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Is inflation impacting Nationals Attendance?

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Post Options Post Options   Quote gbr940 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Is inflation impacting Nationals Attendance?
    Posted: 06 Jul 22 at 7:24am
Having joined the RS400's this year it's been a complete c**k up by RS in the calendar to be honest and having the Nationals in Scotland (East Lothian) when the RS Games is on 2 weeks before (which the RS400 Southern Champs is 2 weeks before that), along with an extortionate entry fee makes the event completely nonviable for so many.

Covid is clearly still an issue, but ramped fuel prices, high entry fees and accomodation and simply not having the time is making events a right-off for so many now. Even I'm contemplating reducing my events to just the 2023 Nationals because of this.   
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Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 22 at 1:09pm
Also, people are still getting Covid. It seems that even now, every week at least one person I know is getting it. People are still having to cancel plans and are cautious about committing. Some people may be less than thrilled about cramming into a small Sailing Club bar even now.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Fatboi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 22 at 9:45am
This is an interesting question and I also think that there are a lot of events overlapping right now, which is affecting some choices! 
I know the solo's and OK's overlap. Salcombe Merlins and FF15's overlap this weekend. The RS Games will take away sailors that sail in multiple fleets. 

I also wonder if local events will be bigger than normal this year with people staying at home, so will events like Chichester Harbor week be better attended?

Personally I feel it may be more of a COVID knock on. Last year people were gagging to do events and get away plus I think there were less events, so people picked a nationals and committed, whereas this year there is much more going on, plus the ability to go abroad, so more demands on time.
I am still doing my nationals, but have cancelled the accommodation and am camping to keep costs down.


Edited by Fatboi - 04 Jul 22 at 9:48am
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Post Options Post Options   Quote NickA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 22 at 8:59pm
We managed a (recent) record of 12 Javelins at last year's nationals; people wed not seen for years or never seen before showed up. Despite a hefty entry fee and very poor camping provision. I think it was a covid "over", let's get out there response.. This year I'm not even sure it will happen.

Ospreys, 48 boats last year... there was a big push to hit 50 and loads of publicity and nags to pay up CA fees. This year .... silence, we shall see.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 22 at 4:26pm
Originally posted by turnturtle

Originally posted by Grumpycat


It makes no difference to me , I won’t be doing the D-zero or any nationals ever again but maybe the D-zero should look at venues that are a little more cost and sailor friendly going forward . 
In their defence, being responsible for choosing a venue for any nationals is a c@@p job because where every you choose, someone will not be happy  Wink LOL




Yep, yep, ditto, yep


I'm not ruling out doing a Nationals again, but I might well wait for the event to come to me.

Don't most of the nicer venues decide what classes they're having years in advance?
So the blame for choosing the venue is normally obscure by the time the event happens.


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Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 22 at 2:49pm
Originally posted by Grumpycat


It makes no difference to me , I won’t be doing the D-zero or any nationals ever again but maybe the D-zero should look at venues that are a little more cost and sailor friendly going forward . 
In their defence, being responsible for choosing a venue for any nationals is a c@@p job because where every you choose, someone will not be happy  Wink LOL




Yep, yep, ditto, yep
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Mozzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 22 at 7:59am
The 800's are struggling this year, only 23 boats entered and entry closes this week. This will be our worst entry for a nationals, except 2020, when we only had 21... but that was a late venue switch in a year where many hadn't been able to sail. 

Open meetings have been well down too. 

I think there are several factors:
1) Other postponed life events (one wedding is taking out 3/4 boats)
2) Cost of accommodation has gone up dramatically
3) Cost of entry has risen
4) Our calendar is from loaded this year with a Euro's in June and Nationals in July, but nothing in August or September
5) This will be the 4th time in 5 year we've been to Weymouth (once at Castle Cove). It was great that WPNSA stepped up in 2020 last minute. But unfortunate that the RS Games chose Weymouth this year. 
6) There doesn't seem to have been much effort to sell the RS Games this year, at least in the 800 class. No social advertised. Very little in the way of prizes advertised. RS taking the event centrally can work, as you have cross over with lots of other sailing mates... but this time it feels a little bit tame compared to 2011 and 2018... also the 200's and 400's are doing their own thing
7) Crews now have to be class members (response to covid drop in membership). I think this just makes finding a crew harder. 

The 200's currently have 135 pre-entered for their Nationals at HISC. That's already the 2nd biggest Nationals they've ever had and will probably end up being the biggest two person dinghy Nationals of this decade. 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote The Q Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 22 at 3:37pm
I think last year Because were were coming out of lockdowns, more people though *** it we'll go to a big event this year.. 
What were the numbers at those events Pre Covid??

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 22 at 3:14pm
The Blaze Nationals was less well attended with only 43 boats this year compared with 73 in 2021*. I doubt the venue had much to do with it, Stone SC on the Blackwater estuary this year, Paignton last. Both events were very well organised and both delivered superb conditions (we got lucky I guess Smile) and racing. Cost-wise the parking on the prom at Paignton was offset by a lower entry fee but there was onsite camping at Stone SC had I chosen to live without electric hook-up.

* I wonder if £300 off a new sail helped boost the numbers last year Tongue ?



Edited by Sam.Spoons - 27 Jun 22 at 3:14pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 22 at 2:13pm
I suspect it is as much to do with a covid hangover as cost of living pressures. Many people have postponed weddings, holidays and other major events and are now busy catching up on that. Next year that backlog should be cleared, but we will all be feeling the pinch financially.  
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