Promoting Catamaran Sailing

I didn't intentionally put the "sourpuss" in title. Could
not figure how to edit out!



I've looked but cannot find Does anyone recall which thread, I'd appreciate it.

It seems as though youngsters, or any age for that matter, get gun shy looking at all the lines on a cat. I fall into the category of got a boat with bell and whistles, adding more bells and whistles, and enjoying tinkering almost as much as sailing. This does nothing for promoting the sport with the late teens and twenties crowd. They love it on the water, but hate the setup takedown. There are a few older throw and go boats out there that are affordable for these younger sailors. Needed are mentors and a venue. Looking for more ways to perpetuate a good thing.

It would seem that the apparent complexity might be a turn-off (all you do with a waverunner is press a button). Having sailed for 10 years or so - mostly on monohulls- I still am confused why people think sailing is so complex and difficult to learn. If I have guests on my monohull they think that pulling on all the lines is "complicated." Maybe it is just me- but once you understand that you can't go straight into the wind you have sailing pretty much figured out (more or less, of course). After you understand that then you have fun figuring stuff out from there on out. But then again, I probably make it look really easy
now ... with racing? To be honest, hanging around boats for a while, next to a yacht club, and talking to some racers- they always seemed supremely stuck-up and I never wanted to be a part of that crowd. Only recently have I started crewing on a monohull with a really great skipper who is, for the most part, laid back (with the occassional... GODDAMN IT! GET THE SPINNAKER UP! and THIS IS NO SOCIAL HOUR!) and I am having a great time.
I wish there were more inexpensive boats and easy/safe places to keep them- ideally keeping them on a beach somewhere with the mast up (difficult to get trailer, difficult to rig all the time from the trailer) but people seem a little more intolerant of this.

I think the whole "sailing is complicated" thing is all relative. My kids play saxophone and flute. Between the plethora of keys, fingering charts, musical notation, bending, trilling, slurring, etc, etc, etc it all looks pretty complicated to me. Some people think nothing of computer networking, others can cook complex recipes, others can whip up a nice graphic or drawing in Photoshop or AutoCAD. Maybe the response to "sailing is complicated" is to find out what complex thing the person can do and work from there.

Now the setup/teardown issue is another thing entirely. Frankly, I do not enjoy hoisting an unwieldy 31ft mast in humid 90 degree heat before the sea breeze kicks in and the cooking in the parking lot while rigging the boat. I'm getting quicker at the process and I'm working on streamlining it and making it easier, but selling the boat and buying a nice tenor sax and taking lessons from my daughter has a certain appeal, even if it is too complicated!

There was a thread called something like: What would you do to market catamarans. I think there was another as well, but can't think of the title. As for how to do it, look at Caleb Tarleton's(?) Fleet in Washington state. They run a great Hobie 101 Seminar every year. Fleet 204 in N.Y. just sent some sailors to the youth nationals, and Fleet 448 in Rhode Island gets a decent turnout every year for a learn to sail cats seminar marketed by the Learning Connection.

steveh,



Until last Sunday there was only an TheMightyHobie18. I bought the 18 basicly because I had a 16 years ago and wanted more, all the stuff to fiddle with. Only one of my three sons is not completely bored by the rig/derig, and the 18 sits in the dry dock, mast up.

I bought the H16 to thwart some doubts and am refering to it as a throw and go boat, throw up the mast, hoist the sails and go sailing (Oh, I may have left out some "minor" rigging details and certainly will try to pound the safety issues into their heads)

Brian_Mc,

Thanks for the tips, I looking for more than the "See how easy it is to rig?"

As I always say, enjoy all the moments in life, putting up a mast in 90+ deg heat is just as enjoyable as a screaming reach in 15kts, (well almost, anyway)
the only problem with kids is that their parents keep asking them what they want to be when they grow up and that puts them thinking in the future all the time. if you can bring them back to the present and ask them what they want to feel right now, and see if putting up the mast might forward their feeling of accomplishment and then their feeling of joy.
yes all you with no idea what I am talking about can now trash me for being a hippy, pot smoker if you like. (I do not smoke pot, and am bald).
The problem with sailing is not in the details, it is in the experience of it, not enough people experience it, take a friend sailing and then take their kids sailing, and then take a stranger sailing, after a while many people will be in your neighborhood asking if you want to go sailing with them.

When I first got my Hobie 16, 20 years ago, the beach at the lake where I sail would be lined up wall to wall with Hobies. As time went on there were fewer and fewer catamarans but more windsurfers. I came to the conclusion that as the price went up, the younger wantabe sailors couldn't afford the catamarans but the windsurfers were in their price range.

