I would like to add that there is another advantage to the Wave Class Association allowing non-factory sails and trampolines.

The vast majority of Waves are sold to beach rental operations and also to individuals who do not race them. In both cases, as the boats age, the owners may have to replace the sails and tramps. I figure they are likely to do this through local sail and trampoline manufacturers and/or the least expensive sources possible, since those boats are not normally going to be used for racing.

However, many of those rental and privately-owned boats eventually enter the used-boat market and are purchased by people who want to race, or rental boats are sometimes chartered by people who want to race in Wave events.

In either case, we wanted the Wave Class and events to be welcoming and open to ALL the Waves, regardless of the sail and tramp manufacturers. Otherwise, anyone wishing to race the boat would have to purchase a sail and trampoline from the factory. For a boat like the Wave, I don't think most people want to put that much money into it if the boat already has a perfectly good, non-factory sail and tramp. And NOBODY is going to buy a sail and tramp for a charter boat they are only going to sail once.

Also, as Rick mentioned, many of our Wave sailors are couples, who both have boats, which means double the expense when replacing things. So obviously, they are going to try to save money by shopping around.

Of course, the advantage of having the Hobie factory equipment is that then you can race in both the Hobie Class Association regattas AND in the Wave Class Association regattas.