Have you ever noticed that all the excuses we come up with involve factors outside of us as individuals?
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<br>Here is a non-exclusive list of some of the excuses:
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<br>not enough beach access
<br>too expensive
<br>not enough time
<br>mixed up priorities
<br>too difficult
<br>blah blah blah!
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<br>So here's my question: What have YOU done to promote this sport lately? Not what has Hobie Cat done, or what has Rick White done, or what has Murrays done, or what has [fill in blank] done, but what have YOU done?
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<br>I bought my VERY FIRST CATAMARAN in August of 1998. A beat up Hobie 16 for $500. Why did I buy my first boat? If you want to know why then read the credits of the Rick White videos that we made. The basic story is that a great friend of mine introduced me to the sport, and said, Hey, why don't you go to Hi Tempo (our local dealer) and see if they have any cheap boats. He even spotted me a short term loan to buy it! What a guy! Everyone should have friends like that, that's for sure.
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<br>Anyway, if you want to see our sport grow, then stop making excuses and DO YOUR PART! Make it a committment that you're going to at least take one person per month out on your cat WHO HAS NEVER BEEN SAILING BEFORE. I've done it, it's not that hard! In fact the most fun I had was driving out to a Lutheran summer camp where I used to be a counselor with my boat. I took home sick campers for rides, and they had a blast! Didn't take them long to forget about being home sick when we flew a hull!
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<br>Then, once you can say you're doing your part, then go and approach Hobie, and the dealers, and give suggestions on how you can help them make the sport grow.
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<br>All in all, don't be an arm chair quarterback about this, DO SOMETHING!
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<br>By the way, Dave, please understand that when I say "you" I mean that in the collective sense, so don't take it personally!
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<br>Fair winds from the great soon to be white North,
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<br>Tim J.
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<br><br><br>Hobie 20 #541
<br>Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
<br>White Bear Lake, MN