The local Hobie fleets used to have a weekend where they would show up and take anyone who was interested, out for an introductory ride. I haven't seen it done for some time. It is easy to sell people on the catamaran. Just take them out on a good day. My 8 grandchildren, ranging in age from 9 to 24, all love to sail on the Hobie. It is the exposure to it that sold them. Will they go out and buy one? I think the price will be a big factor in that decision.

I don't think the number of lines or setting up the boat is much of an issue with new sailors, especially the H-16.

Howard

Brian is right about the title of the prior thread. The answers given here went along the same vein......

Like it or not, we have become an instant gratification society. I ask my son what he dislikes the most about sailing and he says, "It takes too long to set it all up and take it all down." While he is out there he has a ball swinging and singing on the trapeze. By the way, has anyone ever untied the bungie cord on the trapeze lines
and let their kids try to purposely swing all the way around the forestay to the other side and back again? It's a great activity while waiting for the wind to pick up.

Anyway, back to the subject, everytime I bring a new person and they see all the steps involved they say, "I could never do all this." I had a pilot tell me that last week. I said, "That is why I have this pre-flight list! Just like you do before you fly." People love it when they get out there but they just don't seem to have the love of it to A) buy one. B)learn to put it together C)Play with it.

Since Mary asked the question way back I have found myself asking the same question over and over again. I haven't found an answer to keep the sport alive except those already said, take as many new people out as you can. I'm pessimistic for it's future as the number of us dwindles and the available launch sites dwindles. At least it doesn't take much gas.

Howard,

The windsurfer, then PWC, now kayak? assaults have certainly taken their toll. But hasn't the price gone up on everything? Competition is tough when a new yak is $1,500.

I'm saying there's a lot of H14s and H16s out there (the boats you and I bought in the 80's) going for $500 to ???, granted some are junk. And you are correct, at least comparitively speaking, set up is not an issue.

Down side, If you get hooked and your a struggling twenty something, the monetary step up from an old 16 is huge.

bullswan,

I'm not dealing with an instant gratification problem here, thankyouverymuch, it's more a problem of schedule. With two careers and two high school kids, working a day that can be committed to a family day of setup, sail and teardown is not easy. Now a uni, on the beach that can be easily soloed would be a different matter, but that doesn't work too well for four people.

Maybe I need another boat. Or one of those robot lawn-mowers.

This is not exactly relative to the thread in one way, but it really is.
Regattas are the crux of how we get people into the sport.
So, promoting a regatta in every form possible brings more people into the fold to show them the fun.
Yet, most events are hyped and promoted to the max of affordability of the fleets. All in the hopes of gaining more people and gaining more sailors.
Great! Love it!
But, then after the race is over there is nothing but total radio silence. What happened? Who lost? Who crashed? Where are the people pictures? Where are the sailing pictures?
Usually nothing!
Funny, but publicizing the results, stories and pictures of an event that just happened is great promotion for the next year's event.
Funnier, that most fleets just go dead after an event. Nothing! Total radio silence! It eerie!
For example, Nigel and Mr. Ernie really go to the wall to promote Spring Fever and do a bang up job. What a great regatta.
But, this is the first year anyone has ever heard any results of it. The reason: Mary and I were there and did an indepth story. Otherwise, you would have heard nothing.
Every year we try to get something, but nothing.
I know it is exhausting to put on a regatta and when it is over you just want to crash and relax until next year. But, it is not OVER! You must report on what happened.
I really believe that the best promotion for your regatta is a story, results and pix of the past one.

Since Mary handed me the reins of the magazine I have seen a sharp learning curve. Three major regatta organizer promised me stories, results and pix.., nothing! Radio Silence!
In the last issue we published stories on small regattas.., hell! Why not. Anyone that sends us a story will be published.
But, no one sends anything. And we should not have to check each website to see stories and results. Not our job.., IT"S YOURS!
Want to promote sailing? Get it in the media by simply sending whatever you have.

Perhaps you are seeing why Mary quit!
I know I go nuts every year just trying to get people to get their schedules to me and/or update their websites. aaaagggghhhh!

I know! We are all volunteer folks and have real jobs. Great excuse! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Rick

You are absolutely right, Steve. In thinking about it, I have the same problem in that by the time everyone gets to the lake we have barely enough time to set up and actually spend time on the water. Most of the time we go to Plan B which is the power boat and a fast fried chicken dinner and then we get to spend more time actually on the water (or in it).
A couple of times I've gone over to the lake early and had the boat all set up and ready to go but we always start off on the wrong foot because my wife is angry with me that I put the mast up alone.

