HOBIE UPDATE

​Bristol, RI - On December 12, 2023, Starting Line Sailing (SLS) and Hobie Cat Company II (Hobie) mutually agreed to the termination of the collaboration and license agreement entered into in November 2022. This agreement had previously appointed SLS the worldwide supplier for all Hobie Sailboats and Genuine Hobie Sailboat Parts and Accessories. The manufacture, distribution, and sales of these products will return to Hobie, rejoining their extensive range of Kayaks, Pedalboards, SUPs, and other water sports recreation products.

“Hobie expresses its sincere appreciation to the Starting Line Sailing family of companies for their recent stewardship of Hobie Sailboats,” stated Steve Fields, the recently appointed VP - Hobie Sailboats. “Looking forward, our plans include investment in new Hobie sailing products, reestablishing partnerships with the International Hobie Class Association (IHCA) and World Sailing (the governing body for the sport of sailing), and to execute multiple Hobie Sailing World Championships in the future when possible. With these plans now in motion, I’m excited about the future of Hobie Sailing.”

“It was a pleasure serving and supporting the Hobie community over the past year plus, and we are excited for Hobie Cat Company to have all of their brands underneath one roof providing the opportunity to advance the complete Hobie lifestyle to sailors around the world”, said George Yioulos, CEO of Starting Line Sailing.

“We will continue to focus on our core brands - Zim Sailing, West Coast Sailing, and Dwyer Mast & Rigging - manufacturing the highest-quality small sailboats in the world, and supplying thousands of wholesale customers, yacht clubs and programs, charter clients, and individual sailors with an extensive range of products, service, and support. We have some major projects in the works that we are excited to make progress on, and we look forward to continuing to support dinghy and one-design sailors throughout North America”.


Media contacts and inquiries should be directed to:
Steve Fields – Vice President, Hobie Sailboats Worldwide – stevefields@hobie.com
Josh Toso – Director of Marketing, Starting Line Sailing – Josh@StartingLineSailing.com