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Twenty years from now

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Rupert View Drop Down
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    Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 6:55pm
Someone who has just learned to play squash is unlikely to play against someone who has been playing competitively for 20+ years, are they? I'm crap at snooker - I'm unlikely to go to a snooker club and take on the club champ - it is simply a mismatch.

The great thing about sailing is that you CAN race against the best - it shouldn't mean that you HAVE to. The idea is to get people enthused at the idea of racing, and to give them some of the skills needed to feel comfortable sailing close to other boats - then they might jump into club racing and actually enjoy it, especially if they join in with others who have been through the same process.
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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: 29 Jan 15 at 6:27pm
Originally posted by mozzy

 
You don't see many sports where once you've learnt the basics you're chucked straight in to compete 

No?, Golf, Rowing, Squash, Tennis, Billiards, Darts, Bowls, Netball, Rounders, no competition there?

Without an element of competition it becomes something else, with no pressure and certainly no real need for a club organisation, as sailing clubs, we shouldn't even entertain cruisers or any casual approach all that does is fill the boat park with nettle traps.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iiitick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 5:57pm
The final element of our training program is 'Start to race' where beginners practice and race against each other.
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Rupert View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 5:55pm
Sportif is maybe the way some classes open meetings should be run - it might attract people to a less intense way of doing things. The Lightning Open circuit is generally pretty relaxed, for instance, but it still has the same format of 3 races, 2 to count, prizes at the end. With everyone sailing a similar product (there is more difference between a Tera and a 29er, say, than between 2 road bikes, even if one cost 10 x what the other did) it would be easier to get the right atmosphere.

Opportunity for a rotomould class to do something? Topper sponsored Sportif for the Argo, maybe? A good option for Pay and Play, maybe?


Edited by Rupert - 29 Jan 15 at 5:56pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 5:25pm
Originally posted by Thunder Road

Originally posted by Rupert

Sportive racing sounds a little like the novice racing with a bit of coaching on the side that I try and run for juniors and their parents. Looking at it from the angle mozzy has, it would be quite easy to expand it a little and see what happens.

I find it a little depressing that we need a half way to club racing. What does it say about us as people that others should find club racing intimidating? Club racing is beer racing round the cans, I find it hard to believe it becomes important to people, they'll be having protests next!
Unfortunately no matter how nice you are, people will always view racing as racing, and this will put some people off as they will fear getting the way or making mistakes. It's dawnting enough joining a new club meeting new people, doing an activity you're not yet comfortable with, and then on top of this being forced into a situation where you might disrupt the highlight of these very kind and friendly people's weekend. In fact, the nicer the people are, the more awkward some would feel about getting in your way! 

However, if an event is specifically targeted at beginners and improvers, then new participants instantly feel less awkward about joining in. It immediately breaks down a lot of barriers, and is one reason why inclusive cycle sportives are so popular. 

You don't see many sports where once you've learnt the basics you're chucked straight in to compete against the best the club has to offer? And yet it's the the pretty much go to approach for sailing. 

There's enough barriers to our sport in terms of equipment cost and it's technical nature, without throwing people straight in a deep end. 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Do Different Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 5:20pm
Jack Sparra's video today is one reason I'm hopeful.

Not because it's of a foiling Cherub but because the excitement in the voices especially the lady's of doing something for the first time.

All these first times carry the same buzz, from a child making a Topper to where they want through  countless others, three sail reach from the wire, hooking into a windsurfer, ...................... to the foiling Cherub. 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iiitick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 5:01pm
I have a lot of grass but that is field. For our little ornamental lawn a pushalong mower is fine. Had to buy it on the internet though. 

I can find nothing intimidating about our club racing because all our members are so nice and I find it quite easy to teach basic rules to beginners. The future of our kind of sailing is racing though sometimes a new member will turn up and proclaim to only be interested in pleasure sailing. They never last however as there is nowhere to cruise to and even our lovely view gets boring after a while.

I see no reason why our little club will change that much over the next twenty years. It is much the same now as it was twenty years ago except that Supernova has replaced GP and we have electricity.

I do wish we had some juniors though who could be 20 years older in 20 years.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 4:29pm
Originally posted by Rupert

Sportive racing sounds a little like the novice racing with a bit of coaching on the side that I try and run for juniors and their parents. Looking at it from the angle mozzy has, it would be quite easy to expand it a little and see what happens.

sounds more like what PY racing should be, and ought to be to deliver a truly great middle ground.  

The problem with PY racing is everyone takes it far too seriously, for something that from the outside, ought not create such a drama.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Thunder Road Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 4:18pm
Originally posted by Rupert

Sportive racing sounds a little like the novice racing with a bit of coaching on the side that I try and run for juniors and their parents. Looking at it from the angle mozzy has, it would be quite easy to expand it a little and see what happens.

I find it a little depressing that we need a half way to club racing. What does it say about us as people that others should find club racing intimidating? Club racing is beer racing round the cans, I find it hard to believe it becomes important to people, they'll be having protests next!
Finn GBR16 Thunder Road.
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Rupert View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 4:01pm
Sportive racing sounds a little like the novice racing with a bit of coaching on the side that I try and run for juniors and their parents. Looking at it from the angle mozzy has, it would be quite easy to expand it a little and see what happens.
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