Let me know if you find a solution to the lawnmowing as well. I have 3 acres I keep mowed....

Rick,
I hear what you are saying about Regatta's but....
The very word conjures up thoughts of Commodores and Buffy's and Bif's and Blue Blazes for me. I had enough racing as a kid in Beetlecats and for the most part I liked sailing enough to overlook most of the kids I had to sail with. I still carry that stigma with me. But that's my problem. I know racing is a great path to getting better in the sport but I also can't seem to get my kid that interested in racing. We just enjoy the time together as a family.
To do my part for the sport, I'm talking my son's school into starting a sailing program next summer with Lasers or sunfishes. Something easy they can experiment without feeling intimidated. And yes, I'll be volunteering for at least a week.

Greg

This isn't really a brainwave on how to promote cat sailing, more an observation on human behaviour.
I've noticed that when a hard core group of club sailors regularly race a particular class of boat, other club sailors will change to that boat type, and new incoming members will look to obtain the boat that they see racing regularly. In my local club a few years ago there was a strong fleet of Nacra 6.0's. After a couple of years they all disappeared pretty much at the same time. I am now the only member sailing a cat. Everyone else sails monohulls - mostly Lasers (see predominant class emerging!!). The next sailing club along the coast is now predominantly cat sailors (mostly Dart 18's), new members to this club are looking to get this cat type as are longer established members. I've no idea on how to promote the catamaran, its the speed thing that does it for me!

Chris

The cats rule next to monos for me. My son has sailed on both my old mono (Apollo 16) and my Nacra 5.2. He has also sailed on a laser, sunfish, H16, and a Hobie Bravo with me. He doesn't mind the leaning. He basically started sailing with me as soon as the smallest life jacket would fit him. On the other hand, my nephew, who did not grow up around boats, was absolutely terrified on the Apollo 16. He did not like the healing. He was still a little aprehensive about getting on the Nacra, even though I lied to him about it never tipping over; but once he got on and we started hauling rump, he relaxed and actually got on the wire for a while. I think catamarans are the way to get the kids into sailing. They are fast, they are stable, and they are fun to sail. I'm lucky that setup isn't much of an issue. My boat is parked on the beach mast up about 50 flat feet from the water. I can get my boat rigged and on the water in almost the same time it takes my co-worker to get his jetski down the ramp and over to the beach area.
I am also lucky that I only have a city lot to mow and my wife usually does it during the week for me. What a girl!

-Rob V.
Nacra 5.2
Panama City

I really don't understand you all about the problem of setting up and taking down a Hobie. It takes me 15 to 20 minutes solo to set up, raise the mast, and launch and another 10 minutes raising the sail on the beach. It takes me as long to open up my catboat which is in a boat slip essentially ready to go. There I have to take off a cover, open the cabin, stow my gear, get out cushions, take off a sail cover, hook up the fuel line and start the motor.

Setting up a Hobie (16) is not a problem. There used to be a lot more Hobies where I sail than there are now. More boats meant more people were exposed to it. As the number dropped, the exposure was less. I took people out on an initial ride and within a few months saw them again with their own boats. I remember one fellow told me he knew they were fast but he had no idea they were that fast. He had just bought a monohull which he sold to get a Hobie.

Howard

Rick, I totally agree! I noticed nobody from 448, or possibly all of Division 12 had sent race schedules to you this year. We have been known for our own news letter, but the issue I just got, covered June and July. They beg for contributions of stories/reports too, but don't seem to get them anymore. I know for me personally, as one who has been reduced to an almost voyer sailor( got out twice this year) I crave reports on Regattas, and just cat sailing adventures. I'll try to muster some response up here, though with my schedule(essentially two full time jobs) it's not like I can offer a lot. At least I should be able to get you the Division schedule next year! Thanks again for this forum, and for the great magazine!

The time to set up a 16 is a plus. Would it be fair to say that those of us that were there when the beaches were covered with cats, as we've aged and have a little more money to spend, and if we stayed with cats have trended towards bigger/better/faster boats?, which equates to more setup time. Which creates more of a fear factor for newcomers.
Here the biggest fleet is the Miracle 20. My intentions were to sell my 18 and get a 20, then I thought how selfish. For the extra jack I'd spend in the difference I can buy my own novice fleet of 16's for my three sons and friends (one down, two to go).
I've watched the college sail team kids struggle to keep the pointy side up with their monos. What a coo it would be to have catamarans, no matter what manufacturer, in college racing. It has to start somewhere. Greg, Why do so many youth sailing clubs get started with the Lazer or Sunfish, why not H14's? OK, so you can't buy a trailer you can haul out six 14's to the regatta, so why don't we step up and show them how we did it in the old days? It will take another dad/coach to drive. Big deal. Sailing during the school year (i.e. colder months) would be much more pleasurable on a nice stable catamaran.
I realize the amount of precious time it takes to put on a regatta and the more time to hold hands with a newbie, how did we get started?

