Where did all the cat's go - Colorado, first year racing

Hey all,

This is my first year racing, as I got my hobie 16 2 years ago (i'm 18 now, we upgraded to a Hobie 18 for the Nationals), and I've heard a lot of stories of how there were hundred's of boats at the events, rather than, 25 total. I'm really wondering what happened, because this is the best sport out there, but there are so few racers (not to mention i think my crew and I are the youngest team racing). Does anyone have an explanation / is there any way to get Hobie sailing more out? I know everyone at the regattas was excited when we started showing up (newcomers!), and it seems the only way to keep racing going for the next many years (older than I am) would require a big push from people my age, why was hobie sailing so popular "way back when"?

I'm throwing this out because I'd like to get an idea of what happened, and maybe I can get some people to start sailing Hobie's at CU boulder University (where i'm attending) (I kept my older 16, and hope to get another crew on it while we sail the 18). Any ideas? There is already a sailing team, but they only sail smaller monohulls at University races.

I hope to make some kind of promo video while at Nationals, have several cameras, including waterproof stuff to mount on the boat if anyone has ideas here (or if you're going to nationals, get some video and i'll compile it!)

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1985 Hobie 16 86068

I blame it on a lack of competitiveness mainly. Or more to the point the political correct people have drilled it into us so many times that its now wrong to prove you are better than somebody else. Little League teams don't keep score, why so the winners don't hurt the loser's feelings. Being a loser is a perfectly honorable position to be in, assuming you gave what you could.

Then you have a shift in culture, where everything has to by ricky-tick right now. Sailing isn't exactly a turn it on and go endeavor. You gotta get yourself to water, set it up, then potentially deal with less than ideal conditions. Too windy, not windy enough, take your pick.

Americans have gotten lazy, sailing does takes some effort. Plus it seems the older you get the less free time you have unless you put some effort into having said free time.


I DO think it is bouncing back somewhat. I don't think it'll reach the numbers that existed in the 70's/early 80's, but certain classes are really getting a foothold and are taking off.

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Sail Revolution
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In my opinion Hobie sailing has dropped off because just plain sailing without racing is not a big part of fleets now days. Like Karl says alot of folks just do not want to work at something. The guys that race are the core of hobie sailing and it isn't as large as it use to be. 25 30 years ago more people bought hobies to have fun and sail cause they are fun and fast, so at regatta time you had the guys that race and the rec sailor combined, seems like now the fun rec guys are at a minimum.

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Bodhisatfa

I agree with everything already posted and would like to also blame the popularity explosion of PWC's. Gas-n-go regardless of conditions and basically same price as small sail powered craft. Nothing to learn really, no special skills required and you get to annoy everyone else on the water.

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1990 "Formula 1" H16 (# 009)

I believe the explosive popularity of computers, the internet, MP3 players, video games, big flat screen TVs and a zillion channels to watch, blue ray, netflix, blackberries and droids, etc. is another factor. It's just too easy for most people to have fun and never get off the couch. Not to mention all the good tasting junk food that is so readily available while you enjoy your favorite electronic endeavor. The bulk of our society has become spoiled and lazy. Most people are no longer willing to put forth any effort, let alone sweat a little, to have fun. Most folks want instant gratification.

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Mark Van Doren
H16 Seabreeze #112205 (Richard Petty Signature Edition)
H14T Fantasia #47787
San Juan 28

What I don't get is that the decline in Hobie racing activity seems to be regional, and my region (Div. 12, New England) seems particularly hard-hit. It seems that other regions are still active. Maybe those are the regions where the sailing season is longer...

If I had to generalize, the decline in Hobie (Cat) activity might have something to do with the aging Boomer generation, of which I am part. Bought my first H16 in 1980. Raced actively from, say, '85 to '90 or so. Even in that time, I saw active fleet members drift away as they got married and started families. At this point, they (and I) are pushing 60, which is getting a bit old for racing a Hobie 16.

The decline of racing means fewer opportunities for getting the boat on the water, if you're not lucky enough to have your own beach-front property.

I slightly disagree, I do not see racing as an opportunity to sail my Hobie, I sailed many years before I raced, and imho is part of the reason of the decline. First you gotta get people to the lake and infect them with the sailing bug and with a hobie that ain't hard. With that in mind it seems like getting your friends to gather to sail doesn't happen as much, so therefore less folks want to race much less sail. Just like race car driving, you start driving first then maybe you want to race.

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Bodhisatfa

Little Wing,
I agree with you that the decline in sailing in general has affected the number of racers. When I started sailing my H-16 in '85, the beach at the lake was filled with boats. It wasn't unusual to see a dozen or more Hobies on the water at one time any good weekend. As inflation raised the price of Hobies, I saw a shift by young people to windsurfers. They were a cheaper way to get into the sport. Now, as mentioned above, computer games, cell phones, and TV have turned many into couch potatoes. You can't text someone if you are hanging out on a trapeze. I go to the same beach and feel lucky to see 2 other Hobies out there.

