Try a Hobie Day

We had a regatta get canceled in the middle of June and I'm looking to fill the hole. I know that there are a ton of Hobie sailors here in CA that don't get into the whole racing and fleet scene, so I want to have an event that would include and cater to them.

This is just an idea so far, but I want to have different classes geared to the novice as well as the advanced sailors. Some ideas that I have include:
*General rigging tips
*Maintenance
*Safety
*Starting sequence
...and then actually get on the water and practice.

I have negotiated a special price for launching with the Harbor and have a few guest experts lined up, so it looks pretty good so far, I just have a few details to work out.

My questions are:
What else can I offer to get more sailors to show up?

What other topics would you like to see covered in the classes?

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You might include a section on safe trailering and trailer maintenance. We've seen some pretty bizarre tie down techniques of late. And our compressor gets a workout topping off low tires.

Brian C

Heck, I might drive all the way from Colorado if ya had Free Beer and Dancin Girls................ <Wicked Evil Grin>

Seriously tho, Have a hull flying contest, and if you have any GPS units, and the wind is blowing, see who can register the fastest straight line speed.
Do a Rubber Ducky race ... those are always good for a few laughs.
ANYTHING that is fun and gets people laughing together will make it a memorable occasion.

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Jeremy
When are you planing this?? Denise and I would come on down if schedule allows. Rigging and practice out in the big water sounds great !!
We Getaway folks shy away a little from fleets because we use are boats more like day sailors. Not many race boats with coolers built in and drink holders on the wings.
p.s.
You drive from CO. and I'll buy the beer.

If it is a 2 day event can we get a concession on beach use?

Also given that I usually use docks I would love some tips / practice on beach launching and dealing with surf

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2007 Getaway

Hey guys, is anyone willing to do a similar event on the East coast - Savannah - Charleston - Wilmington?
I would attend.

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Yuri
Hobie 16
Laser Vago

Since someone E-Mailed me to ask, here is an explainationof what a Rubber Ducky race can be.


Rubber Ducky Race

Best done on a light air day when danger of boat to boat collisions is at a minimum.

Go to Wal Mart and buy a bunch of those cheap bright yellow rubber ducky bathtub toys.

10 Boats, 11 Duckey's One Ducky is a Dud

On the day of the race, write a sail number for each of the boats that is participating on the bottom of each one of the Rubber Ducky's.

Send all the rubber ducky's out on a chase boat and set them free.

Give them a few minutes to disburse,
( so that everyone is not crashing in to one another and damaging boats)
and then do a LeMans start off the beach and the boats go out, each one in search of the ONE rubber ducky with their sail number on the bottom.

When you get there and pick up the first rubber ducky, if it isn't "your duck" you look around, find the boat that it belongs to, and throw it as far in the other direction as you can.

(Absolutely NO holding on to or hiding any ducky's that are not yours)

The first boat to find their own duck and get back to the beach wins.

Give prizes for first back, last back (Dead Duck) and anything else you can think of.

Build up the race, encourage alliances, both overt and covert, encourage , dirty tricks and distractions. Make it as fun as possible for everyone involved, organizers, participants, and spectators.

just one example,
your boat is headed back in to the beach with the correct ducky, and spectators that are cheering for another team try to prevent you from beaching.

Another example, telling someone that you saw their ducky somewhere you know it is not.

These rules are not cast in stone, you can eliminate rules, add rules, add prizes, the whole idea is to have FUN and get everyone on and off the beach involved.

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Sounds like fun!

My favorite low-wind activity is to try to stealthily drop someone off the boat near another and then either board their boat ("Yarrr!") or try to capsize it.

While avoiding the squirt guns of course.

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Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

Ok, Ducky racing sounds better than running a course. :

Here's what we came up with after the fleet meeting:

Everyone Welcome!

Fleet 240 presents Hobie Tune-Up Day Beach and BBQ

June 21 Starting at 10am
In the Santa Cruz Harbor
Launch fees are $12 which includes parking all day (pay directly to the Harbor Office).
Classes are FREE! BBQ is Free!

Are you interested in Hobie Sailing?
Do you want to learn how to rig your boat more efficiently and get on the water faster? Do you want to learn about safety and racing?
Would you like to learn about beach launching?

Then come to Santa Cruz on June 21st and join Fleet 240 for a fun day of learning about the Hobie Way of Life. Classes start at 11am in the launch ramp of the Santa Cruz Harbor. You don’t need to bring a boat to come down and learn, we will have demo boats on site. If you have boats or parts to sell, bring them.

Please sign up ahead of time, so we know to expect you!!

Send our Rear Vice Commodore an email Jeremy (at) surfcitycatamarans.com to reserve a space in our classes.

Classes include:
Safety
Rigging your Hobie Properly
Rigging for Racing
Racing Flags and Timing

Classes taught by top racers in Division 3, Harbor Patrol and others.

Schedule:
Meet at the launch ramp lot at 10am sharp
BBQ at 12:30pm
Rig your boats at 2pm with help from knowledgeable Fleet 240 members
On the water fun sail all afternoon

The fleet 240 Tune-Up Day will be geared for everyone from the absolute novice to the avid racer. The classes will be hands on. If you bring a boat we can find a specialist in the fleet to help with any specific questions you might have. Bring the whole family! The beach is a nice place to hang out, and the Santa Cruz Beach Bordwalk is a mile up the street!

*Please bring a VHF radio if you have one*

See you there! Spread the word! Wind is free.

Fleet240.com

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