I have one acre and very understanding neighbors who kid me about the "sailor cut".

Hi Rick,
I agree that regattas are important, but a lot of people get turned off by regattas because they are new and they know that they don't have a hope in hell..Better to ease them into the sport with some pleasure sailing, and also crewing in regattas.

Also, I think that a sailing school would do great things for cats... Why do we have all these dinghy schools at yacht clubs and no cat schools? (Or very very few?) I think that cats are a natural progression out of dinghys and so lets get these sailors hooked before they start dragging lead around at 7 knots.
Dave

I don't usually jump in on a thread that discuses the fall of racing popularity. And I don't like to read about the fall of cat sailing popularity, so I probably have only skimmed this thread. I don't like to read about the fall of the popularity because it depresses me. Racing: I personally never needed racing; I am just as thrilled to sail by myself as anyone might find in racing.

I've skimmed because a) I don't' care much about racing EXCEPT to the extent that I want my fellow cat sailors to be able to have their races when that is what is important to them. And, b) I can't bear to read all the bad news about the fall of the popularity of cat sailing.

But I am tossing in a few cents worth of opinion here just because I feel that I have a little bit to contribute to the whole conversation and that my thoughts might be appreciated by some. I am *not* contributing for any selfish reasons and I am also not whining nor complaining about anything; just making some observations.

I think that the sport of cat sailing is experiencing the same illness and epidemic as just about any other physically demanding (physically exercising, physically responsive, physically interacting) activities that people once did and are now becoming detached from. I think that our society has digressed away from physical fun stuff and become more benign in their behavior.

I also think that cat sailing is following the same path as any other activity that takes a lot of time to prepare for, that more and more people are not finding time to take their time to do anything that is not more instantly gratifying.

Too many people can't appreciate the exercise, both mental and physical, in preparations for an activity. Too many people won't bother to spend a lot of time and energy in preparing for an activity or event.

The reason I judge that 'too many' people are no longer doing such activities is that you can see that the health of the people who used to do this is much better than the health of the ones who don't do it. People! You need to be a cat sailor; it is good for you!

Anyway... It saddens me to see my sport go down the tubes. But honestly, I am more saddened to find out that today's youth are not doing 10 minutes of calistentics, followed by 35-40 minutes of physical play, every day of the school week as we did when I was a school boy. This is absolutely sickening and if I had a child, I simply would not stand for this BS.

Now get your arses off your couch and teach your children the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of working hard at playing hard. I'll continue to sail by myself if need be. I don't really need you to be out there on the water; but I will miss you very much in knowing that you are missing out on something that you might or might not understand.

I hope that everyone who wants to sail, gets to sail. I hope that more people will find the opportunity to find the appreciation for the sport as I have been able to find.

I wish that cat sailing would grow in popularity; it is good for people's soul, mind, and body. People need to do such activities and cat sailing is one of the best of these kinds of activities.

I wish you all
Fair Winds,

GARY

Gary,

I agree with you. I have been sailing for many years. I started sailing a Hobie at age 51 and am 71 now. I know that it has helped me stay in shape and healthier. I sail solo a great deal of the time.

The video games have helped ruin the health of a lot of children. But there are a lot of soccer kids out there who make up for some of it. It seems schools don't have mandatory Phys. Ed. much any more which doesn't make any sense to me. When I was in school there were no school cafeterias, we brought our lunch, but there was Phys. Ed. Maybe that is why they talk more about obesity now.

Howard

Dave,

Why do we need all these prerequisites to race? There are novice fleets.

I like the idea of cat schools at yacht clubs, you'll have to convince the ones with the money that are attempting to raise big boat fodder to change to cats. A local Hobie Fleet approached their local Yacht Club and got a multi-hull start in their bi-weekly series. Around here you might find a stray NACRA or AMF but most entry level boats that may be affordable for the young person are Hobies. The only place they could race an old Hobie would be at a non Hobie sanctioned event.

Bullswan, I've searched and still have not found the thread. I don't want to bore you all with old news.

