Bob-
When I moved to North Carolina about 10 years ago there was a Hobie Fleet and a separate "X-boat" fleet, but we were both getting progressively smaller so we essentially "merged", with all the "X-boaters" joining the Hobie Fleet and NAHCA and paying their dues. Within two years of the "merger" most of the active Fleet officers were "X-boaters", NOT because we TRIED to "infiltrate" the Hobie Fleet but because the poor Hobie sailors who had been willing to be Fleet officers for the previous several years were sick and tired of doing it year after year and WELCOMED the inclusion of the "X-boaters"!! This allowed the "Hobie" Fleet to survive and even prosper during this bleak period in catamaran history. With the inclusion of the "X-boats" and people there was enough critical mass to conduct fleet meetings, regattas, and social events. Well, at least there is no doubt now who is actually "running things" at IHCA/HCA - the HOBIE CAT COMPANY with the supposed "officers" no more than company puppets- it's obviously NOT a democracy of any sort.

Kirt Simmons
H 14 (FOR SALE!) Flyer "A" cat, etc....