National/Regional Circuits.

Originally posted by JohnJack Having had a look at a few class websites, a majority of classes are seeming to be struggling with the popularity of their National Circuits. I know there are less people travelling, but are National Circuits dying out?

John, I think there are lots of different reasons why national circuits can struggle. In my 20's I would think nothing of setting off almost every friday through the season to drive to some far flung club, pitch my tent by torchlight and camp in a field with no facilities, but now, I work more hours, have more responsibility and also have to consider the rest of the family. So these days I mainly sail at home with a couple of planned trips in the year (in fact even finding time to sail locally can be a challenge) I could not justify traveling from Newcastle to the south coast for a weekend event.

The ent model of local series open with area champs seems to work (or at least it did years ago when I was involved in the north west and the broads, but up here in the north east even these events are a decent drive) but they can only really do this because they have been a well numbered class for many years.

It can all be a bit cyclical though, and it just takes a critical mass of folks with the freedom to start attending many events and things can kick off again

And that confirms what? Alcoholics Anonymous are failing to do their job?

Merlins have been around fifty years if all they can muster after all that time is 120 places, I'm sorry it's not relevant, a closed venue isn't an indicator.

The trend of those figures in those tables is an indicator that can't be argued with. 7496 down to 5653 during a 5 yr period in which they have been actively meddling is something a sports governing body should concern themselves with and take action.

Attendance at the Merlin Rocket Salcombe Week certainly isn't down - the 120 places for 2017 sold out this week within 2 hours of entry opening and there are at least 28 on the waiting list!

I had a look at the attendance tables for this century and there are some interesting stats.

If you take the totals of all attendances, they peaked in 2011, with 7496
This year gone is the lowest this century with 5653 maybe they're not all in yet but it's still pretty drastic.
It's 17% below average attendance (6871) over the period and nearly 25% below the 2011 peak.

So what happened after 2011? 2011 was still deep in the recession fuel costs were higher then, the Olympics came and went could it have been that?

Interesting the Phantom class almost parallels, could it have been 2011 when they really started f**king about with the handicaps?

Edited by iGRF - 04 Nov 16 at 9:54pm

There were far more "serious" classes in the 70s. Sadly, many have faded, and many of the boats which supposedly replaced them turned out to be a bit rubbish unless planing, and failed.