area qualifiers Alter Cup etc and local racing much the same as per event and area sailing organizations preference .-The difference being a better more integral rating system using both design measurement and tempered or adjusted per a yardstick type P system . Both systems or evan an improved rating system can only average out extremely different craft in very different varied conditions ,-thus it is always flawed unfairly favoring some and discriminating against other types .
Thus the preference and need for similar design measurement formula race groups and a design measurement rating that encourages this to occur.

Formula clases for distance racing for example that open up modification options to things like better mainsail reef systems ,-better rudder systems ,-and allow more freedom for the indivual to set up their boat to suit rather than brand class edicts towards design with very different criteria in mind not suited to the intent of ocean racing is one example of its benifits .

Hope to see some Formula 18s in the Tybee Atlantic 1000 and Formula 16s and 20s class in future years .
Very pleased to see a new F-14 class as well.