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.

Edited by m_liddell

Some things that might help

1. Encourage newcomers to sail one of your clubs "supported classes" - it means there's usually going to be other people out sailing the same boat and inevitably they can swap thoughts/tips after racing or just give your newbies someone to follow and observe for a while

2. Make sure newbies to racing do at least one stint a year in the assistant OOD chair - helps understand the mechanics of racing and how the flags, course setting and times work as well

3. Encourage the sort of environment the RYA Racing Charter is promoting - a hoard of shouting, barging and rule-bashing sailors isn't a welcoming pool to go swim in for the first time

4. Make sure your onshore facilities encourage everyone to stay behind after racing for a cup of tea or a pint, likewise if there's breaks in the racing on a given day - nothing like swinging the lead to encourage the free flow of ideas

5. If all else fails, issue magic potion to all newbies then laugh when "uptight boy"  in his laser and "shouting couple" in their Fireball are passed by newbies in Topaz Uno's

I think the buddy system works quite well.  It was used at a nationals that I went to a few years ago and it worked well cause all of the top boys/girls were very helpful and helped some of the lesser crews move up the fleet. You then sometimes get the problem that happened at the fireball nationals a few years back where the buddies were getting beaten by the people that they are trying to help.

At Scaling we have a very active Junior and newbie scene and having read this thread and had a think I believe it's to do with the racing program. We have casual racing on Saturday and Sunday morning and 3 races on Sunday afternoon which get progressively more intense. 1200 Novice race race - anyone can enter but realistically it's a fun race, 1400 Class race - 4 classes generally with less than 10-15 in each and 1600 ACH - all boats off one start.

Like heavy wind sailing it's easier to get the hang of it if it get steadily tougher rather than going straight out in a F6. I guess we have a large turnout already (a critical mass if you like) but it works well if you can get to that point.

Edited by Matt Jackson

average  lap is a good thing for newbies - nothing worse than sailing round dead last while everyone sits there looking at your in resentment, or worse  shouting "retire" as you pass - I actually witnessed this once

... only prob for those of us with tidal waters to deal with is that you have to start and finish from the same spot!