thebluepartisthewater Looking Back on Three Years of Success Our class bylaws have three–year term limitation and I have reached that limit. Looking back, I think we have accomplished a lot. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the people I have worked HOBIE CLASS NEWS with for their hard work and dedication. The official publication of the Hobie When I took on this role, I had a pretty good idea of what I was Class Association of North America getting into with the exception of one thing — the amount of writing SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2004 involved. I would usually sit down at the computer with the deadline looming being VOLUME 14, NUMBER 3 unsure what I was going to say. But with this, my final column, I find the ideas are Officers flowing as I reminisce about the last three years. Chairman Membership Rich McVeigh Liza Cleveland One of my goals when running for the position three years ago was to improve communication among the officers so that the group could work together efficiently and 1st Vice Chairman Secretary Laura Sullivan Bruce Andrews be more effective at running this organization. Not only do I think we have accomplished that, I feel that we were able to reach other goals such as reconnecting the North Ameri- 2nd Vice Chairman Treasurer Roger Brown Kathleen Tracy can region with the International Hobie Class Association, strengthening our ties with US Sailing and bringing world championship sailing back to North America. We have also reaffirmed our partnership with the Hobie Cat Company and I believe we are all now seeing the benefits. The company is supporting us more than ever and consequently, boat HCA News Staff sales are up — way up. Editor Contributors Matt Bounds Marie Appel Finally, I would like to comment on what I see as two of our biggest hurdles remaining. Mimi Appel Cover David Brookes The first is what I'll call “class member apathy.” A prime example is our class voting Matt Miller Hobie Cat USA record. We have done a number of general membership votes where every single paid Hobie Cat USA Paul lKrutty Julie Lenczycki member is invited to vote. Yet we typically are lucky to get a 5% response rate. On big Rich McVeigh Review issues like rule changes to the Hobie 16, I would think everyone has an opinion, yet very Committee Bob Merrick Theresa White Matt Miller few members chose to vote. Heather Morrison Cindy Phipps The second hurdle is increasing the small number of people who volunteer on Shirley Palmer Ed Muns Nancy Worth Sandy Takacs different levels of this organization — from running the regattas to running the class. We Gillian Thompson Paul Ulibarri Theresa White have a very dedicated core group of sailors in the class, many of whom have been sailing Hobie Cats for many years, yet only a very small number of people seem to be willing to Hobie Class News is the official publication of the Hobie take the time to get involved. I have seen regattas go away — not for lack of participants, Class Association of North America (HCANA). Contents © 2004 NAHCA. All rights reserved: reproduction in but for lack of volunteers. If we want this sport to continue this must change. This isn't a whole or in part without permission is prohibited. It is distributed six times a year to HCANA Members. Its goal problem that is specific to the Hobie Class or to sailing. It exists in all volunteer activities. is to keep the North American Region informed of the business of the Class Association. Questions and sug- So if you care about something, I ask you to get involved at some level because it takes gestions should be directed to the address below. The HCANA is proud to be a member of the United States people and their time to make things happen. And if you have ideas and suggestions on Sailing Association (US SAILING). improving your regatta, your fleet, your division and even your class association, then what The purpose of the Hobie Class Association of North America is to establish and promote the highest stan- better way but to get involved and make those ideas reality! dards of Hobie Cat sailing/racing in its geographic boundaries in collaboration with the National and Interna- The point of me saying these things is to hopefully motivate a few of you to step up tional sailing authorities. and help out. I have been sailing Hobie Cats for over 20 years now and have been HOBIE CLASS NEWS Matthew P. Bounds, Editor involved with the class for about half of that time. And I look forward for the next 3798 Damas Dr. Commerce Township, MI 48382 opportunity to support one of my favorite hobbies. [email protected] The name