To say that a single sponsor can have total control of how regatta is run by a local fleet seems a bit extreme to me. I certianly wouldn't let West Marine say that all competitors that use WM sailing gloves can attend and all others can piss off.
Gotta respectively disagree. The whole fleet/division/national/international organization is a marketing tool to sell boats. Even the Hotline, until the editors lost sight of what their reader base wanted, was another marketing tool. The IHCA may be an independent organization, but they will take any input from the Hobie Company very seriously.
You also have to look at what’s become of the Hobie fleets. Back in the ‘80s in the Division area I lived in, there was either a regatta or fun sail almost every summer weekend. The regattas would usually get a turnout of at least 75 boats. There were fleets galore, there were dealers galore, and Hobie was making some serious coin. Life was good.
Come the ‘90s and things started to change. Fleets shrunk or folded, dealers shrunk and either folded or changed their product line and Hobie saw income shrinking. The fleets, being flexible and figuring that a multihull is a multihull, were able to keep their memberships and regattas pumped up by allowing for open class members and starts.
As for the "stop whining and put on your own regatta" comment well, it's not all that black and white either. Say the regional Hobie Division holds 4 regatta's a year. That's four events that only Hobie sailors can attend and probably about as many as the average racer would be willing to attend. So the open events and the Hobie only events end up competing for the same small pool of sailors hurting both groups. So, no I don't think the Hobie edict is good for multihull growth, either for Hobie or any other manufacturer for that matter.
I still say racers are racers. Granted, the Hobie fleet regattas are now limited to Hobies, but if there’s only four Hobie regattas in a Division, I’d either be looking for races put on by other organizations or travel to another Division’s area.
It seems like the non-Hobie boats have had it pretty good for the last few years with Hobie fleets taking on the responsibility and organization of the regattas. Now that the IHCA has said it’s enforcing the rule about non-Hobie boats competing, you can either whine about the past or do something about the future.
Scheduling? Non-issue. Talk to your counterparts in the different local organizations and work it out. Who’s gonna run it? Either somebody has to sit on the committee boat or see if a YC will help out. Nobody will show ‘cause they’re burnt out from four regattas? Come on! Racers are racers. Set up a semi-decent event and racers will show up. If they have a good time, the word of mouth will get you a better turnout for the next event.
The past is the past and the IHCA has made their ruling. It’s not going to change. Ever. That leaves the non- Hobie guys with two choices; sail or sit on the beach. I’m for sailing. How about you?