Remember that there are a multitude of catamaran sailors out there that never frequent this forum and if they do they never post.So its down to the few regulars that entertain the rest and only a few of these people are who I would consider to be the motivators that actually pull a regatta or event together.I mean when was the last time Smyth was on here or Worrell even when he was'nt in trouble with everyone.Just because you never here from them does not mean they are not active.Alot of the Semi-pro sailors have sub-grouped themselves into specialty classes(F?). Catsailor Mag has become a hub for many of us but the majority are the "Questioner" type sailor, also there are many that don't even know what Catsailor Mag. is. This all does'nt mean that cat sailing is dying ,where the interest wains in one area it grows in another.Gary has many good points.I think we are all looking for something we can count on especially a leader thats got the time to ignite the enthusiasm for the sport and then everyone else does there little part to keep it going. Cyber saing with the Catsailor can only do so much when we read that sailing is becoming less popular or another launch area is off limits,it is disconcerting but it keeps pushing on in spite of itself. BobGrubbDelray.

Its not money, its not competition, its not complexity, it is not all the PWC, windsurfers,kayacks, climbers or soccer moms. It is a simple sails problem. TAKE SOMEONE SAILING! if they like it they will buy a boat in their price range. More importantly take a kid sailing and they will get their parents to buy a boat that they can afford. then be there when they bring it to the beach for the first time and help them set it up and make them feel looked after on the water by sailing over to them and saying hi. help them put it away after their first sail, suggest some simplifications to the rigging process.

John,

type in a search for:

"Re: Catsailing in Trouble?"

and " Re: How would you market beach cats?"

These are the old threads on this subject

I hope the new york state regattas will consider letting non hobies in next year.

Matt

You know, you are absolutely right and I'm embarrassed I didn't think of suggesting H14's instead. Thank you. I will propose it in the morning. The colder months here are spent either snowmobiling (my son regularly drives his to school) or ice boating or skiing. At least with the snow we don't have to mow.

I think if all of us committed to take one new person sailing a week/month/year it would do a lot. Funny you don't see ANY marketing of the sport by the manufacturers except at the regatta/race level. With 15 all-sports channels on TV you think they could arrange to show it more often. Couch sailers may be tempted to try real sailing? I email the cat videos that show up here and on www.Wetasschronicles.com to my friends and associates and they all beg for more and also suggest I call them when I am going next.
Greg

We have the same problem in general aviation. For a while there were very few new pilots getting into flying. Much of it had to do with costs rising due to rediculous lawsuits. The manufacturers stopped promoting it and stopped building new airplanes.

Now new pilot numbers are on the rise. It took liability law reform and a huge effort by one of the largest general aviation organizations in the world (AOPA at AOPA.org ) to start a mentoring program. Granted teh costs are much higher with flying (That's why I started sailing... to save some money) but doing exactly what has been said here. Take someone under your wing and give them the sailing bug. Continue to be there to encourage them.

Marketing sailing or catsailing one sailor at a time, or four in this case. There are four future a-class racers sitting on that tramp.

I bought a Hobie 18 a few months ago. Sailed a little in college, 25 years ago, so I have a "newbie" perspective.

First, while the posts and threads on this site are wonderful and educating, experienced sailors practically speak in code. Sailing is not complicated, the LANGUAGE is complicated.

Second, because my children have no experience sailing, I replaced all the lines on my boat with new "color-coded" ones. Green is starboard jib sheet, red is port. White is main sheet. Black is traveller line. Now I tell them "Pull on the red one." They're starting to get it.

Unless one knows someone personally, how does one learn? I'm taking out as many of my teenage children's friends as I can, but honestly, I'm not qualified to teach them. Where does the overweight 46-year old go to learn?

How about a regatta where everyone agrees that in the first set of races, over say, a six-week period, the experienced skipper will let the newbie crew. Get rid of the pressure and just have some fun. In the second set of races, all the newbies get to skipper and the experienced guys/gals crew.

There is no way I'm entering a regatta, ever. It's not a matter of being concerned that I'll lose. It's a matter of being concerned that I'll do something so stupid that I'll be dangerous to other boats.

This may be politically incorrect, but I think that trying to get youth whose parents don't sail involved is a waste of time. They don't have the money, they don't have the means. Try to get the 40-year-olds, who have money, who don't want to play video games, who are still physically fit enough to do, into the sport.

My two cents' worth.....

Not entering a regatta because you're afraid you'll do damage to other boats is like saying that you wont drive on highways because you're afraid you'll damage other cars.

In other words, get out there man, the other sailors around you will recognize right away that you might be having some difficulty handling the boat and will take care of themselves around you. Then when you get back to the beach they'll be more than happy to share nuggets of information with you that will make you more comfortable out there.

