Arresting the decline, does the RYA need replacing

All weekend facebook was chattering over the 'has Dinghy Sailing hit the buffers article'.Then, in that 'lost faith in Hyde Sails' thread things began to dwell on the decline of windsurf racing, which if anything could be learned from it, maybe it's not to late to apply an antidote to whatever it is now that is perceived as the key threat to dinghy racing decline if indeed it's true. As of last summer things were on the up here in our small corner of the world, but if you judge the health of the sport on the travelling numbers then there is almost certainly a recent decline and particularly two handers.

Windsurfing didn't actually decline in quite the same way, it being a sport that gives greater enjoyment levels off the race circuit, it merely shifted in emphasis and board size, then other sports came along that gave greater thrills in that arena so the exponents were split in different directions.

Since most of us here are pretty much committed racers, the answer to our collective problem has to be one of competitive marketing of the pursuit we love, it's not the class system or dilution thereof, or necessarily the equipment costs and availability, in my view it is simply a problem of access and training and the increased bureaucracy involved in that. Back in the day, the twin hander was a trainer, but now we live in the world of the certificated trainer, that is at best frowned on, and at worse uninsurable with the possibility of the club being wide open to the claim blame culture.

So what is the answer? Simply waiting for the summer tour operators to spit a few poly tubbers out and hope they persevere into the winter, or is it like jolly old WingWang up at Hunts, more innovative methods of drawing in the increasing group of mature empty nesters to use the marketing term.

Then we have the key obstacle to it all, the jolly old RYA and it's imperviousness to the needs of the grass roots, what can be done about it? Gone are the days when we sat on their committees and gave sage advice from local level, their approach is Olympic funded jobsworths paying lip service to groups hauled together to be collectively ignored.

The RYA pretty much killed windsurfing, I watched it happen, it was not pleasant, ethical or necessarily honest. I'm not suggesting that's happening with Dinghy sailing other than the blunderings that are obvious to us, but is there enough support to clubs and is the support necessarily helpful in achieving the goal of increasing the base number or is it just another obstacle in a world of instant access?

So what should we do, wait for the season and get our head back in the sand? Or is there something else?



Edited by iGRF - 25 Jan 17 at 4:52pm

Originally posted by iGRF Then we have the key obstacle to it all, the jolly old RYA and it's imperviousness to the needs of the grass roots, what can be done about it? Gone are the days when we sat on their committees and gave sage advice from local level, their approach is Olympic funded jobsworths paying lip service to groups hauled together to be collectively ignored.

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 25 Jan 17 at 5:23pm

How are the dinghy cruising association doing? They are looking after lots of grass roots sailors.

As far as I can see, while the RYA could do better, they provide a better framework in which to go sailing than I can imagine any break away group doing, except in a very limited way.

The RYA have confused lazy for laissez faire. Of course no one wants over-regulation, but some organisation from the governing body would be nice. I realise this will be shot down in flames, but dare I suggest they could even organise a professional UK circuit?

Fair point Rupert, and it wasn't my intention to dismiss training on the strength of one numpty :)

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 26 Jan 17 at 9:18am