An idea has been put forward by Chris Wessles, the new HCA Class Chairman to improve communication and with and between individual classes, and to encourage the survival of the class's and the boat's.

Understanding that there are many sailors that use this forum as a contact point and a source of information, and in the hope to reach out to as many Hobie 18 owners / sailors as possible, I am posting it here
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Chris wrote,
I think that every class in the association needs to have a 'Commodore/Class Chair', a person that organizes, informs and build excitement up and support for, their class, and can be a point of contact/liason to the HCA Board.This subject has been discussed for a while, but it is time to act.
Rob Jerry has taken the volunteer position for the Tiger fleet. That leaves the
14, 16, 17, 18, 20 and Wave.
I am really looking for a volunteers, that will work to get their classes organized and fired up. Good communication skills and internet access are a big plus. I would really like to hear some names tossed out there so we can get this in place and published before year end.
Lets do this.
cw
[email protected]
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In the interest of getting the ball rolling on this great idea, I am going to attempt to build an E-Mail List to be used in promoting all things Hobie 18.

This will be a great way to build attendance and enthusiasm for an outstanding class of boat. The possibilities for strengthening the class are truely exciting.

If you would like to have your name included on the E-Mail list of Hobie 18 owners/sailors please forward your contact information to me at
[email protected]

If you have any interest in being the Hobie 18 Class Chair, please let me know. The idea is to add a point of contact not add more to my plate. I am just excited about the possibilities and eager to get the ball rolling, and then pass it off to someone that can do the position justice.

Stephen

Some of you may have heard about an effort afoot to improve communication with and between Hobie 18 owners and sailors across the entire country.
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The concept includes but is not limited to,

Give each individual Fleet a unified voice to speak on its members behalf to the HCA Board

Promote Fleet Morale, unity and strength.

Coordinate and encourage fleet attendance at local events, area championships, and NAC's

Provide input and or suggestions for rule changes equipment changes to HCA and IHCA.

Maintain an E-Mail list of any class owners that wish to participate in order to disseminate information that is class specific so that all interested class owners are aware and have the opportunity to voice an opinion, whether positive or negative, distill input from class members to a majority position that can then be shared with the HCA Board.

Serve as a clearing house or central point of contact for class members in search of events, boats, and or parts, and class members that know of boats and/or parts for sale.

Do a periodic E-mailing to all members on the list with any information that may be pertinent to the class.

Generally improve the lines of communication within the class, with the intent of increasing participation in all things related to the class, by the class, on a national level.
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This effort was initiated by our new HCA Chairman Chris Wessles, and I have been working on gathering E-Mail address and Clint Ellis has taken the bull by the horns and created a Class Website.

http://hobie-18.ning.com/

All of these efforts are in their early stages, and everyone is encouraged to join and participate.
We are, of course, open to any suggestion's, idea's, and input any of you may have.

It is no secret that I personally feel that the Hobie 18 is the finest Catamaran ever conceived, designed, engineered, and built. At the very least, with the furling jib, magnum and SX wings, and the SX option, it is the most versatile Catamaran currently available.

Sadly, Hobie has discontinued production here in the USA, but there are hundreds of Hobie 18's still being sailed, and possibly thousands sitting in storage lots and back yards that could be brought back to life.

Hobie still has most of the parts needed to bring these boats back to life, and what Hobie doesn't have, is still available thru E-Bay and many owners that have been hoarding hard to find parts for future use.

If you wish to have your name removed from this E-Mail list, please let me know and we will purge your name from the list.

If you know anyone that owns, sails, or has a passion for the Hobie 18, please have them contact me to get their name added to the List.

In my travels around the country there are area's that are seeing a significant resurgence in the Hobie 18 Fleet. This list and web site will be a way to promote the class that we all know and love.

Respectfully,
Stephen

It really sounds like HCA is on the right course.
Having once been solidly in the TheMightyHobie18 class, where we could travel no more than 200 miles each weekend and sail in a fleet of 60 boats, I would have like back then to have had more say in the decisions made by Hobie.
At that time, meetings and consequent decisions were all made at the H16 Nationals. And these decisions were about the 16, but also all the other classes.

The new regime seems to be trying to remedy this.

As for reps, I am the President of the IWCA (Itl Wave Class Assn) and believe I am the one the should be rep. of the Wave Class with the HCA.

I have been in contact with several officers of HCA and we are trying to get together with them about a number of issues.
One of the main things we want to do is attend some of the major HCA events, i.e., the Mega Regatta, Midwinters East, etc.

Good luck with your venture,
Rick