Demographic Changes

It seems to me that people who see sailing and like it, go sailing. Others who see sailing and are not impressed, don't go sailing. Persuading people or changing perceptions is so very difficult. Back in the 'good old days' chaps were building Mirrors in the shed, throwing the kids in and off sailing. But then when did you last hear of someone building St Pauls with machsticks either? Society is different these days. I just saw a demonstration of 3D printing at Manchester Science Museum....who needs machsticks?

Originally posted by maxibuddah People do boat on about seo, but I have read that Google really more these days on the turnover of content rather than how the side is optimised. How true that is, is another matter. Of course paying them seems to work. You are of course correct John, but there are apps that do it now so why bother with a site. Just look at feedly, etc. However people still need to know that they exist. Also the websites need to format their output accordingly ( I know they're are plugins for cms sites) but this seems to be too difficult for many classes and clubs. You need to bear in mind that must of the time the website is run by a willing volunteer who isn't up to speed with the very latest technologies. You should have seen the hassle I had when I stepped down from doing our club site and Akashi finding someone to take over the phantom website.

SImon, is that an evening thing then?  Planning on heading up Friday to do some pre nationals training.   I would love to see some of that conference.  Pretty sure Rodney would be interested to.

Originally posted by davidyacht  If there is any real problem it is with society, as the Thatcher "me" generation works through, of takers and not givers ... Which manifests itself at club and class organisational level, which means that there is no-one to organise sport for the takers.

Edited by turnturtle - 05 Feb 15 at 1:36pm

Yes "Saving Sailing" does sound a tad extreme.


The world is changing ....sadly. I don't know the figures for disappearing sailing clubs but I suspect it will become an issue in the not too distant future.

Older folk seem to be able to reconcile competition with co-operation, youngsters seem to have lost that nack. Given that the world seems to moving further in the "competetive" direction and doesn't seem about to change I would guess several things could happen to give some sailing clubs the edge:

Clubs run as a business with profit being the main incentive. This runs the risk (or certainty) of increasing the elitist nature of the sport but as that seems to be happening (fashionable even) in the outside world anyway, who gives a flying ***K.

Fewer but bigger and fitter clubs. It's a club eat club world out there.

Renaming themselves to appeal to a wider customer base i.e. "Twatswater Watersport and sailing Club"
Targeting other watersports customers: Kayaking, rowing, surfing, kiting.....and Jet-skiing ;-)


 Joking aside there's some truth there I reckon.