The Travemuende Week 2013 will host the Formula16 Worlds next year. ISAF has confirmed the event at one of the biggest sailing regattas worldwide. The European Hobie Class Association agreed on the Europeans for the Hobie16 at the same event and all the sailors were happy with racing on a huge catamaran festival in 2013. Now Hobiecat U.S.A. has told the EHCA, that the company will not support a European Hobie16 competition within the Travemuende Week, because the F16 will be racing there as well. Is this the spirit of sailing? Is this accepting the sailor's needs? Is this fair competition? No, it is blackmailing the hosting club as well as the class organisation in Europe. I do not know what is going on at Hobiecat since the European company was sold back to the U.S. But I know, that fair competition looks different. If the sailing community accepts this violating of the sailing spirit, the manufacturers will gain power over sailors and sailing clubs, telling them what to do and what not to do. We cannot accept beeing downgraded to showrooms with no other brands allowed in. We cannot accept manufacturers dominating sailing events in this way. Please contact Hobiecat over their website and start commenting on this issue and ask them to support the Hobie16 Europeans in Travemuende next year. Please get engaged for the sailing community.
Thank's from Germany
Thomas Koenig, President of the German Formula16 Class Association.

They tried something similar in the US a few years ago by making "Hobie" events exclusive to Hobie and not allowing other types of boats to participate...that didn't work out so well. Hopefully the European group can find a way to embrace the existing catamaran market to promote themselves instead of exclude.

The Hobie 16 is still the single best introductory starter catamaran and one of the most difficult to master. It offers a lot for everyone and has a very distinct place within the existing sailing options. I wish everyone would recognize that and use it to the advantage of our sport.

Mr. Koenig,

The Hobie organisation has been trademark driven since day one. They have never allowed 'other brands' to compete in their fleet events. I do not feel there is any chance of them considering the production of a lightweight performance boat either. In the past few years our racing fleets have become 90% AHPC and NACRA in Florida. Last year, in our GYA Championship, the NACRA C 20 lapped a very - well sailed Hobie 16.

I wish I could afford to attend your World Championship. Falcon or Viper??? - what's your favorite?

Our F 16 Nationals are the first weekend in November, followed by the US National Multihull Championship - a stand alone open event in F 16s.

Bert Rice
Viper 16 Snake Bite
US Sailing Alter Cup Chair

Why do you want the HC16's be there?

I did a little digging, and all I could see was this:

"The IHCA Council would like to give sailors a preliminary notice for a Hobie 14, Dragoon, Tiger and Wild Cat World Championships at Travemuende, Germany. The tentative dates scheduled would be 19-28 July 2013. These World Championships would be a bring-your-own-boat world championships. The IHCA thought it was important to give as much advance notice as possible so sailors could plan their holidays and begin to organize transport of their boat. The IHCA has not yet finalized the necessary contracts for the events but is only waiting for ISAF approval for the World Championships. Though all contracts between the IHCA and the hosts have been signed. Stay tuned for more information."

I don't even see mention of the Hobie 16.
Sure you have your facts straight?

I'm told that the EHCA accepted the event as the H-16 European Championship and after that, the F16s tried to get added. At that time the EHCA decided it could not hold the H16 championship at the same event... This was a EHCA decision. Not driven by Hobie Cat USA at all.

Are the Hobie 16 Europeans sloop Hobie 16s or are they a spin class now in the EU?

Popcorn anybody?

No thanks, but I will go outside and pull some weeds.

In the rain?

Clear and bright at the moment.

Dear Matt,
Thank you for that comment, that I would like to answer. The Formula16 Class Association never intended to get added to a Hobie Event. We negotiated our Worlds with the Luebeck Yacht Club in terms of racing at a big event, that has always hosted a lot of different classes includding various catamaran brands. I had no information about the EHCA talking to Travemuende as well. The EHCA Executive Chairman, Fritz Klocke told me today, that he would have agreed on racing at the same event, but was blocked by the IHCA which would be dominated by the manufacturer and outvoted him within the EHCA. Having sailed a Hobie16 for years, I still appreciate this boat and the German Formula16 Class Association would strongly support the Hobie16 Europeans in Travemuende to make it the world's largest catamaran event in 2013. Please help to make this happen.
Regards
Thomas

I doubt the whole story is here, nothing sounds right about a Hobie Worlds as part of a bigger event.

Beyond that... Bert, what point were you trying to make with the "observation" that a 20-foot spinnaker boat lapped a Hobie 16? Were they proud of this "accomplishment?"

As to the original post, is this in the spirit of sailing? It may be in the spirit of ensuring relevance and standards of a Worlds for one of the most successful one design classes on the planet. I would say that qualifies.

Mike

That is not how the Hobie Class Association works. The manufacture has a vote, but does not dominate the class. The class association is independent. I'm not sure what the deal was, but the class does have guidelines about running championships in conflict with other events.

Give it a minute or two....