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Boats for sale
| Laser 140101 Tynemouth |
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| Rossiter Pintail Mortagne sur Gironde, near Bordeaux |
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| Laser 28 - Excellent example of this great design Hamble le rice |
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List classes of boat for sale |
Future of Opens |
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iiitick 
Far too distracted from work 
Joined: 04 Jun 14 Location: gb Online Status: Offline Posts: 478 |
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 Topic: Future of OpensPosted: 13 Jul 14 at 11:30am |
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It's all this bliddy choice isn't it.....coupled with this fashion for considering the feelings of women and children. Way back in the 50's when I was touring with model racing yachts we had a member who was so selfish that even my callous adolescent self noticed it. His wife and child dressed in rags while following him round with cheese sandwiches wrapped in brown paper. He spent everything on boats and his Ford Zodiac while his 'dependents' lived in poverty. That was not unusual, husband was King...in many cases.
Happily things have changed and families are families, women have to be taken into consideration and children have to be indulged in a wide range of alternate activities. To participate actively in an open circuit sailors need to be single with car and income, married with second car and even more income, married with children second car, resident nanny and substantially more income. Some of you lucky chaps will have enthusiastic partners who wish to share or participate, lucky you! When I consider it I think it is amazing open racing survives at all! Having said all this next weekend we have our annual Byte open at Combs Sailing Club where the scenery is wonderful, the cooking sublime and the organisation exceptional. We will train you how to sail your Byte better on Saturday morning as well. Wifes, children, dogs and Zodiac's welcome.
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patj
Really should get out more 
Joined: 16 Jul 04 Location: Wiltshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 643 |
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Posted: 13 Jul 14 at 10:16am |
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If fewer people are travelling then combining similar classes for opens would be the simplest way of raising numbers. Hunts cvrda event included a vintage Merlin De May event and a SigneT open and was a good event. I've sailed Larks and they have combined with Scorpions to make better events. Both were still class racing so no PY issues.
Generally if we are travelling then we are committed well beforehand and will turn up to support the event even if we don't sail due to unsuitable weather - we had a great time at a three day open in Wales one year but didn't even unstrap the boat from the trailer! |
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Punky
Groupie 
Joined: 11 Feb 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 90 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 10:13pm |
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I was talking to a friend this evening who races vintage cars. The events he attends are oversubscribed. If you don't get a place this year you are guaranteed one next year. Nice problem to have!
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iGRF
Really should get out more
Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 10:09pm |
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It's the only way to roll.. 
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sargesail
Really should get out more
Joined: 14 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1459 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 9:07pm |
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Nessa it is a worrying trend. One of the things I like about the 300s and the 2000s is spending time with teh other sailors, including when we can't race. But with an 8 and a 6 year old time on the water with or without them is precious. The thing I really can't stand is turning up at an Open and finding a club not running racing when it could do (wind too light or too strong).
I do think that new style and more accurate forecasts are a factor.....people have lost the 'field of dreams' view that if we come they will put on a race! But I've also had some great events when I've travelled more in hope than expectation and the forecast has been better than expected. It's also been really interesting watching the change in attitude to Opens from clubs. We risk an insularity that has never been part of the UK dinghy scene. One of the very bestthings is sailing in new places with new people. I would miss it if it were gone. In some ways dinghy opens do the same thing for me as cruising yachting in remote places, only with a competitive and sociable edge to it.
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iiitick
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 04 Jun 14 Location: gb Online Status: Offline Posts: 478 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 9:02pm |
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Well, I have that now! Every Wednesday night a group of bikini clad young women pack my boat away while I spray champagne.
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iGRF
Really should get out more
Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 8:06pm |
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I know my place, it's sauntering up the slipway after the race, to be greeted by a <insert relevant sponsor> girl offering me a beer and would I like it here or should she bring it to my table in the marquee.. Then after one or two cool refreshing glasses we re run the race as it should have turned out whilst explaining life to the sponsor girls and their future in it.
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rogerd
Really should get out more
Joined: 25 May 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1076 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 8:02pm |
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I would turn up for the food at Hunts and the welcome.
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Do Different
Really should get out more
Joined: 26 Jan 12 Location: North Online Status: Offline Posts: 1312 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 7:09pm |
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An open to all comers with no prior communications with a few key classes is pretty much a lottery. Recently we have had some nice meetings by building a liaison with a few niche classes. They give us a notice of intent and in turn they know we are expecting them and are prepared to run the event with their preferences in mind. Two or three class starts plus an allcomers.
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Noah
Really should get out more
Joined: 29 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 611 |
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Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 7:02pm |
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Opens tend to be class events so the handicap is entirely irrelevant. Stop banging on about it. Being timed out is a bad thing. We offer straggler(s) a finish. They've made the effort to travel, they should be made welcome. Back to back is a necessity in some places - take some sustenance and fluids afloat. Plenty time for beer and chat after racing.
To answer the original question, advance fees or non-returnable deposits will put more people off. You just have to ensure you put on a damn good event whatever the weather.
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Nick
D-Zero 316 |
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