OK, for anyone who isn't getting it, I am trying to help. I'm pointing out the obstacles so we can work through them; not once did I say that I want to use rules to keep anyone away. As you know, I am a certified RO, so I have been trained well to stick to the rules, or work to get them changed, within the procedures allowed.

I never said I thought IWCA and HCA should merge. What we are talking about is how to go about allowing IWCA waves to sail at HCA regattas, while we currently have the Hobie-only edict, and IHCA class rules in place. I’ll say it again, I’m bringing this up because we WANT to see this happen, we just need to figure out how to make it work.

Seems to me that the only sticking points are the tramps and sails. As I've already pointed out, the sheets are already legal. The rudder issue is a (relatively) easy fix. Does the minimum weight thing really affect anyone? If so, that shouldn’t be hard to change, it’s been done before.

Here’s the main point: HCA is not asking IWCA to change their rules for IWCA events, but there may be limits in what we can get changed for HCA events. Would it really kill you to put a Hobie sail up at a HCA event if that were the only rule we couldn’t change?

But, all of this may be moot if Rick and Mary are correct, and no matter what changes HCA makes, IWCA sailors will find a host of reasons not to come. Our time might be better spent leaving the rules alone, and working to find more Hobie sailors.

I hope this is not the case, because I'd like to see everyone playing together on the water.

Mike

PS: Pepin, the boat isn't inferior if they're all the same, but that's a whole other tangent.