I probably should have added a little background. In Division 11 the H20 fleet is pretty much done. Our division racing is 16s, 17s and a smattering of 18s. We do have some H20s in and around the DC area and find our racing portsmouth style on the Chesapeake with CRAC. Even the I20s don't get enough together to race one design. I am a huge fan of one design, but, sadly, that isn't happening with any boat in my area except the A cats.

Regarding killing the class; how alive is it at the present? I wonder how many H20s Hobie sells each year; I haven't seen any new ones. My idea was that taking the risk in changing the rules would keep the boat more current and maybe stimulate sales.

To be fair, I have heard that the H20 is the only larger cat that mixed crews can sail because it doesn't have a spin. I think this is true, as I have sailed with a number of females and most of them were great crew, but wouldn't have had the strength to handle a spinnaker (they didn't think so either). But I don't think the H20 class has many mixed crews sailing the boat and the game seems to have gone to spin boats; certainly for distance racing and even for buoy racing. Everyone says they are more exciting and once you go there, you don't want to go back. I like the Hobie 20; I think its a good looking boat and sails well and would like to see it stay alive as a class.

David
H20 781