All US SAILING championships and qualifying events require membership. All of them. Even the offshore event - all crew. The only way around the membership requirement is to be invited or selected for a championship through petition, résumé or to be named by a member class. Even then, to go to the championship, you then have to join - the on-line registration won't even take your money anymore until you join or renew. On-line registration will eventually get pushed down to the qualifying events.

I hear what some of you are saying; that you need to attract people to the events and membership is expensive. I tried to build the Area D event up to be a top-shelf, well-run and solidly officiated two-day event. That was what, IMO, attracted racers. I also tried to have some swag to give away. Those elements made it seem just a notch above the average weekender. There are only two events a year for which membership is required - your qualifier and the championship. The benefits of membership last year-round; discounted fees at other events, access to good insurance, and now, a 50% discount on Hobie Polarized. That discount on Hobie products alone will pay for your membership, and the discounted entry fees throughout the year don't hurt. Add the free rulebook, which I really wish more people would read... it isn't that long.

Joining through the Multihull Council's Golden Anchor program automatically identifies you as a multihull sailor. If you've already renewed as a regular member, you can call US SAILING and they will switch you over, quick and painless. If you need to renew, drop me a PM with your e-mail and I'll send you the form, or take a look at the latest issue of the Hobie Hotline (in print or on-line) and fill out the form there. It gets you a nice discount off the regular dues prices.