Another club closure

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons In my experience they'll get chatting with one of the sailors and get invited along for a sail, buy a boat and join in...

Originally posted by 423zero You only find friends in the circles you move in, who goes to a strange place to make friends?

Everyone as it happens. Every place you've ever been was strange initially. When I was helping out with new members when teaching the adult 1&2 it was very clear that most of them were looking for new friends and even partners and lets face it there's nowt so strange as a sailing club.

Human contact which provides stimulation and feedback is a human need essential for a healthy life. How we structure that contact varies......in this case sailing is the structure.

There is only so much hand holding and nurturing a club can do. It is a two way street, yes of course make sailing as accessible as possible both socially and physically. HOWEVER, by it's very nature sailing does require a level of natural determination and self reliance. As ever, balance and simply talking to people is vital. 

Originally posted by Sussex Lad Originally posted by 423zero You only find friends in the circles you move in, who goes to a strange place to make friends?  Everyone as it happens. Every place you've ever been was strange initially. When I was helping out with new members when teaching the adult 1&2 it was very clear that most of them were looking for new friends and even partners and lets face it there's nowt so strange as a sailing club. Human contact which provides stimulation and feedback is a human need essential for a healthy life. How we structure that contact varies......in this case sailing is the structure.

Originally posted by Do Different There is only so much hand holding and nurturing a club can do. It is a two way street, yes of course make sailing as accessible as possible both socially and physically. HOWEVER, by it's very nature sailing does require a level of natural determination and self reliance. As ever, balance and simply talking to people is vital.

Absolutely, most things with adults needs to be a two way street, reciprocal or at least an equal trade. and SC's need to understand and decide what needs they are willing to provide for and for whom they are going to do it. At the moment the "Whom" looks like a closed shop catering for (as I said earlier) White, Middle Class, Paternalistic, imperialist, vaguely military, straight people.

And balance is essential......But ........I would think and I think a vast number of others also think that the institution of sailing is on an extreme. It is not unbiased, neutral but rather partisan. On the water I hope we are all equal but "on the water" element is only one part of what SC's and human beings do. It looks like an anachronism. Most of these people aren't indifferent to sailing, they actively dislike what they see.

Clubs vary in this respect, mine being fairly informal and easy going, I'm fortunate and it keeps me sailing. Some clubs I visit though turn my stomach with their insecure, scared,  partisan attitudes. On this forum I'm pretty much on my own with my views (my background gives me thick skin) but with regard to the general public who doesn't sail I am not alone.


Edited by Sussex Lad - 14 May 22 at 11:30am