We're talking about some initiatives at our bigger regattas to host a "basic rules" seminar - It's certainly been done before, but we're going to try and do it on a regular basis next year for that very reason. We do have some new people on the course that don't understand some basic rules...and it can get dangerous. However, there are about 4 basic right of way rules, that if you understand will keep you out of any serious trouble. Above all, making SURE the other guy knows your there can avoid most incedents!

Fred,

Thanks for the directions to the old threads...good stuff

Chris,

I for one would really like to see the pic's of the "future racers"

Culverk,

We've been trying to target the 18 to 35 demographic. I don't remember how I justified getting a loan to buy a brand new H16, when I was 23, but I did it. We can never ourselves anticipate the influence on the person we're taking for rides (for me it was the pitchpole that nailed it). Cost isn't that huge, there are lot's of older cats available at reasonable prices. I've been working on a neighbor (50yo,DINK) for quite some time, he loves the H16, and when I find him one for $500 he's in, so go figure.

Maughan is right, just show up, we'd truly enjoy taking the time to help you and all newcomers.

Maugan, I appreciate the kind thoughts, but that analogy doesn't work. I DO sail. Getting in a race is what I'm avoiding (and unfortunately, my children along with me). I can drive a car on the freeway perfectly well. That doesn't mean I'm welcome on the local stock car track. At least not without some training.

I wish that the cameraderie that you suggest were true here. I've been to the local sailing club a couple of times. I can bearly get them to talk to me about taking my money, much less helping educate me.

Maybe we're just not fully evolved...

Hi there, to promote cat-sailing for kids you need the right boat. Last christmas my children, 8 and 7 years old, got a 10 year old Newcat 12, given by there grand-father. It's a french rotomoulded 12 feet cat, very friendly and forgiving boat. It's like a scaled-down Dart 18. It tacks real easy, is as fast as a Laser and allmost imposible to dive the bows into the water! My oldest son has two years of experience in the Optimist, and off-course I took them since they were 3 years old on my Prindle. This season the've sailed the Newcat with wind up till 4 beaufort, no problem, great fun!

Shame I only have a picture from the baot in the back-yard!

Arend

Culverk

We have all been where you are now. Just read US Sailings "Rules in brief" at http://www.ussailing.org/rules/RulesInBrief.htm and you will do fine. You will probably be a bit off the pace of the hardcore racers, so you will have plenty of time to observe rundings etc.
Most sailors dont really know all the rules, and lots and lots of sailors misinterpret them (that's how most protests originate).

Dont worry, study the rules in brief, sail conservatively and you will do fine. You will not know if racing is for you until you have given it a serious chance.

Culverk,

THERE's your problem. The majority of sailing clubs are not terribly inviting to catamaran sailors. We're lucky that our local club (Keowee Sailing Club) here in S.C. is very open and has a lot of catamaran people involved with the organization. Look around for local catamaran clubs ... they're usually online and although they don't usually have any property, they still organize events and races at parks etc. That's where you'll find the comraderie

Culverk,

Jake is right, catamarans are not liked by those in the mono-slugs. It's mostly due to serious boat envy, IMHO.

I know there are some guys in DE that sail cats. It's not a very big state, so meeting them on a beach should be pretty easy. Feel free to walk up to them and start asking questions. We are a pretty freindly group and love to talk about out cats.

If you are worried about the general sailing lingo. get a book and read up on the subject. Winter is great for that. Too cold to sail (for most of us) but you cna always read about sailing.

I also wouldn't leave out the demographic of under 40 for getting people interested in cat sailing. I was in college with almost no money when I bought my first cat (Hobie 16) for $500. I found it for a great deal. It wasn't pretty, but it worked just fine. If someone is interested enough in sailing they will find a way to buy a used boat and get on the water. I even found someone who is giving me an H14 this weekend. My wife wanted a smaller boat she could sail solo.

The Houston area's Texas City Dike Yacht Club (mostly multihulls, super-laid-back, no dues) includes a novice class in every regatta it runs. If you think you might be a novice, you probably are. You win Novice a time or two, you move up. They get extra instruction and their own start.

That sounds like a good idea... different start for newbies. I'm assuming that most groups are super laid back, but it can still be intimidating for a newcomer. I went out and watched the Fall Series #2 here yesterday and realized that these groups are very newbie friendly. I've never raced before but I think I would be comfortable among this group, though I would probably still be viewing them from far away. They all looked very fast.

-Rob V.
Panama City
Nacra 5.2

I don't know about any of you but I can see how it would be pretty intimidating to walk up to a bunch of guys laughing and joking around and ask what would probably be a stupid question like, "How do you get the boat to go frontwards instead of backwards when the wind is blowin straight at the side of your boat?"

So if the goal is to get people comfortable racing then I have a plan...............



