SNAKES!

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons And the whole RYA levels thing is geared towards sailing around a course........

Is it? I've no idea, when we set up the levels thing for windsurfing we tried to keep it triangle and about going round a course, then they buggered about and launched some new thing 'fast forward' without centreboards without racing and windsurfing stopped growing almost from that moment. That and the big school owners being used as inspectors to close all the small ones.

The RYA tend to set their 'modules' up in as time consuming and boring method possible, since their interest is in selling instructor time and 'the experience' rather than swelling the ranks of active sailors or conversion.

I've long held the belief, better to sell the product and build the course of lessons on how to use it as a far better method of getting converted sailors and boat users.

We have exactly the same issues these days with kitesurfing, which is now beyond the novelty surge and we now have centres that just churn the interest with no motivation to convert the numbers into actual kitesurfers.

We're not impeded by the RYA (for very good reason), but we have a similar body,(but even more corrupt) that facilitates schools and can undermine the shop/shool scenario that kicked the sport off. So the battle goes on between those that would purvey the hardware and those that impart the skill, but, we're nowhere near as separated as the dinghy world, it still happens that those that teach you also sell you the means with which to carry out the activity and that my friends is what essentially is missing from dinghydom

I don't get this reluctance to compete..

You won't get far turning up for Tennis Lessons, or Squash, or Golf, we should be less about Swallows and Amazons and more about sailing the sport, and our approach should be so geared.

Come on, how difficult is it? There that's the sail thing, there you wiggle that thing at the back to point it, and there see that buoy over there you've got to sail round it and get back here, 1st one back buys the teas, off you go.. (Day One).

My boats fit my "comfort zone" Minisprint hardest to sail, would have a go at foiling though, but nowhere close enough to use on a regular basis, so won't be buying one.

I'd just love to see someone try foiling on our little inner-city puddle :)

Originally posted by 423zero I have yet to see a 2nd day beginner who could race, putting them under a lot of pressure throwing them into a race. My club gets beginners out in the races, watch what experienced racers do at a particular mark and try themselves, when they are happy move to another mark. Boats, Bahia's and Topaz's for training, other boats, Enterprise, GP14 etc.