The latest news and upcoming events

• 11-16-2009: The dates of the fleet meetings and Tomales fun sail for 2010 are now posted on the calendar.
• 6-8-2009: Hey all of you Hobie sailors . Tired of always wearing a wetsuit to go sailing? Well now is the time to hookup with Hobie fleet 281 at our monthly THIRD Sunday sail at beautiful Clearlake and wear just a swimsuit. We will meet in Lakeport and try to launch by 11:00 am. For more info please contact Andy at windtoys (707-542-7245) or sharkfeed2000@aol.com. You will need to have a QUAGGA MUSSEL sticker in place and if I can have some type of head count I may be able to have them do an inspection at the ramp that morning. There is a ten dollar fee for the inspection.
  
  Also, the fleet meeting for June been moved to Thursday the 11th. Please check the calendar for the current schedule.
• 2-19-2009: The fleet meeting for March has been moved to Thursday the 12th. Please check the calendar for the current schedule.
• 2-11-2009: The February fun sail at Tomales has been cancelled due to rain.
  Our next fun sail is scheduled for March 15. Please check the calendar for the current schedule.
• 1-27-2009: Pictures from the Jan 20th fun sail are now posted in the photo section.
• 12-03-2008: Join us on Friday, December 19, at 6:30 for our Annual Holiday Crab Feed and Potluck. Andy Pollock is hosting the party in the rec-room at Leisure Mobile Home Park, 2185 Occidental Road in Santa Rosa, between Stony Point Road and Brittain Lane. R.S.V.P. to Andy at sharkfeed2000@aol.com by Friday, December 12, so he can get a head-count for the crab. He will get back to you with what to bring to the party. Can't wait to see you there!
  There is also going to be a fleet fun sail on Tomales Bay the following Sunday, December 21!
• 10-30-2008: We have scheduled a fun sail for November 16th at Tomales Bay, weather permitting. Check the calendar for other upcoming meetings and events.
• 8-15-2008: The Notice of Race and registration form for the 2008 Shark Feed Regatta has now been posted.
• 4-6-2008: The Notice of Race and registration form for the First Annual Blow-Dega Regatta has now been posted! Register early and guarantee yourself a beautiful new rashguard to put over your racing gear and keep you slim on the water.
• 8-31-2007: The Notice of Race and registration form for the 2007 Sharkfeed has now been posted.
• 7-26-2007: The new editition of the Hobie Flyer is now available. Also note that our next fleet meeting is at Old Chicao Pizza for a change of pace. We will be deciding upon dates for our August and September fun sails at our next meeting.
• 6-8-2007: Due to a lack of water in Lake Mendocino (I believe the term used to describe it was "mud pit") we have changed the location of our fun sail on Sunday (6/10) to Alameda. We will be meeting at 11:00 at the Encinal Boat Ramp. I've included directions below.
  

  If you've never sailed on the bay this is a good place to start because it is more protected then other parts of the bay and also offers the option to sail through the breakwater to an even more protected area (at least from the waves). The wind tends to build as the afternoon goes on so plan accordingly. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

  Also note that (if you can't make this Sunday) we have scheduled a fun sail for July 1 at the same location in Alameda.
  
  Directions (from the north):
  Take 880 South
  Get off at the Jackson Street exit
  Turn left at the first stoplight onto Jackson St.
  Go a couple blocks and turn left on 8th
  Go a couple blocks then turn Left onto Webster St.
  Follow Webster through the tunnel and onto the island Go a few miles then turn right on Central Ave
  Follow Central until you see the high school on your left (there's a plane out in front) the entrance to the launch ramp is kind of hard to see but it is on the left just past the high school between two chain link fences.
  The address of Encinal High school is 210 Central Ave and Google maps shows the ramp area name as Alameda Park
  
