Lee,

"I refuse to step backwards" is about as offensive as one can get.

The Hobie class continues to evolve, and we are working to support all Hobie Cat sailors, but like anything else in life, we can't undo things that were done poorly in the past unless people on both sides are willing.

One of the biggest challenges at any regatta is what to do with poor turnouts of individual classes. Hobie regattas are the exception, not the norm, when it comes to leaving the invitation open to all Hobie classes until the morning of the event. For example, most YCs require pre-registration, with minimum numbers required to allow a class to race. Yes, for weekend regattas. They simply won't allow their budgets to be exposed to the unknown.

Of course, since that wasn't done in your case, the response that you received doesn't seem right. I don't know that I would have left the class over it, but that's ultimately up to you.

Mike