Bob,I agree that we were racing in extreme conditions, and it was survial. However, the Hobie 17 can race in these high wind conditions, which included four foot waves. In case you doubt this report, you might talk with some of the other racers, in order of finish: Hobie Alter Jr, Alan Equsa, Jeff Alter, Wayne Mooneyham, Wick Smith, Steve Leo, Bob Seaman, Randy Hatfield, etc thru the 50 H-17 sailors. Ken Marshack, now an A cat sailor was 13th. Paul Ulibarri was our event coordinator, Doug Skidmore was H-17 PRO, and Wayne Schaeffer was the H-14 PRO. We had 12 of the sailors from this event at the Hobie 17 Nationals in Monterey last year. Some of us still sailing the same boat. The only problem with the Hobie 17 is that they do not wear out. Your can buy a new one for about half the price of an A cat, or a used one in racing condition for less than $3,000. Do not get me wrong, the A cat is a beautiful and exciting class, but many of us can just not afford to own and maintain an A cat. Our Hobie 17 fleet is also growing, with new people of all ages. The A class in the Northwest has done an excellent job in building their fleet, and we wish them well. BTW, the following link is to a picture of Tom on his H-17 in the Gorge during the Nationals in 1990.
http://www.hobiedivision4.org/Picture%20Pages/Regattas/Regattas.htmCaleb and Tom Tarleton
