J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
List classes of boat for sale |
Future of Sailing Clubs... |
Post Reply | Page 123 17> |
Author | |
JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Topic: Future of Sailing Clubs... Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 8:04am |
http://www.yachtinghistorians.org.uk/downloads/Concerning%20the%20Fragility%20and%20the%20Future%20of%20Yacht%20Clubs1509.pdf
Some interesting thoughts in this. Suggest most will want to start at page 36 and the section "Part Three the future" rather than wade through all the Victorian History. |
|
turnturtle
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 10:01am |
Spot on... I particularly like this exert: "Before leaving the issue of time constraints, I would mention other features that compound the effects of these constraints. The first is opportunity costs – every time a person goes yachting, they sacrifice doing other things – seeing films/plays, spending time with family/friends, visiting relatives etc. As the time and time flexibility of the working person is reduced, so some of these demands require priority – such as caring for an ill parent – and cut into time available for yachting. These competing demands on younger people’s time can lead older commentators to see them in a negative light. In the ‘Letter of the Month’ in Classic Sailor, October, 2015, Sue Farrer, Elder Gaffer and Secretary, North Wales area Old Gaffers Association, is worried about the lack of volunteers to help in the running of yacht clubs: Most young people nowadays want everything given to them on a plate, which means always taking something out and not putting anything back in. (19) But this is what philosophers refer to as a ‘category (or level of analysis) mistake’. Farrer is ascribing psychological motivation to individuals, rather than seeing a sociological or political situation applying to that generation and its handling of the limitations on its time, which are much greater than those of the previous generation. |
|
Dougaldog
Far too distracted from work Joined: 05 Nov 10 Location: hamble Online Status: Offline Posts: 356 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 10:06am |
Jim, an interesting perspective but am unsure on some of his data and the way he views it. The last time I looked, the Royal Southampton and Royal Southern were both thriving; the latter is based on the Hamble, the Royal Southampton is in.....Southampton (funny that). It also seems very SW centric and shows little in the way of understanding on how the clubs inland, in the Midlands and North of England, are responding to the challenges. These operate to a very different dynamic to many of the legacy clubs in the Devon & Cornwall peninsular. Nevertheless, despite the rather limited scope of some sections in the work, one would hope that those who have set themselves up to 'run' our sport would sit and read this - but I doubt it! D
|
|
Dougal H
|
|
turnturtle
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 10:18am |
he's a lecturer at Exeter Uni according to the cover page.... that might explain the bias in the presentation you rightly point out.
|
|
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 12:07pm |
It's a pretty depressing outlook but, it's mainly concerned with 'yachting' as opposed to 'dinghy sailing' (and in fact, he refers, briefly, to dinghy sailing as a possible solution). Most sports have boom periods (dinghies with the DIY building boom in the 60s, windsurfing when it was a new sport) and often decline when something new comes along. If they have anything going for them they usually settle down to a base level (as dinghy sailing and windsurfing have). One thing is for sure, things will change but I don't see sailing going into terminal decline anytime soon.
|
|
transient
Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 12:49pm |
|
|
turnturtle
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 1:05pm |
what the report highlights well are the socio-economic changes.... whilst those who currently run the sport continue to ignore those changes and refuse to start formulating plans to counter it, well then the sport will continue to decline.
FWIW - I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. Consolidation has many perks.... imho, there are too many clubs and too many classes already in the UK and this constant drive to make sailing appeal to all, is frankly, not working. Sure, there maybe less of a market for those with a commercial agenda, and sure, there would be less 'jobs for the boys' at the RYA if sailing gets ditched from the Olympics, but that old adage about silver linings does rather spring to mind right now.
|
|
Eisvogel
Posting king Joined: 09 Dec 16 Location: Birmingham Online Status: Offline Posts: 135 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 1:17pm |
If dinghy sailing becomes even more of a minority sport it will be very hard to get grants (eg for training boats or facility upgrades), and everything will become more expensive (as economies of scale disappear). Surely that has to be a bad thing for everybody.
Making sailing appealing to all is important if we want to be able to continue sailing in the future. Obviously not everybody will end up as a regular sailor, and that is not the point. Just look at the Netherlands or Germany in terms of their cycling infrastructure. Many people there bike, and as a consequence you have an excellent network of cycle paths. But few people cycle competitively. Now compare that to the cycle infrastructure we have (not) in the UK. It's never going to change, as only a brave minority dares to take a bike on a normal road. If we aren't careful, sailing will (very long term) end up in a similar situation, with the infrastructure decaying & clubs closing, leaving fewer and fewer opportunities to go on the water.
|
|
Enterprise 20361 (Eisvogel), Laser 102727 (Halcyon), Laser 121986
|
|
turnturtle
Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 1:57pm |
Poor comparison imho... Cycling is a green method of transport, reducing congestion as well as emissions in urban areas. Sure, it's also a nice way to experience some physical recreation at the weekend too, even for those who don't take the ultimate step of turning it into a competitive pursuit. Try as I might, I can't really envisage the old canal network facilitating my daily commute by D-Zero....
|
|
RS400atC
Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 17 at 2:20pm |
Why are we entitled to handouts for training boats? Why should we expect other people to subsidise our facilities? |
|
Post Reply | Page 123 17> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |