I will not argue that Hobie needs to open herself up to SMOD classes of others to allow these to grow at the expense of her own classes/products.

Point in fact, neither is the Nacra 20 OD going to support the Hobie Fox class or the F17 class going to support the FX-one or iCat. Not even when both classes are basically build around identical specifications.

Such a thing would indeed by non-sensical from a Hobie perspective and the larger catamaran scene will also not be helped much by such action.



It will already be a major step when Hobie supports the F18 class as a F18 class and not some OD class of their own (Tiger SMOD; Wildcat SMOD). Similar reasoning with respect to the Wave. Form one single class that includes all and supports all. After all, Rick and his friends made this Wave class when Hobie was not interested in growing it in that direction. One can not just shut them out now when they have worked hard to create this demand for the boat. Same with the Tiger, the F18 sailors founded and grew that class to the premier catamaran class that it is now and there was no reason for the Tiger to go its own way.

I also believe Hobie can live by a simple criterium.

It will be enough when Hobie will support only those classes that in return also support HOBIE products. This implies, true formula classes like a A's, F18 and F16's but not the F17's. There is no reason for Hobie to support the Nacra 20 One-Design as Nacra doesn't support the Hobie Fox. There can be however reasons for hobie to support the F16 class as that class will also fully support any compliant product build by Hobie; either built now (Hobie MAX) or in the future (Shortened Hobie iCat).

Note in this respect that if Hobie can built and market the iCat then Hobie can also build an F16, there is practically no meaningful difference between either product. They only have to produce 250 mm shorter hulls (less then a foot) and the design will be F16 compliant.


Therefore that can be the deal. Hobie supports classes that are supportive of Hobies in return. Promotion for such classes helps everybody (the whole catamaran scene) but also Hobie itself. It is also undeniable that other classes like the F16 class (as the F18 and A-cats) will be supportive of a Hobie Wave entry class. Such a class is missing at the moment and making it a succes will help us all.

We have to get past the narrow thinking of unrelated SMOD's and look for the bigger pictures were indeed competiting products can be mutually supportive.

I see a nexus forming around the Waves (F12), A-cats, F18's, F16's and some intermediate youth boat like the SL16/Nacra500/Hobie16/Dart18. Those last 4 designs should be made to merge into one relatively tightly controlled modern looking formula or OD class around the same specifications that is open to all builder either under license building or the formula concept. It will help the Wave alot when something along the lines of license building can also be set up there.

Wouter