Too many reports?

Personally, I do not think that there are two many reports and I like to read them. There will never be too many for me.  People can pick and choose whether or not they read them or not, it's personal choice.

What I like to see is a reasonable summary of all of the racing at an event (not just the first race, which often happens), followed by a full list of the results.  

I like to see 'complete' results showing all of the boats that took part, the full names of the helms and crews (in dinghy racing), the clubs and sail numbers of all of the competitors.

There are some things that I don't like such as the use of the annoying phrase 'a small but select fleet' which, to me, means that hardly anybody turned up and in any case who is to decide who is 'select'. If 'complete' results are shown then readers can see who and how many competitors took part.  I think that it is important to use the full names of the helms and crew.  I don't like to see just surnames being used or just the name of the helm.  I like to see which clubs competitors belong to, so that I can see not only where they are from but, also, if people have changed clubs or joined others.  It's nice to see sail numbers as it makes it easy to link crews with any photographs displayed.  It is also nice to see who is sailing what boat, got a new boat or identify boats that you have owned, know or sailed against.  

I don't like to see reports where full names are not used in narratives or in results.  Without full names, it means nothing to me that 'Janet and John made a good start in the first race' and 'David and Susan capsized at the windward mark', etc., if I do not know who these people are.  To see results with 1st Janet and John, 2nd David and Susan, 3rd Sophie and Pete, etc., etc., is a complete turn off for me and I will probably not read the report.

It can be a thankless task having to write a report, particularly if it is left to one of the competitors, typically the competitor who ended up 3rd overall (or whatever).  In my view, it is impossible for a competitor to get an overall view of any race, and be able to remember it, when he/she is concentrating on their own race.  I think that it is a good idea for event organisers to ask the Race Team (or club spectators) to make a few notes about each race so that a reasonable and balanced report can be compiled by whoever is tasked to do it - it makes the job easier.

Everyone has different views on what should be contained in a report and the quantity of information provided.  As mentioned previously, as in any magazine or forum, people can pick and choose what they want to read, providing the information is there. I like to read good reports as I like to see what is going on, not just in my own class but also in others.  I suppose it depends on how keen people are on their chosen sport as to how much they read.  Personally, I have little interest in yacht (big boat) racing or match racing so I tend not to read many reports covering these aspects of sailing. 

It is good to see photographs of races or events.

Ian  (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)