Roll-call: Open Class at Rehobeth this weekend?

Don,
I understood that the open class was not welcomed per the Hobie directive. For this reason, I and others have taken this regatta off our list. Gunpowder, on the other hand, is welcoming the open class, and I look forward to attending and supporting this event. Will you be at Gunpowder?
CBrown
F18HT #6

"The NAHCA phase out plan must include several IHCA imposed conditions, specifically:
• The plan must terminate by December 31, 2004.
• Open Class boats permitted to participate under a phase out program will be restricted only to boats that
have previously participated in a Hobie event prior to August 1, 2003 i.e. Only Skipper and boat
combinations that were raced in Hobie events prior to August 1, 2003 will be permitted to race in any 2004
Hobie event.
• No new Open Class boats will be permitted to participate.
• Skippers of all Open Class boats eligible and desiring to participate in this phase out program will be
required to obtain IHCA or Regional Annual Membership for 2004."

Chris,
Yes, I am planning to do Gunpowder. While Nahca has put on a directive, does anyone know if the Rehobeth fleet going to be open class friendly like Gunpowder? CRAC has it listed as a 2004 race....I'm assuming that its still open class friendly. I'd hate to travel 4 hours to race against 1 or 2 boats. Its normally a great race and its usually windy.

Don S.
I20 511

Their website (www.rbsa.org, fleet 106) clearly states Open Class start. As one of the groups in Div 11 who have always welcomed open class, I would have thought the open guys would have thanked them by planning to show up, and not by passing on rumors or boycotting them for events not under their control. They WILL be running open, and I'm willing to bet the pigs will be flying. Stay home and pout or come out and sail.

Chris

To sail in the race I believe that we would need to join the hobie assosciation. Secondly, the open class would be participating in what is considered a "phase out" program where only people who have participated in the past may sail. So maybe there is an open class start scheduled, but it doesn't sound very welcoming to me. I always looked forward to sailing at Rehobeth. They have great facilities and enjoyed the sailors. It is too bad that we will not be racing there anymore, but Hobie has the right to do what ever they want. I guess I will need to spend my dollars elsewhere.
CBrown

Transparancy is a key factor here that would go along way toward maintaing support.

Sailors are asking several questions about this and every upcoming Hobie weekend.

Don asks who's going? Since, time and money are precious... obviously... you don't want to go if you don't have a reasonable expectation for a good turnout making for a competive race. For example... B and C fleet H16 Sailors may want to know if they will have a good turnout... They probably don't feel that it's much fun to race the A fleet 16's. ..."Hey' it's early in the season..... Weather is iffy... no other competitors... I'll pass". Information on the turnout in their class might get them to go racing though! Likewise, an open spin boat would not want to race a fleet of P16's. Don will make his decion based on turnout. I argue that accurate information is critical to building an event.

Chris Brown asks about the requirment for the NACHA membership fee. Obviously, he is choosing to not support the NAHCA organization by joinng it. So, based on the published information, there is no reason to plan on participating in the open class if they will require a NAHCA membership. Rehobath has not made their position clear. The flyer on the web site indicates that they will charge you 5 bucks extra for not being a NAHCA member (Hobie or open sailors), which seems to indicate that NAHCA membership is not required this year. Accurate and complete information would be terrific and solve this communication problem.

Chris asks a second and more philosophical question... What about next year? If I am being phased out... Perhaps, I should use my regatta dollars elsewhere and support 04 events that will continue to run in the future.

Once again, the club could address the issue straitforwardly. This big pink pig (the club's trademark icon) standing in the corner can't be ignored by the sailors who are affected. Accurate information is important to building or maintaing turnout.

Dan Flanigan of Hobie Fleet 54 addressed the sailors at the CRAC/WRCRA Icebreaker last weekend and addressed these concerns with respect to the upcoming Gunpowder regatta. Similarly, Chris Begrow of the Barnegat Bay fleet has written CRAC and addressed this issues as well. Dan Berger of the Va Beach fleet also addressed these issues with respect to Hobie fleet 32's upcoming event for this year and the future.

Take Care

Mark Schneider
CRAC Secretary

Good points Mark. Rain or shine, I plan to attend the Gunpowder Regatta because of Dan's and other Fleet 54 members stand towards the continuation of an open start at their regatta. I hope that open class sailors plan on giving their support also. We should make a concerted effort to make this the largest open class ever!
CBrown

One thing is clear, there will be plenty of 16s in Rehoboth this weekend.

That's nice, but what does that have to do with open class or this thread?
CBrown

wow, you really are important aren't you?

Uh . . . maybe Rehoboth?

Jeez, people. Chill out.