In 2007 we had 3-5 Tigers at almost every OD regatta. Up from the previous years high of 3.

In 2007 we also had two F18 regattas that produced 5-7 boats on the start.

Well, word from the streets has it that 3 additional Tigers will be on the circuit for 2008. Realistically, we will expect 5 showing for all the Hobie Class events and 8-10 showing for the more well attended events.

Add in the two new FX1's showing at all the events, and your looking at quite a few more spinnakers on the course for 2008.

The Hobie Tiger North American Championships will also be held in the Northwest in 2008. This may bring a few more over the fence come spring.


[color:"red"] If you know of any used Tigers or FX1s on the market let me know. [/color]

I think you should take some credit for that growth, Don. It happens when there are guys like you beatin'
the bushes, emailing encouragement and regatta dates, and helping guys find boats. Keep up the good work!

Dave Farmer

Can I bring the HT sometime?

Thanks for that; but the two guys that bought the first boats and hung on for more than a couple lean years are the real ground breakers.

We've got a great bunch up here, and we all kept in constant touch to make sure we had a great year.

We'd love to see the HT! When we have the F18 regattas we'll get you signed on in the opens.

Don --

Let's put the credit squarely where it belongs. There has really only been one Tiger sailor that I know of that has kept sailing the Tiger in the NW through the lean years, and that would be Jerry Valeske (who, by the way, has won several awards from US SAILING mostly for his teaching and PRO duties). Jerry continues to carry the torch. He takes out anybody and everybody to introduce them to the sport and the F18. If ever there were an F18 ambassador, Jerry would be it.

Mark Jones has done a lot for the sport up in Vancouver. But he is a relative newcomer. For that matter, compared to Jerry, everyone is a newcomer! Jerry bought his first Tiger the first year they came out. He is trading it in for next year's model and he is selling his current Tiger to someone who has expressed an interest in racing. If the guy doesn't want to race, then Jerry will just find another buyer -- simple as that!

Easy Crusher!
It sounds like you feel I've slighted Jerry.

By giving all the credit to any one person, kind of takes away from the group effort. Last year was definitly a group effort!
I'm glad you feel so strongly on Jerry's behalf. He's done a lot.

Let's not forget to include Mike Hensel, our new Area L Rep to the US SAILING Multihull Council. Mike Hensel and Jerry Valeske both used their Tigers in training the three youth teams for the Youth Multihull Championship last year. They each had their mainsails damaged in this volunteer effort. Mike also now has a FX-1, which he is promoting, plus his Tiger that is adding to our local growing fleet. Brian Hunt in Vancouver will also be picking up his new Tiger shortly. We should have a good local Tiger sailor showing at the Hobie Tiger, H-17 and H-18 NA's next year at Lake Harrison in Canada.

Caleb Tarleton

My post was in response to Don's. It was all about Jerry and nothing about anyone else. That is because as best as I can tell, Jerry is the only one who lasted through "the lean years", as it were. Who else in the F18 fleet was sailing F18s five years ago? No one.

It does not -- or at least should not -- take away from the incredible strides that have developed within the past year. So sure, the F18 is starting to gain some momentum. And there are people directly responsible for that. Guys with names like Hensel, Jones, MacDonald and, yes, even that Atchley guy.

But I stick by my post. In terms of hunkering down through the lean years, paying the regatta fees year after year even when there weren't any other F18s, Mr. V is THE man! He is the real ground breaker!

By the way, congrats to Mike Hensel for taking the reins as Area L rep. He's a keeper!!

Peters right in that Jerry was the first tiger in Division 4. Someone has to be the first. And Jerry has stuck it out for many seasons. And he is one of the biggest Hobie supporters I know. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm not so sure we've convinced him about the F18 circuit yet. Right now we see it as a way to get the Tiger out into the mainstream. And it's an opportunity to race against some other boats/skippers.

Hopefully we've done right by him in building the momentum this year, and we'll give him a run for his money next season. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />