Big handicap events

Originally posted by getafix off subject, RYA coaches are not the problem, ...

I did suggest this needed to be another Topic. But, the point I was
making was that too many young sailors (parents) are approached by
coaches to join a 'squad' thus leaving parents believing they have a
Shirley/Ben in the making. Seeing GOLD, the parents are naturally willing
to spend all to achieve it.
Coaching is of course worth while, but surely only for those who are
usually naturally gifted and stand out by winning locally, and do well
nationally. Do we really need to drag the army of average sailors and
parents around the country and away from their clubs.

Bring back club class racing!

Originally posted by tickler However never apply pressure just provide encouragement.

Thats right, Give the opportunity and the encouragement, but no
pressure. The pressure should come from the child.

I recall the parents in a sailing family I know who continued going to the
class circuit events, after the child refused to go, in order to socialise. I
wonder how much pressure was put on that teenager before he was
allowed not to go. He now stick to his rugby.

child terf

Originally posted by Doug.H Originally posted by oldarn [QUOTE=G.R.F.] suggesting to the innocent parents that their average Katie/Johnny could become a Shirley/Ben, then all the well intended money would not have been wasted. Thus instead of destroying thier children's love of friendly Club sailing, Just part of a much bigger subject! I know plenty of people who were giving it their all as kids and have since dropped out, but I don't know of a single one of them that regrets what they did and would have rather spent their time just club racing. I did a lot as a junior, youth and then when I left that scene I didn't decide because I didn't make it I'd give up sailing, I enjoy it so I still do it. A lot of the people that leave sailing that I know seem to go on to windsurfing, kitesurfing or normal surfing as their main hobby. They all love the water but they want and all out buzz that doesn't need 20 more people to race you to create it. I tell you what, I'll go and ask as many people I'm still in contact with from the youth scene their exact reasons for not racing anymore, then we can really get some accurate reasoning.

I did say it was part of a much bigger subject.

One point is as you say Doug.H, there are now many other affordable and
exciting sports.   In any case many kids want and perhaps need to move
on.
What I am partly getting at is that it take many parents as well as the kids
out of club sailing and supporting the club, with no apparent gain for
most kids!

Originally posted by G.R.F. Well new blood in my view is proper grown ups with disposable income that want to sail. Not kids from schools, kids in squads, kids just being kept off the streets. they nearly always bugger off and do something else having been entirely brainwashed by the RYA or so traumatised to the point they never want to go near a boat again. Enthusiasts, and they inevitably inspire others, but free thinkers that take stuff up like this, rarely respond well to the sort of authority that is still prevalent within sailing.

You've hit the nail on the head as you so often do!

Clearly a new topic is needed here. such as 'Has the RYA helped kill Club
Class Racing'

I agree that it is the grown ups who should have disposable income who
should be targeted. Unfortunately today their disposable income has
been mortgaged on buying squad boats the the apparently necessary
appendages such as four wheel drive gas guzzling tanks to tow the
double trailer for dinghy and parental RIB. At the end of this period of
often parental bullying they give up sailing for life.

Unfortunately if it had not been for the travelling RYA scout/coach, trying
to protect and justify his job, suggesting to the innocent parents that
their average Katie/Johnny could become a Shirley/Ben, then all the well
intended money would not have been wasted. Thus instead of destroying
thier children's love of friendly Club sailing, the whole family could be
enjoying the sport at the Club leaving more disposable income for the
parents to spent enjoying the sport after the kids had left.

Just part of a much bigger subject!

Blimey Russ, first you say you're going to have to virtually give up sailing due to the impending birth of your baby, now you're doing more than ever. Impressive stuff.