Dave,

That is the "arms" race. I'm not crazy about the upcoming decision. I just bought a new main less than a year ago and now would have to lay out 2 more kilobucks for the STX? If money only grew on trees. The Tiger base platform (hulls/spars) has changed very little since it's original design back in the mid 90's. The sail plan has evolved from a pinhead to a square top. Now a "fatter" square top made of a different material is being proposed. That is a major change. The overall sail area is not changing but there is more horsepower being shifted to the top from the bottom. Does that make the boat more competitive? I don't know. Is the STX material lighter? Shouldn't matter...the boat still has to weigh in at or slightly above minimum.

John B.

I don't know guys... This round and around is getting old.

I think we should just forget the phrase Tiger "One-Design"...

Call this "Tiger Class Racing" and get on with it.

Even if the Tiger Class decides to adopt F18 rules 100%... there can still be "Tiger Class Racing" promoted by the Hobie Class Association.

Jake said - "I for one, would like to see all manufacturer nationals to be opened up to any F18"

Jake, you cannot expect the Hobie Class Association to open their Tiger Class Racing events to non-Hobies. It is their class mandate to "promote Hobie racing". These are not "manufacturer" events. These are Class Association events, supported by the manufacturers.

By the way, Hobie Cat Company has been supporting the NAF18 Class with some funds, advertising and factory team participation at events. Hobie Cat flew in two factory teams to the last NAF18 North Americans. At great expense, we flew in Mitch Booth and crew from Europe to do some seminars (for all sailors) and compete. I know that Doug had suggested to the NAF18 class that we would be interested in helping to host a major F18 event as well. Not sure where the class has gone with that though.

If F18 racing is to be successful in North America, it is up to the NAF18 Class Association and its sailors, not Hobie or Nacra or some other manufacturer. In Europe, they did it. Make it interesting and the manufacturers will come. You guys have to do it together as the NAF18 class. Enlist the HCA and NACRA classes and others to help.

Matt Miller wrote
If F18 racing is to be successful in North America, it is up to the NAF18 Class Association and its sailors, not Hobie or Nacra or some other manufacturer. In Europe, they did it. Make it interesting and the manufacturers will come. You guys have to do it together as the NAF18 class. Enlist the HCA and NACRA classes and others to help.

Well said Matt! The real question is how do you do this.

I think everyone has missed the fundamental problem.
If Hobie schedules two national events, EG a Nationals and a Midwinters plus one regional championship and Performance does the same and then the combined class association called the NAF18 schedules another 3 major national events…. All told... you are looking at 6 major events that someone expect s you and your boat to attend! Hell the Olympic guys don't do that much racing in this country! It’s gross over programming. Remember, Tracie pointed out that for most folks have time and money limits.

It seems to me that everyone needs to speak up and announce what they will and won't be able to do and how much they are willing to do and keep their commitments once you all reach a consensus. As Tom noted... If you are the only one traveling and your effort is not reciprocated... Forget about building for the future.... it does get old. IMO, Once peoples expectations are unmet... they are very wary of getting burned again by either running an event or driving great distances to participate in an event. You must avoid this outcome or you are screwed. Over programming regattas is not healthy! This is much easier said then done however. The 18HT fleet struggled to maintain the commitment to their national schedule. The Tornado fleet can't even get that level of organization going.

One suggestion: What if the Tiger and F18 leadership agreed on how many national events and where they would be held and then asks for real commitment from the racers.
One solution is to get all of the F18 racers to commit and vote for the events they plan to support by offering an early pre registration discount for a few weeks based on a sailor choosing to enter all regattas they plan to do on the draft regatta schedule. Commitment would require payment up front with your credit card. You will quickly know what kind of real support a particular event actually has. No more guessing or pleading by the regatta organizer. During this time, some regattas may drop off the schedule if they are not getting an appropriate level of support… you get your money back and a chance to go participate in another event on the now reduced schedule. The regatta management programs (EG the one CRAC now uses) make this very easy to do online and you instantly see who is going to what events and how many people are going. Transparency is a good thing! Regular registration and fees would run for a period after you have finalized your joint schedule since this gives the opportunity for the undecided voter (grin) to get off the fence and pick the events they want to do and pay for them up front. On site registration for any regatta would be allowed but they would pay a stiff premium. (Give the money to charity or a local junior sailing program in their name if you wish). If life takes a turn and you can’t make a regatta that you committed to and paid for. … you would get a partial refund of your money. I believe that once you have paid for the ticket… you make the ball game, no matter how threatening the weather looks.…. How many people fail to show up at the nationals after having paid their entry fee? If the dates are blocked out on your calendar are events that you have paid for… not just ones you would like to go to… …. You will move heaven and earth to make sure you will be able to go racing. IMO, everyone wins!
My two cents worth
Take Care
Mark

Matt,
I hear what you are saying, but look whats happening. F18's in the east are wanting to race in big fleets, something we havent seen since the H16. YOu say the manufacturer will listen, well they have to simply because we are buying thier product at a rate that hasnt been witnessed in 20 years. More new F18's hit my beach tonight, and yes one(brand new) was a Tiger. somebody better listen or they will lose on this buying frenzy. I think HCA and NACRA class associations should work some thing out on the F18, or its going to splinter away from both.

Just my Humble opinion as an F18 owner.
David Mosley

Matt and Mark,

You guys make some good points. However, economy of supply and demand says that if enough sailors show up to an event to support it, it survives. The question here is, however, if we concentrate those sailors and limit the events to create larger fleets, would it encourage more participation. Personally, I don't think so. I know when I was starting, I was looking for events nearby - not big events far away.

That being said, Matt makes a good point about communication and sailors working together to decide where they are going to attend. In this area, we've done that with email and it's worked out very well. We know where the big fleets are going to be and they seem to build upon themselves. Occasionally we manage to draw out the mothballed F18 just because we are going to have a large fleet at a local regatta. To further that tool, we have setup a forum on the new NAF18 website (just released) that is for polls and discussion relating to regatta attendence. This site has been active for a day so there's not a whole lot of discussion going on. Check it out at http://www.naf18.com