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Ted is a catamaran sailor in his eighties. He is the historian for everything cat sailing in New England. He still races and races hard. Stays out when is windy and just loves to be on the water. I personally hope that I am able to get up and go to the bathroom by myself never mind set up a Hobie 17.

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Editorial



By Ted Knowlton

June 13, 2005



Subject: Just what is appropriate for beach cat sailors in New England?



I was shocked this past weekend when I arrived at Sandy Point for the Sakonnet Challenge to find no other Hobies. Just me and my Hobie 17. I still love it even though it can’t compete with the newer (and expensive) high-tech Nacras. It was nice to see old friends from past regattas.



It really hit me hard. What in the world is this nonsense about dividing the New England beach cat sailors into two mutually exclusive groups! Maybe the Hobie-only policy is appropriate for some areas around the U.S., but it makes no sense in our area. Rick Bliss has done a masterful job of selling the Nacra cats in this area. Would that the Hobie Cat Company would get off its butt and find someone like Rick to promote Hobies in this area!



The reality is that we – as a combined group – are small. We are not likely to ever get back to the old days when there were hundreds of beach cats in our area. Times change. The days when the Hobie 16 was the only game in town are no more. The proliferation of beach cat designs (by both Hobie and Nacra) has Balkanized the group such that it is difficult to get any one-design racing in. And that’s the only kind that’s really fun.



So what do we do? I’m not sure, but the very least we can do is combine the efforts of this lively fun-loving group. I really don’t care what the consequences are with Hobie Cat and HCA. Let’s work together as a family. We do not need political wrangling to spoil this way of life – Hobie or otherwise!