When is a class dead?

I spent the weekend running evil RYA courses. I put 6 people through level 2 or 3. I'm pleased to say that whilst being forced to confirm to RYA ideals, no one declared they were giving up sailing for good as they cried whilst I beat them with a tiller extension.

In fact, they seem to have had a great time messing about in boats while more experienced sailors passed on ways of improving their sailing and therefore enabling them to get more from their hobby. We did the L2 in Comet Trios, which would probably qualify for this strange banned list, the L3 in a Trio, a 2000 and Q'bas.
Boats owned by some of the sailors included a Blokart, Tideway and West Wight Scow, which I can safely say don't represent mainstream RYA thinking. But what they learned on the course will help them anyway.

I suspect the only time the RYA was mentioned was in the context of the RYA wind blowing down the whiteboard, but without the training schemes they have, none of the above would have happened. I don't believe that simply messing about in boats would bring as many people into the sport and keep them there.

Why would it be an only option, even now? And why would it have put you off? I can see it could if badly run, but that would be the same for any introduction to any activity. All L1 does is give you an idea of what sailing is like and teach you easy ways to do things like tack, which can cause issues if figured out without help. Some sailing background, and a chance to sail without an instructor rounds things off.
All easily possible with say, a friend who sails, too. Harder to figure out from books, but can still be done. Courses can also make you new friends, and if done when there are other sailors around, show what is possible as you progress.

What follows an introduction to sailing, whatever form it takes, is far more important for long term retention of sailors.

Originally posted by Do Different I think it comes back to a question I've asked before. Is what sailing clubs offer a sport or a pastime? Before you offer solutions you need to clarify the illness you are trying to cure.

As far as I can see over many years of observation those sailors, particularly young sailors, who take starter courses then dump them in favour of racing are the ones to watch.

We have this 14 year old girl.....

On the other hand we have professional trainees who train year after year and never sail otherwise.

Ben Ainslies or Swallows and Amazon's?

Sailing is generally a social activity for the vast majority whether they race or not.  When clubs grind on about 'decling membership' they often focus on the racing side ... and seem oblivious to the fact that they have often allowed the social aspects of their club to gently falter/decline/fade away over the years.   Even if you don't race regularly, and the majority DO NOT if ever, when the social programme declines so does your interest in the club.   Non sailing family members have little to attract them to a club and their family 'occasionals' find more social things to do with their time. Most of the 'good ideas' coming out of typical SC committees to halt any decline seem to be racing related ...  come along guys work it out. 

No Christmas party, or summer one for that matter, no more 'end of season' dinners, or 'start of year' ones, no Bonfire night gathering (cos 'Health and Safety' frightens the worthies running many clubs), fewer and fewer curry and live music nights, closed bars too often as well   ... etc etc ... What on earth is there to attract and keep the 'occasionals' and their families there ! .... and then they even get chased to do yet more duties as numbers dwindle.  Now there are still some brilliant clubs out there of all sizes .. but they all seem to be disproportionately driven by the social aspects.  Get that right and the racing sorts itself out naturally.

Ignore the social aspects and you may as well pack up shop completely as you slide down the inevitable slippery slope.