Catamaran Sailing
Catamaran Pictures

Suggestions for spreading the word about sailing

Here's a short list of suggestions (with varying value depending on you ask...) for Hobie and other vendors to help promote sailing on a broader level.

• Get Hobies involved with adventure racing events such as the EcoChallenge. Lobby for a leg of these races which requires sailing skill and provide the boats for the event
• Do national and international tours with Hobies. Show up at crowded beaches with a bunch of rigged boats and take people for rides. Work in conjunction with radio stations and other regional events and activities.
• Start an inner city program for disadvantaged kids where you take them for rides on a regular basis.
• Display boats at non-industry events, such as state fairs and other wide drawing affairs.
• Spend time getting included with television shows and movies for any scenes that could feature sailing.
• Sponsor events at shopping malls across the country to teach people how to sail.
• Put a tour together with other vendors to teach sailing with radio control sailboats in large pools at different regional events. Give them a "I learned to sail with Hobie" certificate, t-shirt, and brochures.
• Use non-industry channels, such as R.E.I. and other outdoor adventure retailers to promote products through exciting displays and speaking engagements.
• Do a cheezy infomercial!

Any other ideas? Send me mail with your ideas and we'll publish as many as we can in the next On The Wire! Send mail to: torrea@ix.netcom.com

Cheers, Jeff