Travellers Series...

Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by jeffers If there were not these big events it is unlikely we would run anything. So you wouldn't for example, think to highlight 3 or 4 weekends/Sundays in advance at Grafham to boost the local fleet race and maybe offer some cross-over / wrap-around training?  £20 a weekend into the tin....  Naturally with a Thursday night green or red flag on the facebook group / email list depending on the forecast???    It's a rhetorical question of course, and by no means meant as a criticism.  My point is that consolidation into the SJ series is the default option now for a lot of class winter programmes, but there are and always were other options that might be worth re-visiting at your (or any other) class committee meetings.

Originally posted by Old Timer Sea clubs have extended their season to the detriment of the winter pond sailing. Seems daft because on the shoulders of the season the races are often cancelled where as you could have sailed on the pond. The main issue with travellers series is people seem to have become lazy although traffic levels these days and the cost of fuel and other expenses have made the hurdle higher ...  Plus of course people have more than one hobby these days ... less dedication ...

There is nothing wrong ... with agreeing to differ on this one !

You are not convinved about the SJ and similar events growth in recent seasons and what it indicates or the significance of it....   Your conclusions are possibly because you, as an individual, simply don't like to attend/compete in them currently.  Nothing wrong with that.   

Some of us might however think you and others are missing out.  The world of dinghy racing has always been changing - little can be assumed as being forever whether it is classes, technology or event organisation.  It is now, in part, about adapting or embracing these changes positively and growing with the 'new'.    And there is nothing wrong with that either !   

What evidence is there that winter handicap sailing is growing?  Years ago, my mates and I used to go on winter memberships to a local gravel pit club - this was always PY based, but I can't really remember caring for the results to much outside of whatever class I/we happened to be sailing at the time.   The local membership always made us very welcome, and of course, reciprocity was on order for a couple of the larger sailing weeks in the summer on the coast.  

Edited by turnturtle - 14 Nov 17 at 4:57pm

so you guys are seriously suggesting that some classes don't utilise these events as part of their winter programme???

Your contention of consolidation is turning into a surreal circular argument.   You don't support the SJ series one moment but now point out that some classes utilise the excellent organisation and format - as class events within the SJ events.  Further are you really sugegsting that these winter events are now somehow superior to the summer programmes of the vast majority of classes ?   That is very certainly not true.....

Does it matter  if they are used by some classes and are not for others anyway?  The underlying point is that winter handicap event sailing is GROWING and gaining in support and popularity fast.  Attendance is well up and beyond that managed by the constituent stand-alone versions enjoyed in previous decades.  Many events sell out well before the first visiting boat is hitched to a trailer ....This is simply NOT evidence of  sport consolidation or even decline as you have suggested.  That may be happening at Summer single-event opens in some classes, but that is a different issue.  It has very little at all to do with winter attendance at these SJ and similar events

But of course if you are now becomming convinced that the SJ series can play a useful role to all vibrant and practive classes then why on earth not do a few yourself this winter  ?