Jake,
I'm a NAHCA member, devoted to one-design (and frustrated a great deal because its hard to always get enough H20s in my area out) and I'm not against the open class. I also think Mark Schneider over dramatizes the point a little by listing all the boats Hobie makes; no one really sees anywhere close to all those boats at a regatta. However, he missed the Getaway which right now is the largest selling Hobie model states-side. Someday those recreation sailors will want to race their boats.

The reality is that no matter how much any of us stirs the pot, pro open class or con open class, the status quo will remain for some time. And that is the Hobie fleet/division structure will continue to provide most of the framework for catamaran racing and will continue promoting one design while alowing an open class to race portsmouth style in order to fill out the regatta.

As Mark mentioned, we just finished a regatta at Gunpowder where 4 H20s raced one another while starting in the open fleet. Was it ideal? No. Its no fun to get off the line with an A cat on your lee bow knowing that in a few minutes he will be gassing you and you will have to tack away. I don't want to race the A cat, I want to race the H20 on the other side of him. But its all part of the game; avoiding obstacles while concentrating on the other H20s. It certainly makes you plan ahead so as to not get blanketed by a spin boat coming off of A mark thereby allowing the H20 behind you to catch up or pass. We should all stir the pot less and enjoy each other's company. Its the "is, what is".