Alternative to sailing clubs?

Originally posted by 423zero RNLI have no issues whatsoever with call outs, their policy is to not judge,

Plenty of ways of avoiding a "takeover". Running it as a separate group affiliated to the club is very easy. A swim (or SUP, or whatever) membership with no voting rights, also easy.

You have a point but clubs are run by committees. Lets say they open it up to fishermen, canoeists, triathletes as well as sailing. That committee now has to find a way of managing all those conflicting priorities. The summary for me is if you are doing alright as a sailing club then why bother with the hassle. My local club lets triathletes use the club on a separate night. They get some cash and the triathletes get somewhere to change. It works well but mainly in my view because it is transaction relationship with limited interaction. 

I have raced pretty continuously since the mid seventies till now, but I am pretty sure that you needed to be a member of an RYA recognised club in the days when you had to present a measurement and insurance certificate in order to enter an open meeting.  

Originally posted by Do Different Edit to add ref. earlier H2. Why would I be disappointed? I suggest that's one for your head alone, not mine. But were you really teaching the next generation? Maybe youngsters, however children of well known sailors were not the grateful and needful group of complete newcomers I was referring to. I try to remain non judgemental and make general observations.  My only disappointment is that I have felt the need to make a personal and rare response.