Sail Away Scheme

would many clubs turn away a visitor for just one race anyway?  I know Draycote has a day rate facility, probably more to do with the lease wit Severn Trent than income generation, but at a less structured club I'd have though a guest could be signed in once or twice a year .

Originally posted by MerlinMags I think the open meeting system (non-members welcome to race for a day) implements most of what you are offering, doesn't it? Many people can't be bothered to tow in order to compete in a club-level race, but the larger scale of an open meeting encourages them to travel.

Sad to say I think mm is correct.
Would like to think it could work, but I have a feeling that it would only be used by people thinking of changing clubs to check out other clubs.

Some years back I had an idea (a rarity) the aim of which was to get people (racers and non racers alike) out and active again. It was one of those ideas that came and went, but I resurrected it from the memory banks this last weekend as part of some bar discussion about increasing our active membership and it’s been on my mind this week, so thought I’d throw the idea open to you chaps and chapesses.

Originally aimed (but not exclusively) at the multitude of potterers/recreational sailors, a scheme whereby a network of participating clubs (regional but perhaps beyond) allowed members of each other’s clubs to visit and sail once a year at no charge.
I’ve sort of refined the idea thus…

The home club levies one-off surcharge on the annual membership cost of say a tenner for admin cost and perhaps a small financial benefit, and issues a scheme members card;

The member is then able to sail ONCE, for a weekend, at any participating club, subject to facilities ie rescue, being available;

Max 5 separate visits to separate clubs in a membership year…host club stamps members card on arrival;

Open events excluded unless host club specifically welcomes SAS participation;

Entry to normal Club Racing specifically permitted.

The aim here was really to offer something extra to dormant members but also perhaps to offer non travelling racers the opportunity to try racing somewhere else..perhaps with a few mates…in an environment not so intense as a formal open circuit. To entice people to get more active…variety is the spice of and all that. In the spirit of the scheme, not to be used as a poaching tool by clubs, but perhaps an incentive for clubs to ‘up their game a bit’ and, well you may lose a member or two but you may similarly gain.

So, over to you peeps. Do you think your clubs would be interested in such a scheme? Would you personally pay a tenner to take part? Pro’s and cons?