University Sailing

Ah George I found it the same.The uni was interested in throwing buckets of cash at sport it if it was foot ball, rugby, hockey - new pitches ...etc... However sailing at liverpool, where all that was really required, was a one off cash injection to get hold of some suitable craft was like bashing your head up against a brick wall.

The year before you came to liverpool the sailing club was 're-started' and had about 6 members so understandably the AU weren't interested in funding us. I spent 6 months trying to put some form of boat/s together, but as you know they weren't worth the effort. However, the following year I made sure we were at least visible to potential new members and we had them turning up by the coach load. 80% of them having never sailed before which was great for the sport but we just didn't have the time/members/facilities. We did sort out a cheaper training course but people generally weren't interested in paying loads of money to do their RYA 1 and 2. The ones who had sailed before generally took one look at the available equipment and the snobby attitude at West Kirby and walked away.

I solute what you managed to achieve with the funding and finally sorting out liverpools own event. I only hope there is the dedication and motivation required to keep it going.

I agree with you George, the RYA has missed a trick at encouraging hoards of new people into the sport at uni level, as my responce from them was the same as yours - very negative. If the RYA supported the universities like the other sports bodies, then maybe we would see club sailing swell with people aged 18 - 25: generally the age range missing from most clubs!

I might just be a sceptic, but it's probably because these sailors arn't going to win medals...

From my experience, a good membership base, like Plymouths makes a great difference.  How you get that started is another matter altogether.  For a lot of people the social aspect of sailing is an important factor at uni!

Not all university sailing involves university owned boats.  There are other events where uni boats are not needed, such as the fleet racing nationals.  (I know it is in Weymouth but where else are you going to hold that many people and have such a club as rendezvous?) The fleet racing is always a good way to get your AU to look closer at funding the sailors.  Like most sports, if you are not going to give back to the AU, such as BUSA points, then the incentive is not always there.  If hockey and rugby bring in the points then that is the way they are going to go.  Yachting and Match racing are other prime examples where the boats are supplied, albeit for a higher entry fee.  But even then it is not too excessive.

Inter Uni training also works, if your uni doesn't have the facilities/boats, just go to another uni and train with them.  Or maybe ask a local club to help (like Plymouth).  This process not only helps you, but brings the standard up in the whole region.

Other options are to hire boats from local clubs for non racing members.  This might be initially more expensive, but at the end of the day you hand the boat back and don’t have to worry too much about that bit of broken rope etc. 

As for the age range missing from clubs (18-25) my uni is a member of a club, but I would not class us as being members really, we just use the lake as part of the uni sailing club.  Might be a bad point of view but means we don’t get in the way of club racing (too much)

These are only my thoughts……… 

Originally posted by combat wombat I suggest you read this, particularly the "participation" and "membership" sections.  No earthly reason?  I didn't realise you were the spokesperson for the whole of the RYA's membership.  We weren't asking for "nice shiny boats", merely the cash to either repair ours or buy some second hand boats - as we were haemoraging members due to lack of equipment.

I am familiar with the objectives of the RYA, thank you. If the RYA had money to hand out for equipment, which it doesn't, it would be better spent on clubs, which are open to everyone, rather than students, who are a small group in society. Funding for university sports exists through other routes. It is up to those running university sports societies to lobby for their share of it.

We (Strathcylde) dont have ANY boats at the moment and havnt done for a few years now. We do have enough money put aside to buy a secondhand flight of fireflys but actualy finding 6 identical fireflys to buy is proving a little difficult.

...so if anyone hears of any flights for sale let us know, asap!


Edited by Isis

sorry to correct u but our uni did win the nationals and are a southen uni. it is good that ur doing the team racing what are the events like up there.  it is a shame that we dont compete more at a lake in the middle of the country.  most of the stuff that we do is down here. (spose it is all travel costs)