THE HOBIE® WAY OF LIFE
I bought my first Hobie 14 in 1969 on Oahu. Not knowing anything about sailing, I took it down to Kailua Beach and a guy named Rick Nash helped me set it up. (Rick's son is Robbie Nash, World Champion Sailboarder, he was about 7 years old then.) After sailing my boat in Kailua Beach for several weekends, Rick came over and talked me into racing the boat in a Regatta that was held in Honolulu. The following month raced at the Hobie 14 Nationals held at the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki. I was hooked.
In 1971 we moved to Southern California and I bought my first Hobie16 and raced all the local regatta's that my work would allow. Since then I have raced numerous Hobie Nationals and 8 Hobie 16 Worlds, including the first Hobie 16 Worlds held in Honolulu in 1976 and the last worlds in China 2010. Also raced the first Hobie 17 World's in Maui, Hawaii.
Hobie Cats have given me and my family so many wonderful memories of places we have been, and friends that Carolyn (my wife of 56 years) and I have met over the years. We raised 3 children and we used to take along our 3 Hobies' to Regatta's. Sometimes not arriving until the wee hours of the morning. Started early to race the next morning.
I am now 74 and can't wait untill the next Hobie Worlds in Jervis Bay.
