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More class racing at clubs ?
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Dakota View Drop Down
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    Posted: 23 Sep 22 at 7:58am
With widespread reduction in attendances at open meetings this year ( apart from the handful of headline classes) whether though the cost of living , covid or just apathy.
Ive seen the view that this will see the return of more class racing at clubs as these now none traveling sailors will push for more class racing at their  home clubs or simply move to clubs that do offer it. 
Personally I have my doubts, (it wouldn’t work at my club and it would  be a 140mile mile round trip to class race ) but what do you all think? Will this become a trend ? 


Edited by Dakota - 23 Sep 22 at 5:03pm
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I can't see it, apart from a few classes (L@sers, Solos, 400's) few clubs have sufficient numbers to support class racing. Those who crave class racing can change classes or clubs to those with enough boats already but I can't see that generating a sea-change in numbers across the board.
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Paramedic View Drop Down
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Posts: 929 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Paramedic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 22 at 4:45pm
it would stand a chance if more clubs forced the issue and worked with other local clubs to not tread on each others toes in terms of classes sailed.
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In general my observation is that many, maybe even most people prioritise sailing the right boat and sailing at the right club above having class racing.
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Posts: 170 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Dakota Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 22 at 10:30pm
Originally posted by JimC

In general my observation is that many, maybe even most people prioritise sailing the right boat and sailing at the right club above having class racing.

That certainly sums up my sailing experience. Smile
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Posts: 1312 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Do Different Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 22 at 5:57am
Agree with Jim C.      Seems to me there is a general trend away from regimented sports to more free form activities. In watersports, eg SUP but also wider; wild swimming, gravel biking, trail running, park runs,.........
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CT249 View Drop Down
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Posts: 399 		Post Options Post Options   Quote CT249 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 22 at 10:49am
The class versus yardstick issue varies so much across national and regional sailing cultures that it must be a reflection of a whole mixture of factors rather than any one preference being "better" than the other, no?

At our little club we have Lasers and are trying to promote a "band" approach, where we will encourage people to buy something roughly between a Tasar and Radial in speed. The idea is that down here that band fits in many of the popular classes across an enormous range of types, from Windsurfer LTs to trailerable yachts. It should give people fairly good racing while still allowing choice, whereas in an earlier era the boats were all so different that no one got a decent race.


Edited by CT249 - 24 Sep 22 at 11:28am
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Posts: 3401 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 22 at 1:36pm
Originally posted by JimC

In general my observation is that many, maybe even most people prioritise sailing the right boat and sailing at the right club above having class racing.

Yup, that's where I'm at. The right boat for me is the Blaze as I do most of my sailing on holiday on the sea. I tried having a different class of boat, theoretically better suited to the home club's water, to sail at home but I didn't get on with it so accepted the compromise of racing the Blaze at home. Class racing in single handers is available within striking distance of my home for L@sers, Solos, Supernovas and IC (barely) but only the Lasers and the Solos offering a choice of clubs and only the Lasers get double figurer turnouts.
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Posts: 305 		Post Options Post Options   Quote DiscoBall Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 22 at 1:45pm
Originally posted by JimC

In general my observation is that many, maybe even most people prioritise sailing the right boat and sailing at the right club above having class racing.


I think with the qualifier *in this country*. Obviously a more top-down approach is taken elsewhere. It would be interesting to have comparable data on participation for places where this is the case.

Edited by DiscoBall - 24 Sep 22 at 2:03pm
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Posts: 305 		Post Options Post Options   Quote DiscoBall Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 22 at 2:01pm


Originally posted by CT249


At our little club we have Lasers and are trying to promote a "band" approach, where we will encourage people to buy something roughly between a Tasar and Radial in speed.


Think there's a lot to be said for encouraging 'middle ground' boats and dissuading the desire to buy 'high performance' (even though according to the sailing press/governing bodies this is the golden future that's always just around the corner... 😂). Seems like most high performance hardly ever go out (too windy, too light, not enough water, wrong sort of waves) which kills particiation.

Having the confidence that the effort to go to the club will be rewarded with a reasonable fleet to race against is key. Having too many small handicap bands and too many boats that can't be sailed in the full range of conditions leads to 1-2 boat 'fleets' and people deciding their free time is better spent elsewhere.

Edited by DiscoBall - 24 Sep 22 at 2:02pm
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