When I first asked Hugh Greenwald at Hobie Cat Company if the factory would have a problem with Rick and I forming a Wave Class Association, I was told that the factory does not have a problem with that as long as the class understands that the Wave is constantly evolving and will keep making changes, either to reduce production costs or to improve the boat for its primary use as a rental boat.

We agreed to that, but at the same time the class set up rules that would make it possible for the racing boats to stay as equal as possible despite changes that might be made by the factory.

So far this seems to have worked pretty well.

Sounds like the IWCA is the rock of consistency and the factory makes lots of wild swings back and forth. Who woulda thunk?

Here's the scoop on trampolines or any other Hobie manufactured, required parts. Dealers have to make a little $$ in order to support regattas and we can't sell the trash aftermarket tramps that fall apart in 2 seasons like the guy selling them on Ebay out of his garage.

For example, I just showed up with about $30,000 worth of support gear to the Havamega. A chase boat, with a brand new engine, Marks, anchors, rodes, radios, etc, etc. I showed up with every tool that you would need to fix a boat and a trailer, including a welder, parts trailer, weigh scale. It's like a regatta in a box. That figure doesn't include stock.

That kind of support doesn't come from a guy tinkering around in his garage with inferior quality materials, and an overall inferior product.

Yeah, I sell aftermarket tramps too. My aftermarket tramps are about $75 over what they go for on ebay, because I have a manufacturer that makes them right and has been doing it for a long time. BUT... they aren't the heat welded quality tramps that Hobie sells that outlast pretty much anything on the market 5 times or more.

So, coming at it from my own microcosm, business point of view, I probably wouldn't show up to a regatta where the boats don't support me in return. The 'Hobie' infrastructure is a HUGE deal to most people that race (to the vast majority), and I hear all the time that people feel that it adds a ton of value to their Hobie boats in the one-design configuration.

For example, I won't even broker a Hobie that is not completely 'Hobie'. They don't have as much value.

Other than high quality parts, Hobie products have the added value of a huge worldwide infrastructure that supports Catamaran sailing all over the planet...including a stout dealer network that supports local sailing.

IWCA should take this into account if they want to grow their class.

j

What year was that?

j

I don't know. Was it after the first Wave Nationals or the second in the late 90's? We have the incorporation papers here somewhere.
Before we even held the first Wave Nationals, we called the Hobie Class Association. Talked to Lori, as I remember. And we asked if the Hobie Class Association had any problem with us holding a Wave Nationals. She said no, that the class did not recognize the Wave and didn't care.

We also asked the factory, and they not only didn't care if we held a Nationals, they were all for it and sent a whole bunch of new boats for charter. That was what got the whole racing thing jump-started for the Waves.

It was either the second year or the third year of our Nationals that I got the Waves a beautiful two-page spread in Sailing World magazine. GREAT publicity!

Anyway, it was somewhere in those early days that we offically incorporated it as a class. It was some time later, in the 2000's, that HCA decided to include the Wave Class under its umbrella.

Sorry I don't have time to research dates right now, because we are in the process of starting the current Wave Nationals, and I have to get down to the park soon. I'll ask if anybody else can remember.

You're awesome, Mary. Thanks!
J

"Sounds like the IWCA is the rock of consistency and the factory makes lots of wild swings back and forth. Who woulda thunk?"

The Wave IS a red-headed stepchild, isn't it?

Matt Miller has recently posted that they don't want their hands tied by a racing class...

Mike

Exactly! Which is why we agreed to not tie their hands in any way.

Jeremy, I support YOU by suggesting to everyone on line i come in contact with that has Hobie needs to contact you for support/parts/etc.

Hey now! Watch it!

Thanks Andrew!

And what wrong with red haired children???? I have 2 and you won't find any better!

I know its just some saying that pops up, I just wanted to bust your chops

Clayton

Be careful though. The one side of the coin is tying hands, but the other is getting full on support, which is a pretty huge deal as I tried to illustrate above.

j

Holy Cow,

This is better than Facebook! Do you folks always write this much stuff? It took me an hour to read it all. I can't believe I missed out all last week...what was I thinkin?

First, most important...Congrats again to Jack

Second, also important (fun).. Chris I can't wait to kick your everlovin butt, again.

Third...I think tramps matter a lot, for not only performance (serious, for real, tight tramp, tight, hopefully square boat=fast) but most importantly for great cup holders.

I can't get into it tonight, but a major point that needs to be in the forefront...LIFE is SHORT. Let's not waste time. Change is good, even for old folks like me

Rick,
Thanks for the list of things to work on. The hard part for me is you guys in FLA get to race all winter long, while all I can do is read about it

One point I wanted to throw on the table right off the bat is the weight thing. In my experience when it come to kids, a min weight works out fine, cause they have to pile on more kids to get to it, the more the merrier. Ask a kid.

Off to a Fleet Meeting tomorrow night, I'll check in soon.

Thanks for the wonderful distraction!

Mimi

PS Redheads rock!

Hmmm! Then how do you explain Patrick Green, currently frozen in at Put-in-Bay, being such a hot sailor. Personally, I like to think it was because I helped teach him a few tricks.

Rick

What "tricks"? Why didn't you teach ME those tricks???

ohhhhhh, your in troubleeeeeeeeeeeee

Catamaran Racing for the 90's, the author seems to know what he's talking about, but I've heard he's rif raf.

Mmm, David, according to the cover on my version of the book, Mary is co-author...

Right, Andrew.., see the thread on the "Doghouse"
Rick

hahah... i forgot about that one.. thanks for the reminder..

Note to self.. return the vacuum.. get her a necklace.