Future of Sailing Clubs...

Originally posted by Eisvogel Originally posted by turnturtle my own view is that sailing would be better off accepting it's not for everyone and stop trying so damn hard. But how are you going to find the ones who enjoy sailing and will stick with it, without trying to give as many people a go as possible? Sure, many people will try it, and decide it's not for them. But excluding certain groups from the outset because they are not the kind of people who are typically the sailing kind of people (ie white middle class and above) is not the right approach.

You can't make everyone try sailing. You can offer it to lots of people, like for instance my wife's school offers a bit of sailing to primary school kids, but is that effective? It's good for the kids but probably not at all efficient in bringing people into the sport.
Sailing is not something you can learn in 10 minutes, 'having a quick go' is likely to disappoint.
You have to face the fact that it holds zero fascination for the vast majority of people.
As for sailing being a middle class sport, possibly anyone who is capable of being any good at sailing is capable of succeeding at work too? I know quite a few club members and good sailors who are more working class but they tend to be successful at it. The kind of garage mechanics that start their own business, welders who earn good money, office workers who get promoted, shop assistants who become managers etc.
I have known a few sailors who have been rubbish at their work lives, but they were more 'upper middle class' people.

I'm all for Liberal ideals guys, as long as we accept they're pretty much a waste of time.... we would be better providing allied facilities to the current demographic... a decent private swimming pool would be a good draw for starters, what about a Yoga Studio?  Or one of those on-the-water inflatable assault courses?

Edited by turnturtle - 27 Feb 17 at 5:30pm

Originally posted by turnturtle my own view is that sailing would be better off accepting it's not for everyone and stop trying so damn hard.

Originally posted by Noah The point, surely, is that a (perhaps tiny) percentage might decide they want more and put some effort in to achieving it, whether by working hard at a job to earn money, or academically to have the freedom of choice later. Entry costs are not necessarily high - I think a large number of non-owners of two-person boats have little or no financial input. And, as I think you have said, an old L@ser can be bought for (almost) pennies.

Originally posted by Noah Also, there are clubs around - one near here for starters - which make the effort to show 'disadvantaged' kids what dinghy sailing is about.

Edited by turnturtle - 27 Feb 17 at 3:38pm