This is getting off the thread a little, but I have to add Denver's Fleet 61 to the list of successful Hobie Fleets. We have about 55 paid members and get 35 to 40 boats at our regattas. We'll feed 125 to 135 people at the largest events. Our fastest growing fleet is the 20 with three new owners this year and at least two others getting boats in time for next season.

I think our success comes from several factors. First is an enthusiastic core group that shares responsibilities of Commodore, social commodore, racing, newsletter, membership and treasurer. We also continue to attract new people - boat owners and NBOs who get involved with running events. Second is the diversity of events. Our division holds six points events and five social or fun-sailing events each season - one of which is a fundraiser that generated $5,200 for Craig Hospital (the facility that treated Roy Horn. The event was mentioned on a Maria Schriver-hosted TV program about Horn).

But I think Mark is right about getting involved with local yacht clubs as a key to generating membership and giving catamaran sailing some credibility in the eyes of "mainstream" sailors. Over the last two seasons we've been showing up at open events with enough boats to get our own start and the half-boaters are starting to take notice. Another area we're starting to focus on is youth sailing. We have a handfull of enthusiastic youth sailors, but next season we're putting on a fundraising regatta for the local youth sailing organization that I hope will become an annual event. I think this new regatta could become a source of not just young sailors getting involved with the fleet, but their entire families who come out to support their kids and see how much fun multihull sailors have.

Since Hobie's new membership rules went into effect, we've actually gained one or two members who sold thier boats and bought a Hobie. I support the idea of NAMSA as a way to support the sport in general, but without a local core group of individuals, or a "sparkplug" as Matt said, who are willing to organize a few events, I don't see how this organization will ever take hold in this region where Hobie is the dominant multihull on the water.