We're getting angry again.
First of all, relative to other sailing machines (E Scow for instance) the Hobie (of any flavor) is a drop in the bucket price-wise.
Second, there are Getaway sailors gathering at www.hcspace.org and shooting the **** there about doing some racing/social stuff. We have a few new guys in Northern Wisconsin and a few in South Dakota that want to race Getaways too.
Just get 3 or 4 boats together and go to a regatta, you'll love it and you can start that way. No need to get angry or imply that someone has no testicles.......
Again, with the membership thing: We prefer to have class membership participation as to lessen the amount of liability taken on with the coverage of the policy that we purchase. Also, I find it pretty unlikely that I would be welcomed to sail in a Official Laser regatta with out being an Official Laser Class Member. Or any other class for that matter.