Dinghy Sailing Magazine disappointments

Hi

I would like to applaud Y&Y for continuing to print race reports in it's magazine.  It is often the only way that some of the established classes get exposure in print. Sailors who have taken part in an event like to read about it after the event - particularly if their name is mentioned or if there is a picture. I know many sailors who buy the magazine to get a permanent record of their endeavours. The only possible complaint is the delay in printing the reports, sometimes. In 26 January issue there were 6 reports from the Grafham Cat Open which happened on 21/22 October - I don't know if they got forgotten about and were woken up by this forum - but it is fairly rare that things get missed out in my experience.

The Y&Y website is very fast and efficient in its reporting and has recently been much faster than our own class website in reporting our events. The only problem is that the web site is so popular that reports soon disappear off the top page and have to be searched out. It is well structured and grouped to collect class history as well as the future programme for the coming season.

Generally, it is my experience that catamarans are well covered in Y&Y (magazine and web site).  What has to be remembered is that for coverage to occur someone has to intitiate it. Generally, this is in the form of sending in an event report or some newsworthy item. If some catamaran classes are not getting proper coverage I suspect that they are not sending stuff in to Jeremy Evans or to Clubs and Classes.

Keep up the good work Y&Y. You get my vote.

Helen

Not only did we put umpteen reports from GWSC on the web site, we also emailed you before pointing out that the event was attracting a huge turn out and that there were about 5 championships being decided.

If you want an example about how you are not covering grass roots sailing, the revival of the A Class in the UK is striking and not seen that noted at all.

Can you tell us who writes your regular 3 page features with pics on RS nationals and equivalent if you don't send reporters to events ?  Notice you are happy enough to send an ex employee of the company in question  to write a report on its new holiday site.

If you really want the feedback and leave us with a warm feeling, then maybe your cat correspondent should post in response to these crits. Y&Y is undeniably the premier mag but I am clearly not alone in thinking that it is getting out of touch with its core readership.

Funnily enough I did read the bloody mary report in the que. But then put it back. As for the trapezing article: its one of those things that to get better at you need to be on the water not reading about it in the bar. Yes there may have been useful coments for some, but if you've read one of the articles on trapezing...

One of the articles I used to find interesting to read was the 'Dinghy Forum' written by both cat and dinghy sailors if I remember.