Open Meetings

Originally posted by Paramedic Originally posted by hotpunter Originally posted by NickA I think our overheads are too big. But I just paid £50 for the Bala long distance ( includes a cut to the 3rd party event organisers I suppose). Hmmmm I think this is more a "time and place" thing than anything. Sailracer tracking at championships is very good, it's a useful training tool and provides interest away from the event. People do - believe it or not - log on and watch. Its really good for sponsor coverage and helps bring in more money to the event. In my experience in that environment the Sailracer fee easily pays for itself, but without knowing the ins and outs you dont see it. I can take the point that at a smaller event it's overkill. £50 is a pretty punchy entry fee for a two day event for times gone by. But I cant see it being a hugely profitable exercise for either party in the current climate.

Agree, I don't think the third party organisation adds anything.

I guess the idea is that people sign up for the whole series .. but in practice most people pick one, or a few, events and do only those. The idea to create a multiclass traveller series is sound, but it hasn't happened.

I'd expected a huge turnout at Bala and it didn't materialise (weather forecast in part). The only thing the third party added was GPS tracking and a website for results etc ... which doesn't work very well ( where are the GPS tracks?). Bala might be better going it alone.

We ran a "sail racer" event at my club once .. still had to provide all the safety cover, ROs, Results officer etc etc. It cost us as much as running any other open and we didn't get many extra entries ... a financial loss for the club and for sail racer.

Bala was a fun event though, due to the location and the club galley mostly. But a lot of packing and driving for essentially a few hours sailing. Jav euros next .. even more travelling, but 16 races and the only chance to race many other Javelins.

Originally posted by NickA I think our overheads are too big. But I just paid £50 for the Bala long distance ( includes a cut to the 3rd party event organisers I suppose).

Originally posted by Grumpycat I really love the off the water side of doing opens and national events But as a very average club , I just got fed up always being a the bottom third of the fleet all the time  . Yes I know it I had persisted with it I would of got better but at that time I was working shifts and a lot of overtime too so it was just too much trouble .  These day I am sort of retired and I have the time but at nearly 60 no longer any interest . It’s just easier to work as shore crew for my wife as this means I can drink more with out have to worry about sailing the next day lol . On the other hand since retirement , my interest in club sailing as never been higher . Am sailing every Wednesday and Sunday I can plus am even doing some pleasure sailing on the odd Saturday ( something I have never done in 30+ years of sailing .)  It’s amazing what having some extra free time  and a boat that totally for filled everything your have been looking for in a singlehanded, to make you enjoy sailing .

Lucky you I say. Since I retired I seem to be doing less sailing than at anytime since I was a kid.

In my world there is always someone (or something) ready to steal my time.

I really love the off the water side of doing opens and national events But as a very average club , I just got fed up always being a the bottom third of the fleet all the time  . Yes I know it I had persisted with it I would of got better but at that time I was working shifts and a lot of overtime too so it was just too much trouble . 

Edited by Grumpycat - 13 Jun 22 at 8:17pm