The Hobie Nats in Aus (2000) were run great from my point of view..?? what gives? (are we hijacking the thread?)

Not to be disrespectful but YOU obviously would think that, your interests are much too financially tied to "Hobie Australia" to even be considered of as "unbiased" on any subject relating to Hobie Australia or for that matter Hobie cat in general, and that is completely understandable when your livelyhood depends on Hobie, "not that there is anything wrong with that"

Caleb,

I appreciate your effort to try and pick up Ulibari’s slack but now that I own a H20, I wouldn't have much use for them.

I guess what really bothers me about this is I stepped up and supplied the chips when it was discovered that they were missing from the factory boats when they were uncrated. Ulibari was sweating bullets trying to find replacements and stated he would pay me for them. People get busy, other things come up, and I forgot all about the chips until the next year at San Felipe.

I saw Ulibari hanging with some of his buds at the El Cortez. I approached him, asked if he remembered me from the 16 Nats and reminded him about his promise to pay me for the chips. His buds thought that was pretty funny with lots of laughter and busting his chops but he never reached for his wallet.

I wrote the chips/money off to experience but, after that, I never opened up my spares kit unless it was for someone I’d known for years.

I’d forgotten all about it until reading through this thread. Looks like others have had underwhelming experiences with Ulibari too.

I don't own a hobie, but I have been to several regattas where the Queensland hobie dealer has been and have had many conversations with him and I have the opinion that whist he is a businessman, he goes out of his way to promote not only his craft but sailing in general. He well and truely gets the thumbs up from me. From what I am reading here I would think that its time for you to consider another class of craft.

Got to go pack the boat for the weekend... but

I've received several emails that hit on the following (not mine):

Awesome PRO - runs great races - no arguement

However, it comes with a price:

Hidden agendas
Have to pick up the air fare for his wife so she can be with him
Missed promises
It doesn't take much to go from his good side to his bad side
He doesn't deal with the facts for positives
He will take non-facts and turn them into a negative - loves to live on the rumor (sort of like stock - buy on the facts, sell on the rumor)

I don't know this person but I can see he has clearly rubbed some people the wrong way. That however is absolutely no excuse for this kind of personal attack on an internet forum that I think is supposed to be helping the sport. I have not been visiting this website for very long but it has changed my mind about the catamaran sailing community. You guys and girls are certifiable a$$ holes. I hope I never see most of you at a regatta. I was content to keep this to myself as you fools bash one boat over another. Unfortunately I have even been drawn into it myself but at least I look back with embarrassment. When I read through this forum it's like someone gawking at a train wreck. You just can't look away from the grotesque site of it. This personal attack is an all time low and it has nothing to do with whether this person deserves it or not. Mary this is your forum and you should be ashamed of yourself for allowing and encouraging this. And it's not just this post although this is by far the worst. If you want to do a service to catamaran sailing close this forum for good.

Is free speach or the expresssion of opinions no longer allowed ?

Perhaps one of PU's supporters (who ever PU is, I have not met him or taken part in any regatta he has run, ask him to comment ?

Well, it is not my forum, but I think Paul Ulibarri is very nice and very cute, and I like him personally. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

People who choose to climb the political ladder in the sailing world are, of course, open to criticism as well as accolades. Paul Henderson, the recent past president of ISAF, was very outspoken and took lots of flak in media forums all over the world.

If PU couldn't take the heat, he would not be striving for whatever level it is he is striving for in the hierarchy. So don't worry about him, because he asked for it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

P.S. I'm sure that Rick and/or I have also been beaten up in other forums and venues that we have never even seen, just because we are vocal and visible and involved in the sailing community. Do I care? No.

Okay, I lied. I DO care.

I can only partially agree with these comments -

Yes, this thread has been in very poor taste, especially as it seems that MJ44 has not explored other, more formal channels to air his grievances or concerns. On a positive note, some of our regular posters have spoken out in support of PU (whoever he might be).

What I cannot agree with though is the rest of this post. This forum actually provides a fantastic service to catamaran sailing worldwide. There is informed advice and criticism, there is good natured banter and leg-pulling, we do have our fair share of a$$holes as you put it - but I defy you to find an active forum that hasn't got them!! Mostly regular readers/posters know the score and distil the information accordingly.

Overall, I believe that most users of this forum know that as long as you sail or are interested in catamarans, you are VERY welcome here - irrespective of make or model. We all have our preferences and/or opinions but that is, at the end of the day, all that they are. I would reinforce Scooby's comments about freedom of speech and also, once again, say thank you to Rick and Mary for providing somewhere that we cat enthusiasts can share ideas, information and arguments. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

+1