Jake, All

The problem is this


When you view sailboat regattas as... "buying or selling a service"... you can let the consumer choose... just as you propose.

However,
When sailboat regattas are run by volunteers (like Robbie) as part of a small catsailing community...essentially a national club... they have a right to speak up about policies that divide and shrink their event.

Robbie just has it wrong... The Hobie edict is not the problem here... (the edict is a dead issue for the most part)

The real problem is that the Wave morass is really one of rules that give fair competition coupled with low maintenance... (and the lack of consensus there of)... This deal is not at all about the Hobie edict of kicking some fleets (eg Open class or any other OD cat fleet) out of the events they run or sanction for points.

Every season that ticks by without the sailors in the various WAVE camps reaching an agreement on fair competition means lower turnouts and more noise.

otherwise known as SNAFU!!

Robbie,
Nobody would bat an eye if an F18 faction wanted to race at Hobie midwinters but refused to follow the class measurement rules. No certificate... no entry, no one time exceptions.

Mike had a reasonable proposal... grandfather sails and then use factory sails (every new boat comes with one) .... (Note that you can't even drill a new hole in the new N17 Olympic boat.

other possibilities.... you could provide onsite measurement for free provided by the outside Wave class members.... The yacht club is not involved in your measurement issues, class membership enforcement, or even the crazy liablity insurance requirements that some classes dictate.


Go RAVENS!!