Hobie Cat®, and the “flying H” logo are used by permission and are registered and licensed trade- marks of the Hobie Cat Company, P.O. Box 1008, Rich McVeigh Oceanside, CA 92051. HCANA Chairman 2001-2004 HOBIE CLASS sep / oct 2004 contents features 14 Canasta Anyone? Light winds frustrate competitors for the Alter Cup on Long Island Sound 16 Appels at the Youth’s Marie and Mimi take on the US Sailing Multihull Youth Championship 18 Seminars WOW Audiences Women on the Water seminars kick off in style 20 Tech Boats Invade Monterey Hobie 17, 20 and Tiger North American Championships 14 16 24 Qu’est-ce que c’est? Mitch Booth dominates F-18 North Americans in Quebec City 26 Hobie 14 Frostbite Series How it All Got Started in the Autumn of 1999 photo credits Cover — Paul & Mary Ann Hess Alter Cup — John Williams Youth Multihull Championships — Mimi Appel, Matthew Cohen 17 / 20 / Tiger North Americans — Ed Muns / Paul & Mary Ann Hess F-18 North Americans — Jean-Pierre Baril, Kim Krutty Hobie History — Hobie Cat Co / Hobie HOTLINE WOW Seminars / Driver’s Seat — Stuart Crabbe, Matt Bounds Factory Tech - Matt Miller Signal Boat — Mike Walker 2 HOBIE CLASS NEWS SEP T EM B ER — OCTOBER 2004 ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA HOBIE CLASS NEWS columns 4 Hobie History 10, 20 & 30 Years Ago 6 Just in Off the Wire Late Breaking news and notes 8 Driver’s Seat The NAHCA News has grown up 10 Signal Boat Managing deep water 12 Fa ctory Tech Subtle improvements to Hobie 16 mast steps / bases 20 24 resources 28 Division Regatta Schedules 29 HCANA Officers and Council Members 30 HCANA Fleet Directory 31 Membership Applications HCANA, US Sailing www.nahca.org HOBIE CLASS NEWS 3 hobiehistory 10, 20 & 30 Years Ago September 1974 Miller Brewing Sponsors the 14 and August 1974 16 National A much younger Hobie P. Alter models Championships. clothing for Ocean Pacific Sunwear. Boat rentals were $100 for the 16’s and $50 for the 14’s In 2004, Heineken is the sponsor for the 16 North Americans. We may have moved upscale, but beer is still first on the menu at Hobie events. September 1994 The Hobie HOTLINE October 1974 features photo Jeff Canepa wins the second Hobie 14 spreads to incr ease Worlds held in Tahiti. Jeff is currently a circulation. successful yacht designer and builder in Santa Cruz, CA. He has won several Boat of The Hobie 16 the Year awards from Sailing World Nationals are held in magazine. Corpus Christi, TX. The entry fee for the event is $260. October 1984 The Hobie 16 Worlds Registration for the are held in Ft. Walton 2004 16 North Beach, FL., at the Americans is $325. same location as the 2002 Hobie Mega Event . The Hobie 16 Words have not been held in the United States since then. September 1984 The Hobie HOTLINE covers the Worrell 1000, which was sailed in Hobie 16’s. The Worrell 1000 is gone, but its spirit lives on in the many long distance races held all over October 1994 the country today. Paul Ulibarri — with most of the hair on his head still intact — plays with his favorite toy, the Hobie 17, for a HOTLINE photo shoot. In 2004, PU will be one of only eight ISAF Course Representatives at the Athens Olympic games. 4 HOBIE CLASS NEWS SEP T EM B ER — OCTOBER 2004 www.nahca.org HOBIE CLASS NEWS 5 JustinOfftheWire Late Breaking News and Notes 2005 Hobie 16 Worlds, airport is about Port Elizabeth, RSA 10-15 minute South Africa is a done deal for the drive to the next worlds in Port Elizabeth, RSA. sailing venue. As David Brookes has been in South you will see from Africa for weeks getting things all set the photos, there up. There were three venues being is a chain of explored and in the end the towns hotels that own a more details will be available at that two star, three star and a four star time. hotel, all within 400m from the Also situated within a half hour sailing beach called “Hobie Beach.” drive from Port Elizabeth are two The closest hotel is the two star hotel world famous game reserves, and it is $35USD per night and it elephant park so there is plenty for does not mater if you sleep one, two the sailors to do in their spare time. or three people. Directly behind the The web site is up now with all beach is the Boardwalk, a group of travel, accommodation and other info. shops, restaurants, takeaways, casino, meeting rooms plus go cart track and PFD’s Just for Women involved got in a bidding war over us. other play toys. We have solicited Heather Morrison reports : Port Elizabeth turns out not only to them as a sponsor since we want to Stohlquist has a great lifejacket made be the best site but they came set up a beach tent for entertain- just for women.