Twenty years from now

CHris 249,

"I wonder how much smaller the sailing world would have been if it wasn't for Jack Holt, Haylock and Beecher Moore".

Great - someone recognising the part this trio (and you could well have added in Dusty Miller, foreman at Bell Woodworking to the list) played in the expansion of the dinghy racing scene. For the Holt centenary in 2012 and then more recently for the Merlin Rocket book, I have enjoyed unrivalled access to the Holt family and their own material. What is key to the story was the unpleasant treatment meted out to Jack by the International 14 class and some of our premier clubs in the pre-war years. Jack was denied access to the clubs because he was considered an artisan (though the same distinction was NOT applied to Uffa Fox). Jack Holt believed that the sport of dinghy sailing/racing was far too important to be left in the hands of the elite who made up the numbers back then. So, if you look at Jack's philosophy, it was all about the democratisation of sailing, "boats for the masses" if you want the short version. Interestingly, a lifestyle survey held in the late 1950s identified that boat ownership was the number 1 aspirational wish for people as the years of early post war austerity slipped into history.

There is an identifiable sub-plot to all this that suggests that over the last 30 years, top down policy making in the UK has all be about the creation of a sailing elite - more on that in Part III of the series of linked articles. Let us not forget that Ian Proctor played his part too, will the 'powers that be' even bother to recognise his achievements in a couple of years time, when it is IP's turn to enjoy centenary celebrations.
D

http://www.helptobuy.org.uk

Originally posted by bustinben So if you want to do 2 major  internationals per year + all the major UK based ones...

For most of us back in my youth we might have dreamed of doing two major overseas international events in our lives, never mind a year...

Edited by JimC - 28 Jan 15 at 3:54pm

Originally posted by turnturtle No one is obliged to buy a house- if we followed a more European model then rental is more normal, as is asset appreciation on property only in line with inflation.  Outside of hot spots anyway.   Easier said than done though- my own circumstances mean I'm not investing in the boat I really want just yet because we've taken out another mortgage.  That said, I think the depreciation on the boat is the least of the costs if you plan to campaign one on a circuit and regularly take your holidays for championships.