Breaking down preconceptions
by Rupert Holmes 18 Feb 2016 12:33 GMT
18 February 2016
Race 5 in the Pallot Glass & Windows Frostbite Series 2015-16 © Bill Harris
Barriers to entering yachting racing aren't as great as most people outside the sport think. Yet we do very little to correct that misconception, while all too often bemoaning the lack of active members and the decline of fleet sizes, writes Rupert Holmes.
One of the greatest unsung secrets of the sport is that the overwhelming majority of people who race yachts don't own a boat, or even pay the bills to run one. As us insiders all know, aside from the relatively small arena of short-handed racing, each yacht needs five to ten crew for every race. Therefore many owners are constantly on the look out for crew.
To anyone outside the sport it's simply amazing that you can compete in one of the most apparently glamorous activities on the planet – and one requires arguably the most expensive equipment of any sport (i.e. a yacht) – without having to buy anything other than your own foul weather gear.
But surely that only applies to hardened experts that have years of experience?
No – many owners are so desperate for crew they'll take anyone. This is especially true for mid week evening racing, which is often seen as a fun, social activity, but also applies to offshore events as well.
Granted, it helps if you've done a bit of sailing already, but most clubs have programmes for newcomers. If not, you can get some basic experience through a weekend Start Yachting or Start Keelboat Sailing course at an RYA approved sailing school, with prices starting from well under £200.
So why are yacht owners not constantly beating potential crew away with a big stick?
A good question, and one that continues to vex some of the best brains in the business. My own view is that we predominately preach only to the converted – those who are already club members, or who already have a longstanding interest in sailing.
Collectively, we're not shouting from club rooftops that the sport desperately needs new participants to keep it healthy and that anyone is welcome.
Wouldn't that be a bit crass? I always imagined yacht clubs to be select and restrained establishments, populated by terribly respectable people whose families have known each other for generations.
Not at all – most are down to earth, with a friendly and welcoming attitude, especially towards those who want to get involved.
But we can be far too shy about letting people outside the sport know what's on offer. I mean, it's obvious to all of us on the inside just what a great sport this is. Surely that's clear to everyone on the outside as well?
I still don't get it – surely if it was that simple and affordable there would be hoards of people queuing up to sail?
Sadly not. Granted a few owners don't help their cause – they are the types that get a bit over excited at times and start being shouty. Fortunately, they are in a diminishing minority – in most cases over the past decade or two the standard of sailing has increased considerably. Effective teamwork and an ability to learn from your mistakes are among the most highly prized qualities among owners, and can be practised by newcomers just as easily as by seasoned sailors.
The problem is that we're just not any good at spreading the message. Granted clubs put a lot of effort into sending excellent race reports out to their local press and to YachtsandYachting.com. This is really important in helping to encourage a greater proportion of existing members on the water on a regular basis.
However, the fundamental problem is that most clubs aren't also selling sailing to their wider local community. Nor are they highlighting how easy and inexpensive it is to get involved.
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