The State of Club Sailing

Originally posted by JohnJack Maybe there is a link to the increase in single handers and a decrease in double handed boats.

Possibly.

I think you've highlighted another real issue. Scientific (apparently ) research shows that empathy is in severe decline with modern western youngsters.

Me thinks that's an essential ingredient of team work. Needed for running a club and sailing 2 handers.

Oldsters have more of it in general terms.

....also essential for a harmonious planet other things, moan, moan

Edited by transient - 01 Jul 15 at 12:32pm

Originally posted by Woodburner What grinds you down and with the best will and enthusiasm in the world, it's the bloody moaners that dump on you,

The irony is strong in this one...

Originally posted by davidyacht I firmly believe that the main problem with two man boats is that there is too much choice, and a lot of the options are not good ones for the waters where most of us race.

But in the good old days there was much more choice, not much less, with dozens if not hundreds of small builders, each promoting their own one designs.


Edited by JimC - 01 Jul 15 at 12:37pm

Originally posted by davidyacht Do you think so?

Without even the slightest shadow of doubt. I have a database of old PY data. There's something like 400 classes that used to have numbers published and aren't on the list any more. Find an old guide to classes book from the 60s or something and see how many basically similar two handed round about 14 feet boats there were, even if you ignore all the older local one designs.

No, what's changed is that people don't prioritise class racing any more. Seen it time and time again at different clubs. Someone works their ass off building a nucleus of a fleet, maybe they have a good number of boats racing together, but if that person loses enthusiasm within a season or three they'll all have drifted off and be sailing different boats or at different clubs. Back in the 60s in an area clubs would tend to specialise in classes, so you'd have a fleet of one class here, a fleet of a different class there, and very small handicap fleets. Just as many different classes if you went, say, the length of the tidal Thames, but in groups. Nowadays probably fewer classes, but no fleets.

Edited by JimC - 01 Jul 15 at 2:05pm

We have 'acquired' a couple of railway engine wheels that weigh quite literally a ton, but the problem then comes of how you float them out to the GPS point where we need to drop them

Do you really have a group running EVERY Saturday? Not sure I could cope with that.