Day sailing or racing

   Hi,Late starter I can see your point and agree with most but my main disappointment was the lack of response. I know clubs are run by a lot of volunteers and this would not be top of the list but I would have thought a quick email would be possible.

As for grass routes I have 3 grandchildren that love sailing and like most 8 year olds are competitive and would love to join in the racing, but being RAF family they never quite know where they will be. Are these not the next generation we need to support to keep the club's alive, else they will drift into football etc. which is so easily available.

Also it brings money into the club, its not just the sailing fee there's also food drink purchased which all contributes, never mind a trip to the chandlry. This doesn't happen when you just cruise around as you tend to stay on your own.

So this wasn't just a way to get cheap sailing, as I believe it works out more expensive in the long run, it was to bring a bit more variety into our sailing grounds and to give people ago who wouldn't  normally think of sailing.

Rutland water sailing club seems ok with this which is great, except I've sailed here for nearly 40 years and I just fancied a change.

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jasperthedog Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 24 Nov 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote jasperthedog Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Day sailing or racing Posted: 22 Jan 19 at 7:12am
	Hi,Late starter I can see your point and agree with most but my main disappointment was the lack of response. I know clubs are run by a lot of volunteers and this would not be top of the list but I would have thought a quick email would be possible. As for grass routes I have 3 grandchildren that love sailing and like most 8 year olds are competitive and would love to join in the racing, but being RAF family they never quite know where they will be. Are these not the next generation we need to support to keep the club's alive, else they will drift into football etc. which is so easily available. Also it brings money into the club, its not just the sailing fee there's also food drink purchased which all contributes, never mind a trip to the chandlry. This doesn't happen when you just cruise around as you tend to stay on your own. So this wasn't just a way to get cheap sailing, as I believe it works out more expensive in the long run, it was to bring a bit more variety into our sailing grounds and to give people ago who wouldn't normally think of sailing. Rutland water sailing club seems ok with this which is great, except I've sailed here for nearly 40 years and I just fancied a change.

Late starter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 481	Post Options Post Reply Quote Late starter Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jan 19 at 12:39am
	Had a bit of a wry smile reading this thread. I'm semi retired from racing after 40 odd years sailing dinghies at club/open level, so the idea of not having to pay £200+ subs a year to sail maybe half a dozen times a year is attractive. I'd be well up for lobbing a few quid at a day ticket a few times a year myself. The problem is from the other side of the coin I spent way too may years on various committees trying to finance the club in an age of shrinking grass roots participation in the sport, so I know why the pay to play model is never going to happen at club level. Basically clubs financing works due to a critical mass of members paying their £200 a year (or whatever) subs, which pays for the rent, insurance, club maintenance, powerboat fuel and maintenance, training fleet repairs and replacement etc etc and all the various other costs that keep a club afloat. All those members who don't sail that often but still pay their subs are keeping the club going financially. Letting the less active members move to pay to play would be catastrophic, probably to the point of killing the club. It's a shame the clubs the OP approached didn't have the courtesy to explain the facts of life around club finance, but IMHO the only way pay to play works is with a very different business model to our traditional clubs. But hey, if you find a club that lets you join in with club racing when you feel like it in return for a day ticket let me know, if it's in my area I'd be interested myself. Think you'll have a longish wait though..

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 19 at 6:53pm
	Yup, that is very poor. I know most clubs are run by volunteers, many of whom have day jobs and social lives outside the club but it shouldn't be beyond the wit of the committee to ensure somebody fields enquiries like yours. Just a thought, have you posted on the various clubs facebook page? That often gets a response as the membership will see it rather than just the committee member responsible.
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

jasperthedog Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 24 Nov 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote jasperthedog Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 19 at 5:30pm
	Well I e-mailed eight clubs to see if I could join in with the club racing while using a day ticket. Only one club had the decency to reply, and strangely that was from Rutland water where I was a member for 20 years, so I almost knew the answer. It doesn't seem to be a problem with them just turn up early and introduce myself to the race officer. I even paid one club for a refresher course that after 4 weeks still haven't sent a confirmation, lucky I used PayPal because I'll be taking that back in the morning. A bit disappointing all round really but I,'ll sort something. Cheers All, Rich.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jan 19 at 11:26pm
	Probably true but still worth asking. And many places offer a day ticket (though mostly sailing centres rather than clubs). There should be plenty of opportunities to go sailing without joining a club if that is what you want.
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Oli Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1020	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oli Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jan 19 at 11:22pm
	Imagine most clubs run the old tried and tested method of allowing several visits per year but no sailing your own boat and at a standing members invite, then limited numbers of day membership at a nominal rate.
	T-SHIRTS PRINTS

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jan 19 at 8:10pm
	Does no harm to ask, many clubs will be glad to have you as a guest I'm sure.
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

jasperthedog Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 24 Nov 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote jasperthedog Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jan 19 at 7:13pm
	Thanks for your help chaps. Seems like its not quite straightforward so probaly will just stick to day sailing with the odd open meeting. I have e-mailed a dozen local clubs I'll report back there replies. Cheers Richard

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Dec 18 at 6:59pm
	I was just looking to do this at a club halfway between me and a Blaze sailing mate, they will allow a member to sign you in as a guest but you can't sail out own boat outside of open meetings (you can sail a members boat or a club boat).
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Dec 18 at 2:38pm
	My club only allows 6 daily sails a year too, it's not free though, think it's £8.