Here is my idea....... Match up experienced cat sailors with people who want to learn one-on-one. I'd like to think there would be enough of us who would sacrifice an afternoon with a newbie one-on-one. Maybe not? I think the clubs should advertise the opportunity for a new boat owner to get some personalized help so that they can be safe on the water for all of us. I know if I had never raced before I would be scared s#$tless, even in a newbie race, that I would do something wrong and be torpedoed by the race boat.

We have a rule at the golf course where we run a league that you have to play with a member of the league a couple of times during non-league time to get your feet wet and to learn the rules of golf that we play by. When we started this boot camp the thinking was we would guys to play who now know the rules and their comfort level would be higher when the real action starts. The guys who have gone through this boot camp have said that they felt much more comfortable when the real matches began because they knew what to expect and they knew someone to have a beer with after the round.

I think the sailing boot camp would accomplish the same thing.

Greg

culverk:

Next time I'm up on the Eastern Shore I can come sail with you. We can talk about racing and rules. While I'm no expert, I can manage my way around a course.

Who ever said "Pooh-Bah's" aren't nice guys????

I wouldn't pass that offer up culverk if I were you!

Good Goin'
Greg

How do you promote Catamaran Sailing? Simple, just get involved. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer at all of the following: US SAILING, local yacht clubs, community sailing, catamaran sailing organizations, boat shows, and of course your local Cat dealer. We just had our US SAILING AGM in Phoenix, and you will see a new direction and support from this organization. As an example we have a new Area Representive in Area H, Peter Nelson. Peter, along with Laura Sullivan,Division 4 HCA Chair and her husband Jerry Valeske have presented Hobie 101 and 102 during the last five years at Sail Sand Point in Seattle. This program, open to all Cat sailors, has resulted in an expansion and growth in Cat sailing, racing and participation in the Northwest. This is the same group, along with other local volunteers that helped obtain five Hobie Cat Waves for the Sail Sand Point Community Sailing program, see www.sailsandpoint.org, and helped continue the Fast and Fun, free outreach sailing program. Next year, this effort is expanding adding Hobie 16's at SSP with an emphasis to train youth for local racing, and the US SAILING Youth Multihull Championship.

Just do it!

Caleb Tarleton
Sail Sand Point
US SAILING, Multihull Council, and Multihull Youth Championship Committee
Hobie Class Association, Fleet 95, Division 4
NAMSA

Caleb, You folks sure set a great example! Fantastic work!

Another note:
Targeting the young demographic has nothing to do with money. From what I can see, if my friends and I find something that we truly like to do, we will buy it. I bought my first hobie 16 when I was 16. I went through that, then a hobie 18sx, a Nacra 6.0na, and now I have a 2001 N20. Daddy didn't pay for squat. Even though I am young, I still can dig up the money for the toys. I have a friend here in college with me that just bought a 1999 Nacra 5.5uni this past weekend. He bought a full spin rig for it 2 days later. Go figure. It's not necessarily about the money. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Trey
N20 873
Layline.com

"Kids Today..." hey, I've tried with many a kid but most of my son's 12-13yr. old friends are much more interested in the latest hand held electronic game! I have to drag him, kicking and screaminig, off the couch, to get him out sailing, and we live ON A LAKE, with the H14 mast up, ready to go, 100 feet out the back door! And most of the other kids around the lake only want a Jet Ski, not a sail boat.

At least my 9yr. old daughter likes to sail with me! I don't think I will take her racing though, I think that is what turned my son off. My wife only wants to cruise...and wants me to buy a (spit on the ground when you say this) Cruising Power Boat! I may not return from my next trip to Europe!

Timbo,

The wifal unit "trained" me to never force anything on our three sons. I worked diligently to rebuild our H16 and take them to the lake the summer they were 10, 11 & 13 years old (IMHO a cat can be intimidating to a child at this age). After a few trips they quickly tired of the drive out, set-up/takedown, and trip home. I sold the boat to a friend. Now that they're 19, 21 & 22 they enjoy sailing, they have to decide which of many friends they will invite. Be patient, it may come full circle.

if my parents hadn't FORCED me to go to sailing summer camp at the yacht club for three straight summers, I wouldn't have this passion now.

I didn't sail through highschool, but as soon as I got back to college I took it up again and loved every bit of it.

I do think that maybe theres a few to many chemicals reacting with each other in the younger teens to be able to get them to focus on anything.

IM(unqualified)O

All very valid points - but there is hope. When I first got involved in racing, my situation was similar to yours. Had sailed since childhood, had been sailing a Hobie-14 and then a Hobie-18 for a couple of years before getting involved with what is now the West River Catamaran Racing Association. Entering a regatta seemed out of the question for the basics of not even knowing where to start. Then there were the usual fears of getting in the way and being labeled as things you wouldn't mention in polite conversation...