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Howard

Why it declined is not important, how to bring more people into sailing or into Cat sailing is important.

In my area, two opportunities exist to bring more sailors in. There is a large junior sailing program at my club, by age 13-16, most of the kids are no longer involved. Sailing a Flying Junior (FJ) is boring most of the kids out of their minds. I have been lending my Wave to any kid who wants to try it. I have pointed out to their parents that none of the kids sail the FJs for fun. The FJs only leave the beach for lessons and coaching or racing. My wave is sailed any chance they get. Sooner or later, one of these parents is going to catch on. Fast, even Hobie Wave fast is still fun.

The second opportunity for growth is to invite your friends who don't sail to sail with you. I coach baseball and soccer and invite the team to join us at the bay regularly. I sent a picture of this to Matt, maybe he could post it here. My son is on the wire up front, but all the other kids had never been on a cat.

Same with me. But now our small hobie fleet has only one focus and that is racing. As a result there is next to no rec. sailing by the fleet & or commodore as well as organising week end sails. So for me and a few folks that I have introduced to Hobie sailing, the fleet is nothing. People thinking about buying an old boat and just want to sail around the lake are turned off by the constant push to race. So they by a motor boat.

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Bodhisatfa

I used to race a lot. Now if I race two times in one year it's a lot. I sail for the pure fun of sailing and you are right, the fun of sailing is what it is all about. Racing is fun too, I just don't have the stable crew or time to devote to that at this point in time.

A long time ago, our local dealer used to promote fishing events (it was a good fishing year and everyone trolling off a cat caught fish), and night sails, and capsize contest, and on and on. The competition side of sailing and these events was just an excuse to get together as a group and this was fun because it was a fun group.

Invite your friends carefully because if they buy in, they will be with you for a long time.

Ding,Ding,Ding,Ding,Ding... Exacly, look at the faces of the kids on that Hobie.

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Bodhisatfa

The decline of Hobie sailing and windsurfing are the same.

I started windsurfing in 1980. Actually I started boardsailing in 1980. From 1980-1983 was the very beginning of windsurfing and when sailing at the lake, there were always 10-20 Hobies lined up on the beach. In 1983 I actually started windsurfing in only 15+ mph winds and therefore, it was rarely on the weekends and never saw many Hobies again.

In 1985 was our first trip to the Columbia River Gorge for the best windsurfing in the world. Within 3 years the sites along the Columbia River were quickly packed with windsurfers and parking was difficult. I have been windsurfing the gorge until about two years ago when family and time reduced the amount of sailing I participated in. Mainly this was due to the 4 1/2 hour drive that was not easily doable for a weekend trip. I still windsurfed these years, but only on local lakes within 2 hours of home.

I went back to the gorge two weeks ago and the place was empty in comparison to the good ole years. The sailors were all 40+ and I saw all the same people.

IMHO I think there were a few factors that contributed to the decline. A)Gear got really expensive; Windsurfing takes 3 boards-$1500 each, 5 sails-$500 each, 2 masts-$250 each, 2 booms-$150 each, harnesses fins, wetsuits, drysuits, car to carry it all, etc.....B)Kids are not into extreme sports much anymore C)Agro dudes that scared away the ones who tried to get into the sport.

These Agro dudes are still around in the windsurfing community and if you don't have the latest gear or are not a great sailer, they are not a welcoming crowd. I think this may be true in the Hobie race crowd, where if you don't race or have the same boat as the "in" crowd or group has, you are an outsider
and not openly welcomed in the group.

As racing goes, really if you do not have the most current sails and boats you will not be competitive with the fleet and you quickly loose interest after getting beat every time. It is supposed to be a one-design race which techinically it is, but really the latest gear wins....(most of the time). I think
the desparity of speed in new versus 20 year old boats is greater than most other monohull sail boats like Lightnings, Thistles, scows, etc.

Therefore, cost, proximity to easy sailing locations, and comfort for most people sway their decision. I took out the old wooden boomed original windsurfer the other day on a local lake and I was approached by at least 20 people to ask where I got it, etc. I also get the numerous questions by the passer-bys while I rig and launch the 21SE, and think there is interest, but it never seems to go beyond this.

Poker runs or more recreational sailing events may be better in some areas over racing. Racing in any form is more a need to improve the boats performance for the future. I also can't drink as much beer while I race at 10-20 mph....

Stop the rambling! Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Great post, nail on the head. Most Hobie racing guys are pretty helpful as far as that , they just want numbers; so you are welcome to race any time.

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Bodhisatfa