Matt <br>I currently race an Inter 20 in the summer and a Hobie 14 (frostbite fleet of 20 boats) in the winter. I started racing cats as crew on a Hobie 21. This was the first real spinnaker boat in the US. I leaned the fine art of sailing a cat with a spinnaker in buoy racing. A year later I purchased my own Hobie 21. We had a class of around 10 boats the racing was great. The class was starting to dwindle and Hobie decided they didn’t want to support the class anymore. I got out while my boat was still worth something. At that time the Hobie 20 class was the biggest, but shrinking, 20’ boat. The Nacra 6.0 fleet was gaining momentum. I felt the competition was going to end up in the 6.0 fleet so I purchased a new 6.0. I hated racing without a spinnaker, I had a spinnaker for distance racing and fun sailing. It still left me wanting to sail around the buoys with a spinnaker. When the I20 came out I was a little hesitant to jump ship on the 6.0. We had a big class and very good sailors. I sailed the I20 once and I had to have this boat. The balance and feel of the boat was so sweet. I bought an I20 in August of 1999. Raced in the 1999 at the Performance North American a month later. I came in second to Matt Struble after only two regattas on the boat. I also hadn’t raced against any other 20s until the NA’s. The local class has 4-6 boats at all of our races. Four of the boats can win any races at anytime. The others are catching up fast as we have been coaching them on spinnaker handling. We race one-design class most of the time and start with the 6.0’s. I have sailed the Hobie Fox and I am sailing the Tiger at the Alter Cup in June. I am interested in sailing F18 also. I sail the I20 at close minimum, we would be under weight right now, and could get to f18 weight easily. <br>I have been a fleet commodore and also a NACHA Division Chair. I don’t have an allegiance to any boat or manufacture but I believe there is a boat out there that can fill everyone’s needs. I have been personally attack on the other Forum, but I was from people that don’t know me. I have spent a ton of time giving back and helping all sailors. Mike Hill could back me up on this. This weekend I will be helping a youth sailor get his rudder system fixed on his 14. <br>I think I am done. <br>Matt thanks for the reply. It’s always good to know a persons background to better understand where their view come from. <br><br><br>
