The State of Club Sailing

Like a chap who's car smells of wetsuit boots, who dances like his grandad and doesn't like spending his money? Then join date-a-sailor.com.

I know of a club that tries to get its members to take the  PB2 course every 2 years , all because of the famous accident in Cardiff, not connected in any way with dinghy sailing. It costs at LEAST £ 150 to take with paid instructors.  I dont believe this is necessary. Another example of the beauracratic top down approach favoured by the RYA  To get various grants clubs have to sign up to these rules.  The lawyers are happy but they are making the sport more expensive.

Shouldn't need to take the cours every 2 years. However, direct assessment of a driver's abilities every couple of years, coupled with a chance to update skills could make a big difference. Getting people to Safety Boat standard also helps a lot. The RYA courses are excellent, and ensure people have to reached a minimum standard. However, without use, the skills are eroded, where they should be built upon.

The problem is of course that we have very few double handers sailing these days. One gentleman who I believe to be 78 used to be a very good GP sailor...and still is sort of. Anyway he was famous for employing young lightweight crews and cautiously bringing them on. Both my sailing children performed this task for him to their own benefit. His season has only just started due to the ill health of his wife and as we have no available junior members he was forced to plonk another elderly fellow in the front compartment. This fellow has been learning to sail for a number of years now but his progress has been limited if not non existent. Given that the ancient helm likes a crew to serve for at least three seasons before being allowed to lay hands on a spinnaker I feel that future progress may be timed out!

Yes it does make interesting reading for all those interested at whatever level in the development of our sport.

From section 3.1:

"For the sport of sailing in particular, the strength, capacity and capital of the sport is held by
the Clubs. While of varying sizes and make up, the Clubs operate fairly autonomously within
the sailing network, conducting their own events with some controlling substantial assets and
generating significant revenue. In addition to the Clubs are the Class associations which play
a pivotal role in investment and technical advancement of the sport. Therefore the
organisational structure needs to strengthen and manage this network of Clubs and Classes
to open up the opportunity for the sport to draw on these considerable resources as a
collective. (my bold)

Is this what the RYA is doing?