• 3-15-2007: Sailing season is rapidly approching so be sure to join us for our next fleet meeting: April 5th at McNear's in Petaluma.
• 11-16-2006: Make sure to join us for the Fleet 281 Christmas part on December 2nd at 4949 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park from 6:00-10:00. You are asked to bring a salad, desert or appetizer and the fleet will provide crab & refreshments. A good time will be had by all, hope you can make it. And that's not all, to cap off the weekend we are haveing a fun sail on tomales bay on Dec. 3rd. Meet at Marconi Cove at around 11:00 and get your boat wet.
• 10-30-2006: I finally got the pictures from the sharkfeed posted. Check out the photo section to view.
• Information about the 2006 sharkfeed can be found in the event flyer.
• 6-6-2006: Hobie Fleet 281 would like to invite you and your family up to Clear lake for a fun sail and concert on July 21-23. Please see the trip flyer for all the details. Hope to see you there!
• 4-1-2006:  The April fools fun sail on Tomales bay has been cancelled due to rain.
• 3-07-2006:  I have updated the calendar to include most of the events for the upcoming summer. We've got a schedule full of fun sails, camp outs, and other assorted goodness! Keep and eye out for a couple more camp out dates comming soon.
• 2-04-2006:  We had a great meeting this month at McNear's in Petaluma. Good friends, food, and a pool table provided quality entertainment for all. It was such a prime location that we deicded the have the march meeting at the same place. Also note the fun sail coming up next Sunday. I have updated the Calendar to include these events. Hope everyone can make it!
• 1-04-2006:  Happy new year to all. Unfortunately, our fun sail on Jan 1st got rained out but we do have a meeting coming up to discuss our rain soaked new years. Take note, due to the aforementioned rain, our monthly meeting has been rescheduled for Jan. 12th at Mary's in Rohnert Park with drinks on the fleet. Hope to see you there.
• 11-30-2005:  For the 5 boats that showed up at the Tomales Bay’s fun sail on Sunday 11-20-05 they found south warm winds from single to double trap with no waves at all. There was more jelly fish than I have ever seen on the bay swimming near the surface to get some warmth from the sun. Tomales Bay can be a great place to sail in the fall so plan on attending our next fun sail on News Years Day Monday 1-1-06, Last year was spectacular!!!
• 10-28-2005:  Well the 2nd Anual Great Pumpkin Fun sail is coming up on Sunday. We'll be meeting at Marconi Cove (e-mail me at stefon@hobiefleet281.com if you need directions) at 11:00 for a good day of sailing. It looks like we should have sunny skys and a decent breeze. Hope to see you out there.
• 10-11-2005:  I just posted some pictures from the sharkfeed. Check out the photo section to see them. If you're curious about the final standings check out the results. Also note the addition of another fun sail at Tomales bay on November 20th.
• 10-3-2005:  The Sharkfeed was good fun with about 35 boats showing up for two good days of racing under sunny sky's and a great party Saturday night. Thanks to all who put in so much effort to make this a great event. I should have some photos up soon.
  
  Also coming up on October 30th is the second annual Great Pumpkin Fun Sail on Tomales bay. Be sure to make it out for a great day starting with breakfast at Honeybee's (across from Windtoys)then out to Marconi Cove for a great day of sailing on beautiful Tomales Bay.
• 7-20-2005:  I just posted some pictures from our last lake Mendocino camp out on July 9-10. Check out the photo page to view. Thanks to all that came out; it was a great weekend.
• 6-30-2005:  The Division III Championship Sharkfeed Regatta is scheduled for the for the 24-25th of September. The NOR is now posted.
• 6-23-2005:  Our first lake mendocino camp out of the season was fun despite some rainy weather. We had two boats out on Saturday and four on Sunday. Not a bad showing for a showery weekend. Special thanks to John, Monique and Don for making this a great weekend. I should have some photo's up soon.
• 6-03-2005:  The date of the sharkfeed reggatta has been changed! The event will now be held on the 24-25th of September.
  
  The Lake Mendocino camp out is fast approching, please give John a call (707-542-sail) and let him know if you will be there.
  
