From Facebook:
NEWS FLASH - Hobie F18's now welcome at ALL HCANA Events!
Pat Porter, Doug Skidmore and I have come to the decision that inviting ALL Hobie F18's to ALL events is a great idea. Doug was totally on board with promoting the Hobie F18 at all Hobie Regattas. So, that being said, all Hobie Tigers and Wildcats, whether they are Hobie One-Design or F18 box rule configured, are invited, in fact, they are encouraged, to come sail at all Hobie regattas, including Area Championships, and will sail head to head in an F18 start. YEAH! We believe this will go a long way in showing the HCANA and Hobie Cat Company's support of the burgeoning F18 class. Key to this is now Hobie manufactured boats can be sailed with non-Hobie parts so long as they meet the F18 Class box rule. This is a big step for the Company and should be applauded by all.
Now I will need to train my weather mark guys on setting the offset mark :-)
Mark Santorelli, HCANA Race Director

Cool!

Wow! and cool indeed

Is there still the requirement for at least two Hobies?

That's a question for a different issue. This statement from Hobie covers the Hobie Tiger/Wildcat participation at a Hobie funded event including Championships.

NON-Hobie branded F18's are still subject to the current F18 Inclusion Policy; which does require a minimum amount of Hobie brand boats.

I guess that at least now it would be in compliance to have at least 1 - Tiger, and 1-Wildcat.

So, I'm not really sure what this means. Hobies can race at Hobie events. Not really news.

What it means is a Hobie Tiger with, say a Glaser sail, can race in an Area Championship event. Before they were not Hobie one design and therefore could not race.

How much of the boat needs to be original for it to still be a hobie?

Interesting question. Maybe I could get some Hobie stickers for my C2 Not that it is really an issue for our fleet.

I guess I am lost and don't understand Help.

Does this mean that:
only Hobie boats can sail in the event ?
they are going to use the F18 rules but no non Hobie F18 ?
what weights specs F18 or Hobie ?
really just means you can use after market parts on the Hobie boats ?
can it be a F18 event if non Hobie F18s can't sail in the event ?

David,

The Hobie Class Association started to experiment with allowing non-Hobie F18's at Hobie regattas starting in 2010. The only restrictions are no non-Hobie F18's allowed at regional (there are 5...Mid Winters East, Mid Winters West, Mid Americas, NE Area and NW Area) or national Hobie Class events...since these events received funds from the Class Association. A prime example of the new position was the 2010 Madcatter Regatta in Syracuse, NY. Madcatter was traditionally the Hobie NE Area Championship in the past. Fleet 204 gave up that designation (and Class Association funding) in order to allow non-Hobie F18's to attend. Only 4 boats showed up. But the word got out and in 2011 we had 13 F18's. The NOR specified that the F18's would be raced per F18 class rules...no matter what brand or after market parts as long as the boats complied with F18 rules.

The only thing that has changed is now Hobie F18's...no matter what their configuration as long as they meet the F18 box rule...are now allowed to race at the area championships per Mark Santorelli's opening post. National championships are really a moot point though...there hasn't been an official Hobie Tiger Nationals in years and never one for the Wildcat. That racing has now migrated to USF18 Nationals or CANF18 Nationals.

Hope this helps with your understanding.

John Bauldry
Hobie Wildcat #194
USF18 Northern Area Rep

Thanks John for the answers. I did not know that F18's could go to Hobie Regattas in 2010 and 2011. That could make for better races in the F18 class. Thanks to all that worked to make this happen.

Need used spinnaker or hooter to fit Hobie 18 ASAP 305-766-5832

Where are you located? We have an old F18 kite that might work

I have a snuffer ring and bag.

ph (562) 234- three,nine,eight,four