The State of Club Sailing

We have been talking about the future of sailing really? Are these hordes of happy youngsters the future of club sailing or are they simply a themed youth club? Absolutely nothing wrong with it, good for personal development, life skills etc. but are these kids 'the future of club sailing'? I may be wrong fleaberto but I believe you started sailing as an adult and you have made a considerable contribution to the class you support. You would have been a better investment than youth.

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by davidyacht Do you think so? Without even the slightest shadow of doubt. I have a database of old PY data. There's something like 400 classes that used to have numbers published and aren't on the list any more. Find an old guide to classes book from the 60s or something and see how many basically similar two handed round about 14 feet boats there were, even if you ignore all the older local one designs. No, what's changed is that people don't prioritise class racing any more. Seen it time and time again at different clubs. Someone works their ass off building a nucleus of a fleet, maybe they have a good number of boats racing together, but if that person loses enthusiasm within a season or three they'll all have drifted off and be sailing different boats or at different clubs. Back in the 60s in an area clubs would tend to specialise in classes, so you'd have a fleet of one class here, a fleet of a different class there, and very small handicap fleets. Just as many different classes if you went, say, the length of the tidal Thames, but in groups. Nowadays probably fewer classes, but no fleets.

Edited by Chris 249 - 01 Jul 15 at 10:39pm

Tick, you're right, I started sailing as an adult about 6 years ago I think.

The thing is, over the last couple of years, we've grown our adult membership and, more importantly, adult participation via our junior squad.

The youngsters are out on the water, the parents are sitting around soaking up the rays....so we get them out in boats, offer training....next thing you know, the club is perceived now as a whole family resource rather than something the nippers do before football/rugby/golf.
One feeds the other really.

There's a lot of talk about 'racing' - but that's not our niche, people are actual put off by the word 'racing' so we don't tell them about it at first.
Once they're out and bobbling around on their own we'll mention racing as more a way to rapidly improve your skills.
Mostly, though, we've built a decent sized membership of regular sailors who involve the whole family - and friends - who now see the club as an extension to their social lives rather than a youth club.

All started with those 8 year old Oppie kids :-)

There are boats behind you - I'm guessing that was pre-start!

Might be worth trying just a little more outhaul, based on that one photo. Amazing the difference it makes to the leech in a Laser.

Originally posted by iiiiitick I was talking to a friend this evening (no wind for sailing) who used to be director of leisure and sport for Derbyshire, or some such. Anyway he is an expert on all this funding stuff and a good man to have in our club! He maintains that government funding for sport is based on getting medals.

Not that simple. There are "elite sport" pots of money but also "community sport". Clubs can and do get both. "Elite sport" is indeed linked to medal achievement.