Congrats on your 4th NA title Rick!
From the Catsailor Website:
One design racing has just about a thing of the past for catamaran sailors, except for the Hobie 16 Class and now the fast-growing Wave Class. The old, standby class is the sixteen, and the newcomer is the Wave.
The boat was not designed by Hobie as a racing class, but those that have ever raced on one of these simple boats knows what pure, one-design sailing is all about. The boat starts off as a very clean, no frills boat. And the class association has seen to it that it shall stay that way. For example, for a downhaul you are only allowed 8' of line. All sails must measure in, no matter who makes the sail – similar to such classes as the Shark and Tornado which are also strict one-design racing classes.
In other words, you cannot buy a
go-fast
for the boat and go out win – there is no way to buy a victory. You can only win by sailing well – good starts, good mark roundings, fast tacks, good tactics and reading the wind. To put it another way, ...you need to keep the loose nut on the tiller tuned up at all times.
Another reason for the growth of the class is that it is attracting folks that rode the wave of popularity for cats in the early 80s. Many of those teams of sailors are now buying two Waves so skipper and crew have become skipper and skipper on their own separate boats.
Hmmm, while you might have an argument that the Wave is a
purer
one design than the A-class, I-17, F-18, and Hobie 17, the people who sail those classes would probably beg to differ that the racing in these classes is so open and developmental that you can buy the latest
go fast
and win a championship.
The A-class is the only one of the above that has the potential for someone coming out with something radical that obsoletes everything else in a short time period but that hasn't happened. Development in the last 10 years has moved at a pace that has resulted in more growth in terms of participation and boats on the water. As far as I'm concerned, the racing seems quite one design on the race course with the variety of boats and sails that are winning races.
F-18 is the next class that might be a bit more open but like the A-class, the differences in platforms and the current sails and rigs are subtle. It's still the best team, not boat or sail design that wins.
The other classes are even tighter so you have one design racing as good as traditional dinghy and keelboat classes.
I think the Wave is a neat boat and concept. In fact, I'm pushing my yacht club to consider getting several for our junior and adult sailing programs.
Good luck to the Wave sailors, I'm glad they enjoy one design racing as fun and competitive as the other popular catamaran classes and hope they continue to grow.
Bob Hodges
A-Class USA 230