But... When I got involved in the WRCRA I found at least two things that got me going and that I am committed to continuing - One is the ability to sail your boat on a weekly basis in a competitive setting. The other is the fact that the people involved in that competitive setting have a deep-seated commitment to helping others get a foothold in the catsailing faith. Amazingly helpful bunch, and most who have benefitted from this continue the practice by helping other newbies.

As a club the number of people willing to help is outstanding. And we try to communicate this willingness to help to alleviate concerns people might have. And we have success stories to show for it - there are quite a few that started out as newbies and have now moved up to A-Cats, N6.0s, I-20s, etc. As for money, used catamarans are the best bang for the buck to be had in performance sailing period. $500 used Hobies can get you out on the water and get you hooked, and are sufficient to race in our club setting.

This is turning out to be a shameless plug for a club, but honestly these are the things that get people going. Find a club, and get going. If there aren't any clubs that fill the need, consider starting one - even if your experience is low, find others and learn together.

After sailing with the club for a bit I finally made it into my first entry regatta, and even though there was still some pucker factor involved, I had a bunch more confidence and experience. Plus, there were other guys from my club there and they once again helped in the effort.

Getting involved in racing is like getting experience in all other aspects of sailing - experience breeds confidence, and the only way to get experience is stick your big toe in. Remember the first time you sailed in heavy air? Probably were scared, but afterward you felt more knowledgable and comfortable in addressing similar conditions. Find or found a club to help you and others stick your big toe in.

By the way - more shameless plug - due to people moving up to newer and bigger boats in our Fleet, we now have the opportunity to offer some boats for sale to people who want to get started in the whole game. Typically people selling the boats will offer a break to keep it in the Fleet, AND the help from the rest of us is FREE. If you want to get into the game and are in the area (some of us are as far away as Virginia), check out The West River Catamaran Racing Association

There's also an A-Cat Fleet around the corner from us that delights in spreading the A-Cat scratch fever, so come on out!

John, Sorry been out of touch for a while. Hope it comes thru this time. BTW ages 7, almost 6, 5, and 3.5!

"Fast lightweight cats are not liked by those in the Hobie-slug clubs either. It's most due to serious boat envy, IMHO."

Am I serious? Only in some ways.

Basically, if cat people have the attitude that monos are slugs, why shouldn't the "slug sailors" get a little narky towards the cat sailors who insult their boats?

Maybe the problem is your attitude towards their boats, not their attitude to your boat?

Having moved into cats (while still sailing dinghies, yachts and windsurfers) it seems that there may be more bias from cat sailors against monos, than there is from monos against cats.

If there is some bias against cats, it could be born from the fact that in most places, it's those who prefer and sail monos who teach kids how to sail in Sabots and Optis; who train the kids into 420s etc; and then face cat sailors saying "hey, now you've spent hundreds of hours teaching your kids while we cat sailors have been sailing our own boats, we want to turn your kids into cat sailors".

Chris,


You need to keep your anarchy over at SA

I'll go out on a limb here and testify that the "monoslug" comments are all made in jest. Its a playful jab that is meant to simply lighten the room up.

Its our way of judging the crowd, if someone takes offense to the comment, we know we're in the wrong area of the club house (the part thats not covered in sand, aka, the beach).

Believe me when I tell you that I've been to some mixed-boat regattas and heard plenty of off-colored "those catamaran people" comments.

Its all pretty stupid if you ask me.

it takes a lot of skill to race a monohull well just as it takes a lot of skill to sail a cat well. I race on a monohull (J29) and the skipper used to race cats for something like 15-20 years. When he got a little too old to continue putting up the mast (his wife as well) he bought a monohull and still has a great time racing it. However, when I tell him I can't crew for him because I am racing my cat he often says that he'd rather be racing a cat also!

I'll second that!

There are some people looking through their mono or cat, J2X or Laser, Hobie or F16, or whatever "colored glasses", who tend to be the most vocal. Is it worth the time to try to change their opinions? Maybe not, but it can be fun!

Fortunately, as an entire group, Sailors are decent folks and, as enthusiasts, appreciate all the different craft for what they are.

Sure, cat sailing is high speed and high fun, but I haven't met a sailboat I didn't like...In fact, I'm thinking of getting an El Toro* for plopping in a local pond here on lazy summer evenings.


*http://www.eltoroyra.org/

More ideas on sailing promotion.
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2009/06/promoting-sport.html