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turnturtle View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Melges 14
    Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 12:52pm
kind of... yes.  A list of pros and cons for both get more or less universal acceptance.

And that then leads to hybrid theories.... where classes retain class status for higher level competition, but for everyday club stuff at everyday clubs, classes fall into Categories, where freedom of expression and choice in the hardware shares the platform with simple, easy to follow, first across the line competition of one-design racing.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 12:40pm
So, the choice between individual freedom and the good of society, all in a sailing microcosm? In sailing terms, of course, there is the choice simply not to sail at all if you don't want to sail the boat which is for the good of society.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 12:20pm
Originally posted by Rupert

Can't remember how we got to sailing mags from the Melges 14 - possibly because we ran out of things to say about a small plastic singlehander with nothing particularly "new" about it. Which would be a bit of a problem for magazines trying to make such a boat interesting enough for readers to buy a copy.

no, but a proper investigative piece could question whether the vapourware coming out of Melges is damaging to the only adult singlehanded class sailed globally; and what it really means to sailing if boats like this start building new fleets.  Just sayin'
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 11:54am
So many of the kids I have taught at Juniors have come from previously non sailing families, I can't agree that offspring of sailors are the only people involved. And I've been doing this long enough that some of those that I taught are still sailing as adults, and some even have kids, who will become offspring of sailors, sailing.

Can't remember how we got to sailing mags from the Melges 14 - possibly because we ran out of things to say about a small plastic singlehander with nothing particularly "new" about it. Which would be a bit of a problem for magazines trying to make such a boat interesting enough for readers to buy a copy.
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Woodbotherer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodbotherer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 11:49am
Magazines require enthusiasm, enthusiastic readers and writers, I'd love to do it precisely because I'm still in that first flush of enthusiasm I always get for a new sport then generally ruin by turning it into a business where it becomes more about sales and the money than the sport and I'd promised myself not to let that happen with this, even though everywhere I turn I can see better ways that things could be done.

If we had a mag with a worldwide readership of over 70,000. how much better for the boat builders and marketeers and clubs to have their own page giving location details kind of in a centralised Facebook for dinghies way?
If the testing panel had some respect, by  calling things as they are rather than what the brochure says pointing out the crap as well as the cream, then a good boat review would be meaningful.

I still read everything and quite often don't understand what they're saying, get bogged down in jargon and terminology that harks back to Noah saying he'd sighted land, that stuff all needs explaining to a wider audience than children of existing sailors which is all the market is at the moment.

The world you know is alien to most, you don't realise it because it is your world you've grown up in it, but a lot of what you put up with seriously is an absolute farce in todays world and laughed at. You need all that explaining and it's arse busted in some cases.

The market is crying out for it, but the market as it currently stands can't afford it so catch 222 chicken and egg.. Who in their right mind would risk it and end up bust like DSM?

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 11:42am
It is great that Georgie Corlett has taken the helm - I'd not realized. Glad I didn't cancel.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dougaldog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 11:38am
Having written for all of the Mags, "I feel your pain"! One of the problems facing the sport(or the pastime if you would prefer that definition) is that it lacks a clear voice. Indeed, it is by no means an exaggeration to suggest that one of the core issues that impact on dinghy sailing (only one mind you!) is that lack of voice to get a positive message out to a wider audience.

Many years ago, the great Jack Knights used to write for Y&Y, if ever there was a man to 'tell it like it was' it was Jack. Compared to him, iGRF/Woodbotherer is a tame pussycat. Sadly, if Jack were still with us today, his voice would be silent, for he would have been sacked long ago. The boa-constrictor coils of 'advertising revenue' would have strangled his opinions. As a result, we're now left in the position where some pretty rotten goings on get by, without censure, simply through the lack of the 'voice'. (including some recent shockers that have slipped by under the radar)!!

Graeme is not alone in looking at the issue, I know for a fact that others have (as I was contacted regarding content provision....posh term for articles) but in every case it became clear that it just didn't stack up.

I think that the direction Mark is taking Y&Y.com has to be the best - indeed, possibly the only route for going forward. The news is instant, available in many differing formats (nothing stopping you printing off copy if you've a rain forest or two going spare)and there is the space to develop articles far beyond that on the printed page. Just once, in a number of years of writing for print copy, did I break 1800 words. Recent articles on Y&Y.com have run to double that - and with 3 times the number of pictures you'd be able to get into the 'mag'.

With a new Editor, the print version of Y&Y has a chance to re-invent and re-establish itself...this won't happen overnight, but knowing the new Editor (who used to be at the helm of DSM at the time when you really liked that mag) it looks to me that it should be given a chance. If there is something missing - either in the paper version or on-line, tell them; after all, the game of the game has to be finding the right opportunity to exploit.

Proof of the pudding is surely in the freedom I've got to write Part III of my series. Just a year ago that would never have seen the light of day, now it will get front page billing (when I finish it.....).

Dinghy sailing may have lost its voice for a number of years, but there is now a chance for 'alternate' views to be heard. Rather than loose that opportunity, because people are trying to create a new platform, why not make more use of the ones you have now?

Edited by Dougaldog - 22 Jan 15 at 11:41am
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 11:25am
I nearly stopped Y&Y, but in the end didn't, partly just through habit, and partly because while it isn't perfect, it is far better than any of the other sailing magazines, and it would be a shame if it died.

What is a pity is that it didn't hold to its promise when it absorbed DSM. Maybe there simply aren't enough interesting things to say about dinghies to keep non Y&Y forum types interested?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Null Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 10:29am
Agree Graeme...Which is a shame.   Would a digital magazine be much cheaper?  Surely a consumer led website is the best thing?  Problem is that without spending the money on advertising.  or more importantly having somewhere to get some kind of ROI.  You will never break into the club market.
It seems some builders/classes are happy selling 12 boats a year, which is fine.  However many clubs have never heard of their class.  How do Manufacturers and classes reach the audience????  I no longer know a subscriber to Y&Y.  Most of my mates on pic up on Y&Y.com articles if shared on facebook and no one knows anything about sailing Anarchy.  Its sad that there is a gap in the market, but yet its not profitable to fill.  Probably speaks more about why the sport is in decline than anything else.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodbotherer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 15 at 9:17am
I did put a bit of research into launching a dinghy magazine, aimed at the competition sector, namely us, sort of a latter day dinghy sailing mag, even went as far as to get a pal who runs these things to price it up and prepare what would be a necessary template with which to build a rate card, then he told me the budget needed, ad wise to make it even half decent competitively speaking, five grand, I looked at the market of penny pinching ad banners and thought ' not a chance' who amongst the dinghy market would be paying 1200 quid for a full page double spread or even 800 for a full page A4, in fact who even has a double spread colour ad in play even, they don't think like the rest of the action leisure market, which is why you have what you have mag wise.
It's a shame because I reckon we could put together a really cool mag with lots of attention to boats, kit and bits with articles on stuff that interests us plus how to get into the sport stuff to promote small boat sailing and competition to a crossover audience. the beauty of my plan is my chum runs online kite and bike mags, which you could advertise right across the platform, worldwide to 70,000 active sporting types. Get me an ad salesman that can deliver 5 grand an issue and I could deliver the sort of mag we need distributed worldwide.


Edited by Woodbotherer - 22 Jan 15 at 9:19am
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