SNAKES!

Originally posted by 423zero iGRF, Do you have any evidence at all that established classes such as the three I own Mirror, Enterprise and Minisail, plus other similar classes have contributed to the decline in sailing ?

No, nor did I cite them as contributors to sailing decline .

My opinion for what it's worth remains exactly where it was when I first surfaced here having failed to learn to dinghy sail in a Musto Skiff and that was that the products that were then being promoted as the pinnacle of the sport were ridiculous in that nobody, not even the good guys could use them for what they were intended for any more than fifty per cent of the time and often less than that.

The ludicrous over powered straight rockered drivel from Bethwaite, coupled to the various offerings from RS, the 700, 600, the 300 and now I realise the 200, all disasters marketed 80's style if you weren't able to sail them it's your fault for being somehow not good enough....

What did you think was going to happen to the activity with that attitude?



Edited by iGRF - 23 Jan 18 at 11:19am

Two good posts 

Originally posted by iGRF There is another thing.. It's the abuse, not sexual abuse or anything tawdry , it's what we subject our kids to at the hands of the bloody RYA and their squad 'training' the long hours on the water waiting for whatever, all the other ministrations of a school like system that inoculates those that don't make the 'grade' by whatever cut off age it is, against ever sailing again as soon as they become self aware and self determined. It's also the lack of educating and involving parents at the same time, it's they that the sport should be marketed to, parents have the disposable income, they could equally become a part rather than a taxi driver, the whole thing is screwed by the reliance on funding for kids and the Olympic pathway..

Originally posted by fab100 Originally posted by iGRF There is another thing.. It's the abuse, not sexual abuse or anything tawdry , it's what we subject our kids to at the hands of the bloody RYA and their squad 'training' the long hours on the water waiting for whatever, all the other ministrations of a school like system that inoculates those that don't make the 'grade' by whatever cut off age it is, against ever sailing again as soon as they become self aware and self determined. It's also the lack of educating and involving parents at the same time, it's they that the sport should be marketed to, parents have the disposable income, they could equally become a part rather than a taxi driver, the whole thing is screwed by the reliance on funding for kids and the Olympic pathway.. Oh gawd, I am totally in agreement with him on this one. Book me a shrink

next in the que for the shrink..... very agreeable and not a mention of the pyag in sight

Another one here, my experience of the RYA's youth system is Windsurfing's Team 15 setup. There is no question that there are plenty of enthusiastic and well meaning people involved but there is no progression beyond the Olympic pathway for those teaching that eponymous age.... in face the T15 coaches seemed to actively discourage their charges having any involvement with 'the opposition' (back in the day that was the UKBSA, now the UKWA) and DIV1/Raceboards....... They were churning out dozens of competent young racers the just abandoning them at 15 years old instead of pointing them at their UKWA regional series and local clubs. TBF the UKBSA/UKWA stopped supporting their regions 20+ years ago and left them to fend for themselves. Were it not for a few enthusiastic volunteers the club/regional Raceboard scene would have died out completely........