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Nationals Attendances |
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rich96 
Really should get out more 
Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596 |
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 Topic: Nationals AttendancesPosted: 12 Sep 17 at 7:49am |
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Great to see the Phantom resurgence
Lots of new boats and very good sailors in the fleet For an old design, albeit with lots of upgrades over the years, it still makes many new designs look slow whilst remaining very sailable For the larger helm the Finn and Phantom still have no real competition as single handers. |
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423zero
Really should get out more
Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3420 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 6:08pm |
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GP14's and Solo's, comfortable in all winds, ageing sailors, probably one of the main reasons for upsurge.
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Bootscooter
Really should get out more
Joined: 15 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1094 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 5:58pm |
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Well along with the Phantoms at Highcliffe there was an 18-strong fleet of Europes out in the wind and waves. This signified an increase of 50% from last year and the largest since 2011 in what has always been a modestly sized class in the UK. I've started a thread on the Class Facebook page to try and find out what made people decide to go this year, and will report back.  I've got some ideas myself as to why this is, but will wait to hear from the sailors....
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iGRF
Really should get out more
Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 5:27pm |
I have so... I'm still in therapy. There was a Spider in it, and as I was remonstrating with it, as it clearly tried to bale out presumably because it was unhappy, looking to chuck itself overboard, it put me off my normal genius helming technique and there was a nasty crash which resulted in the side of the unfortunate Solo being mounted by a not entirely in control Streaker being gusted, which resulted in the starboard gunwhale being stoved in and I very nearly got a splinter as well as breaking a nail. What's worse I very nearly was forced to buy it, since it was a try before you buy sale and would have meant the Solution and I would never have met. Nothing about the Solo is nice, I took a picture once of a Solo and Solution side by side they have similar dimensions and sail size, yet there the similarity ends, chalk and very rotten cheese. Edited by iGRF - 11 Sep 17 at 5:32pm |
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Dougaldog
Far too distracted from work 
Joined: 05 Nov 10 Location: hamble Online Status: Offline Posts: 356 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 5:04pm |
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Actually the iGRF has asked the right question (though probably for the wrong reasons). In highlighting classes that are clearly working well, he is showing that the doom and gloom is not spread equally across the sport 'here in the UK'. Maybe there are lessons to be learned from these classes; Mozzy also made a good point! The Solo isn't a hard boat to sail, but a hard boat to sail well, ditto the GP14 and others of those so called more 'traditional'
classes. yet more good dialogue about an important topic. D
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Dougal H
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turnturtle
Really should get out more
Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 4:18pm |
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Re the solo Graeme - you've clearly never sailed one. They are great fun, speed is relative and I haven't found a more comfortable hiking boat (esp for dodgy knees!). I was just too fat for them inland and in predominantly light wind.
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Guests
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 12:21pm |
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Faster boats need more time invested to sail competently, but the people sailing them have less spare time = lower turnouts. I think both designers ans sailors underestimate this. People buy a fast 'race' boat, aiming to practice over the winter and do the open / nationals next year. But then fail to get out as much and decide to put off competition for another year. Classes where you can hop in and get in round a race course after a couple of weekends practice don't suffer this problem. I think people also over egg how competitive nationals are or should be. Outside of the olympic classes there's no need to be doing 3/4 race days. Don't get me wrong, the quality and standard of racing should be high; but it shouldn't crush the soul out of the holiday. We are doing this for fun after all. It's worth noting that although the Merlins had a poor nationals turnout, they still sell out Merlin week. The RS200's have got 40+ boats to Fed Week (Chichester Harbour Race Week) for many years too. The numbers are down at the overseas 'eurocups' but I think that is more down to financials than event setup. Edited by mozzy - 11 Sep 17 at 12:22pm |
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iiiiticki
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 06 Mar 16 Location: Derbyshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 206 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 12:03pm |
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If you look at the more successfull traveling classes with no Olympic/world stardom ambitions they are usually populated by those past child rearing responsibilities. Take Solo or Supernova for instance. Freedom and comparative wealth are important factors. Enthusiastim within clubs is also an important factor particularly if someone within that club is successful in a particular class.
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fab100
Really should get out more
Joined: 15 Mar 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1005 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 11:18am |
Graeme, you can keep asking this same question, this is the umpteenth time, about Lasers, Solos, GP14s et al, but you will continue to get the same answer ('cos it's true) - because those people want close, class racing - and they prioritise that over other factors you may consider more important but they do not. You may not like it, but that's the way it is. In your opinion they may be 'wrong', but do you believe anyone in that Solo fleet really gives a damn what you think? Perhaps it's not them missing the point, it's you. A better question you might ask instead, is why would anyone spend their precious leisure time (and more often money than sailing requires) watching a bunch of over-paid, preening prima-donnas roll around on the floor feigning injury (interspersed with bits of running about chasing a football) or ruining a walk by hitting a small ball with a stick along the way, or Morris Dancing, or getting up at dawn to plow up and down a swimming pool for the sake of it, or hundreds of other naff things they do, when they could be going sailing, the ultimate sport (in any of its forms). Trying to 'manage' the audience you already have can at best retain that population level. How about looking at the other 99%. But that's probably another thread...
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Saraband
Newbie 
Joined: 19 Jun 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 17 at 11:13am |
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I managed to do 3 national championships in a 30 day period this year, only missing on a 4th event because it overlapped by a couple of days. All events run by volunteers.....one was excellent the other two still good. One OD drove me up the wall with his admin and briefings but I wouldn't miss an event just to miss him!
All 3 events brought home to me why I go to opens and nationals.....wherever I was in the fleet I had good racing against lots of boats and my skill level has improved compared to my club fleet. Socially they were all good fun with varying levels. I struggle to understand why people are no longer travelling to opens / nationals. As holidays they are not that expensive, camping lowers the costs and double trailers still further. XC Weather / Windguru excuses don't explain poor nationals attendances because as others have said, bookings for holidays accommodation and early entry fee discounts mean you are committed to going well before a weather forecast is available. I stopped travelling to opens a few years ago when I went back into a singlehander....it took a couple of us talking in a bar one night to realise what we were missing. A few weeks later and with a borrowed double stacker we were back on the road and we have now been doing that for the past few years.......who can not enjoy a road trip with a mate every month or so??!! So, I think people need to cut the excuses of venues, XC Weather, too many classes and just get out there and sail more often...... |
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