  
  Also note that our next fleet meeting will be held at a Latitude which is located just accross the parking lot from Mary's. We've reserved a spot on the deck which will provide a great change of scenery in a addition to the change in menu.
• 5-05-2005:  We've got a couple of very exciting events comming up that it would be a shame to miss. First is the the rigging clinic at Windtoys on May 14. If you have any questions about rigging a hobie, or if you've never done it, this is a great chance to learn. We will be covering all aspects of of rigging including basic setup, rudder tuning , tramp lacing, and much more. Bring your boat and get your questions answered or just pick up some new tricks. Then come test your newly tuned boat at Lake Mendocino on May 15th. Or, if you don't have a boat, come up for a ride and experince the thrill of sailing a hobie.
  
  The second event is the Lake Mendoncino camp out on the weekend of June 18-19. This fun filled event will be a great chance to bring the family out for a fun weekend of sailing at the lake. Please call John at Windtoys (707-542-7245) and let him know you're coming so we can make sure we have enough campsites reserved.
• 5-02-2005:  Don't miss the upcoming fleet meeting at 7:00, may 5th at Mary's pizza in Rohnert Park. We will be discussing the upcoming rigging clinic and Try a Hobie day at lake Mendocino as well as all the usual discussion of the lastest and greatest in hobie cat sailing. Come join the fun.
• 3-30-2005:  Well, I made back from NZ in one piece so there will be more regular updates of the website. I just posted the lastest version of the newsletter. Check back soon for pictures of the last two fun sails at tomales bay as well as updates to the calendar.
• 1-7-2005:  I just posted pictures from the fun sail on Jan. 2. Check out the photo page for all the goodness you could ask for. Thanks to Monique and John for taking all the pictures.
• 1-5-2005:  I just updated the calendar and most of the events planned for 2005 are now up; so plan early! It looks to be an exciting year with camp outs, fun sails and a few reggatta's thrown in for good measure

  As sad as it is, I am going to be traveling in New Zealand for the next few months. I will try and update the site as best I can but my previous experience with remote administration has not been so good. Please call John at Windtoys (707-JIB-SAIL) prior to each event to confirm the time and location or if you have any questions.

• 1-4-2005:  Believe it or not we had a brief period sun during the fun sail on Jan. 2. Three boats made it out and enjoyed light winds with single and double trapping. At the end of the day, with the clouds moving in, we enjoyed some warm clam chowder on the beach, courtisy of Mike. All in all it was a great day. I will post some photos shortly.
• 12-9-2004:  The christmas party on Deceber 3 was good fun. Great food, good company, and some exciting new videos were enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks to all who made this event happen. A few pictures are posted in the photo section.

  In several highly contested races we elected Mike Montague as our new commodore, John Schutless as vice-commodore and Andy Pollock as Sharkfeed chairman. Congratulations to our new fearless leaders.

• 11-30-2004:  Just posted a PDF version of the fleet newsletter. Go to the newsletter page to view.
• 11-11-2004:  The Hobie Fleet 281 Listerv is now up and running.  This tool redirects e-mail messages to all members of the list and will help expedite communication between fleet members. Use it to find a crew, setup a fun sail, post a wanted or for sale ad, find a ride, etc. Go to the listserv information page to learn more and subscribe.
• 11-4-2004:  Just updated the calendar with two more great events. The first is the fleet 281 Christmas Party which will be held at 7:00 PM, Friday, Dec. 3 in the rec room at John Schulthess' apartment complex in Rohnert Park.

  The second event is another fun sail at marconi beach on Sunday, Jan. 2.  Join us for breakfast at Honeybee's resturant (accross from windtoys) at 8:30 or just meet at Marconi at 11:00. Our last foray on to the bay on Oct. 31 was great fun; don't miss out again!

• 11-2-2004:  The Great Pumpkin Fun Sail was a success with six boats showing up on a beautiful fall day.  We launched around 11:00 and sailed out to Lawson's Landing for hot chocolate, returning to the beach just in time to witness a great sunset. See the photo section for pictures.
• 10-21-2004: The Great Pumpkin Fun Sail and Race at Marconi beach is comming up on Sun, Oct. 31.  Come join us for a great afternoon of friendly racing. Check the calendar for details.
• 10-15-2004:  Welcome to our new and improved website. It's a work in progress so check back regularly.