Classes fading in popularity

Rick don't take this personally but is it absolutely neccesary to plug the MPS in every post you write? I know it's kinda your job but I think you could be overselling a bit.

Why would someone pay £20 a year for something they can't see any benefit from? It's not tight it's common sense.

As has been stated before it's the class assocaition that maintains the rules (as a very minimum) and it's those rules that define the class that allows you to race in class or defines your class which allows you to race on handicap with a valid PY number. Also it's the CA that promotes your class; you must have an interest in the class being around in the future and not fading away ...

Re. MPS all I am doing is giving an example of what a class assocation can do ...  ... whilst I do have a commercial interest with Victor Boats I am also an unpaid member of the class assocation committee as I have been for most classes I have sailed.

Go on Matt, join the class assocation, you may recieve a plesent surprise.

The other thing is that some class assocations are making their websites password only to get over the issue of people taking the info of the site but not contributing to its creation. I personally think this is a bit negative and that you should make the site engaging such that the users see the value and want to contribute.

Rick

In our household, we own 4 boats, but are only members of 1 class association, the Firefly. For our money (£20) we get some very good news letters, with much stuff not on the website, and the support of the class as a whole if we need clarification on class rules, or if the boat needs remeasuring (I've just put new decks on) a class association trained measurer can do this. So we get a lot from the association, dispite the fact that we hadn't gone to a Firefly Open in 7 years before May.

The other classes are a little different. I cannot see what I would gain by joining the Mirror class with my 5 year old son's ancient cruising Mirror, and my ToY and my daughter's Puffin no longer have classes to be members of. All our boats also qualify for the Classic and Vintage Racing Dinghy Association, wich was set up in great part to offer the support lacking for lost classes in not having an association to join.

As far as being a member of a class association to race at opens, the only time most classes allow leeway is when one is borrowing a boat to do a class open at one's own club. Even then, the result will often be removed from traveller series results.

Probably because people didn't pay to join!

I have followed this thread with much interest,  I fully agree that it is the strength of the Class Association that determines its longevity.  It is rather sad,  but not surprising to see several people feeling it not worthwhile to support their class association.

As Secretary for the Mirror class I see this all the time,  there are still tens of thousands of Mirrors out there,  but very few owners see fit to join the Association,  usually citing the excuse they do not race.  But the Association has ensured the class has survived,  despite previous builders going bust and the Daily Mirror loosing interest.

For non racers who do not want to participate in some of our many events,  we are protecting their interests and maintaining high resale values.  On a daily basis we are answering Mirror related questions,  for example how do I repair the hole in the bottom of my boat ?,  where can I sail my Mirror ?,  what is my boat worth ? etc,  the majority of these being asked by non members.  Our website with over 15,000 monthly visitors is extremely popular with a wealth of information and forums to share experiences,  buy and sell boats etc,  but most of the people using are non members.  Providing these services all take a vast amount of effort and money to run,  why should a minority of Mirror owners pay for and help run for the majority to benefit ?.

Just because you don’t directly participate in a class association event,  and therefore don’t need to join, is like saying I won’t pay for something like the police because I never need to call 999.