"So, the last time, the US used the old fall back... hobie 16's with spins.. BUT
We had an internal Hissy fit with the NAHCA over Hobie 16's with spin's used in the the USA. A compromise was reached but the boats are no longer in the US..."

Mark, I agree with a lot of stuff in your posts here, but really, where do you come up with this gem???

There is NO internal issue within HCA that I am aware of that amounts to a conspiracy to outlaw spinnakers for youth sailors in the US.

The main issue has always been this: There is a strong majority of Hobie 16 sailors that don't want the 16 class to go the way of the 18 class (multiple platforms, splintering the class to its demise). THAT is why the H16 spin is not an approved class for adults.

HOWEVER, the class STRONGLY supports the use of H16s with chutes for youth. The IHCA class rules allow for this rig to be used for youth events (within specific guidelines), and I personally would love to see tons of these showing up at points regattas to train our youth for major international events.

The real problem is, very few people in the US actually wants to BUY one of these boats, or upgrade kits. THAT'S the reason the boats are out of the country.

So, I do wholehearedly agree with you that what we really need in this country, whether it be led by HCA, USSA, or someone else entirely, is a real stepping system that uses Waves, H16 Spins, and any other boats that meet the need to grow the future of our sport, our kids.

But, we can't get there overnight. The reality of the situation up to now has been that the best training for youth has been to let them sail in the adult H16 class, against some of the best cat sailors in the country. That requires a stock H16, no chute. The resistance against spins for adults is not likely to change, so until we get a critical mass of strong youth competitors to train against one another, this is going to be a tough nut to crack.

Mike