Transparancy is a key factor here that would go along way toward maintaing support.

Sailors are asking several questions about this and every upcoming Hobie weekend.

Don asks who's going? Since, time and money are precious... obviously... you don't want to go if you don't have a reasonable expectation for a good turnout making for a competive race. For example... B and C fleet H16 Sailors may want to know if they will have a good turnout... They probably don't feel that it's much fun to race the A fleet 16's. ..."Hey' it's early in the season..... Weather is iffy... no other competitors... I'll pass". Information on the turnout in their class might get them to go racing though! Likewise, an open spin boat would not want to race a fleet of P16's. Don will make his decion based on turnout. I argue that accurate information is critical to building an event.

Chris Brown asks about the requirment for the NACHA membership fee. Obviously, he is choosing to not support the NAHCA organization by joinng it. So, based on the published information, there is no reason to plan on participating in the open class if they will require a NAHCA membership. Rehobath has not made their position clear. The flyer on the web site indicates that they will charge you 5 bucks extra for not being a NAHCA member (Hobie or open sailors), which seems to indicate that NAHCA membership is not required this year. Accurate and complete information would be terrific and solve this communication problem.

Chris asks a second and more philosophical question... What about next year? If I am being phased out... Perhaps, I should use my regatta dollars elsewhere and support 04 events that will continue to run in the future.

Once again, the club could address the issue straitforwardly. This big pink pig (the club's trademark icon) standing in the corner can't be ignored by the sailors who are affected. Accurate information is important to building or maintaing turnout.

Dan Flanigan of Hobie Fleet 54 addressed the sailors at the CRAC/WRCRA Icebreaker last weekend and addressed these concerns with respect to the upcoming Gunpowder regatta. Similarly, Chris Begrow of the Barnegat Bay fleet has written CRAC and addressed this issues as well. Dan Berger of the Va Beach fleet also addressed these issues with respect to Hobie fleet 32's upcoming event for this year and the future.

Take Care

Mark Schneider
CRAC Secretary