SNAKES!

I don't think that's what he meant, a few clubs have proffesional staff who don't charge sky high fees, people who are time poor and don't want to waste time by doing duty can find clubs with staff, I have no issue with this, article implied volunteer clubs going the sky high fees route and no clunkers, my club has 50 50 split new/old, the 50% of old boats also contain legacy boats, which for the main part are in excellent conditon.

Across the two articles their was also mention of RYA encouraging clubs to keep best parking spaces etc for members who sail clubs recognised class, how can an organisation that pushes elitist practice be said to represent sailing.

I think to a point it already has, there are at the clubs I sail at far fewer old sub £500 or even £1000 boats active than there were when I started sailing in the mid 90's. Maybe there is just more money around, I dont know but the "stock boat" racing of bodging a tired old plastic Enterprise back together over lunch seems to have died a death - this is probably a good thing for the sport as the usual process was for newbies to buy said plastic Enterprise, spend a month trying to keep it sailing then park it up to sell on to someone who comes off next years course.

What is frustrating are the hoops that an inner city club have to be seen to jump through regarding diversity to justify their presence and the members time that gets wasted on trying to encourage non - white people to come sailing. If they want to come they will, and actually quite a number have.

I personally would counter these measures by starting my own club, there are several suitable lakes close to me without clubs, allowing old boats, cheap fees.