Getting begginers into club racing

A club I know considered some way of identifying the boat as a racing newbie (red ribbons on shrouds or something) so the rest of the fleet would take it easy if they screwed up. The biggest thing if for oether people racing to not take it too seriously! It’s a club race on a Sunday morning, not the Olympics it should be a bit of fun. Another idea if to get new people into it by crewing a few times with experianced guys in the fleet, it's less scary this way. Many beginners sail pico's or laser 2000's which are not usually racing fleets - make a fleet of them for racing maybe?

I don’t really understand the need to push people into racing. Yes, you may want a bigger fleet to sail in - but the priority should be getting just getting people out sailing at all and then the racing may well take care of itself. A much bigger problem is retaining people after courses.

How many sailing clubs offer rescue cover when there isn’t racing/a course going on? None that I have ever been a member of.

I don’t like racing, and I don’t think I ever will. I’ve done some open meetings and a season of club racing and I just got fed up with all the bickering, arguments and people taking it way to seriously even at club level. I sial to have fun! In kitesurfing and windsurfing most people do not race, it is not necessary for enjoyment of the sport and sailing should be the same.