Club racing / event circuit balance

Originally posted by Matt Jackson If I had a fleet of 10 other boats to club race against I would probably only go to the Nats or inlands depending which is closer but having moved from a very active Contender club (Weston - 'the spiritual home of the Contender') to where it's just me, I find I'm going backward at each meeting I attend so travelling (for me) is essential for keeping me on (or near) the pace at home. I do about 3-4 TT's and a major UK event.

I can't say I blame you for not wanting to sail 'alone'. As I think I know where your Contender is I don't think you've sailed it since the start of November? Maybe that's another reason why you feel you're '"going backward" when you do come out to play. A solution for  those classes that are scattered across the north like yours maybe for sailors from different clubs  (but within say 50 miles radius)  to coordinate where and when to sail  at least once a month. This could either be at at handicap events or at a particular club on a semi-regular basis. That way you can get more fleet racing without travelling to the south coast every weekend for opens. We used to do that in Fireballs and had a couple of great years when several good weekends resulted whereas without the effort, we'd have all just sailed alone.

Edited by Hector

I used to believe it was the responsibilty of 'good sailors' to support the local club sailing, as that is the way new starters get better. We all need to stop thin king about ourselves if we want more participation in our great (but only great after you have tried it) sport.

Its everyones dream to just do the opens and nationals, but what would happen to the sport? Its rhetorical cos we all know...... it would fall into the proverbial toilet of hobbies for wierdos.

Originally posted by gordon Which is why I feel that clubs should be doing more than just starting endless races.

It's difficult to say where the responsibility of the club starts and ends. Ultimately it's down to the members to organise themselves, isn't it? I know that I have stopped racing twice on a Sunday, in favour of spending the mornings focusing on training, and racing in the afternoons...

I started doing this because I realised that I just wasn't getting the sort of sailing I needed by club racing all the time... I don't blame the club for that at all!