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North South divide? |
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tack'ho 
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Joined: 08 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1100 |
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 Topic: North South divide?Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 9:21am |
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So reading the reports as I sometimes do I stumbled across this.... 32 Tasars entered the event....... Entries are down on previous years, which is partly due to the economic situation, partly the earlier timing of the event to allow for the Tasar worlds being held in Japan in September ........ but also some felt that it was too far to drive. For those of you concerned that this event had been held in the Shetlands or just off the coast of Rockall (small semi submerged lump of rock stuck well out into the Atlantic which has a remarkably useful effect on the UK's Economic Exclusion Zone) it was in fact run at East Lothian Yacht Club, or North Berwick as it may be known! So a good drive north of London then. Yet when you look back at the 2 previous years we see that the Nats took place in Torbay and Lymington, and not a peep it seems from the Northern and significant number of Scottish sailors who drove the other way. Which begs the question, are southern sailors lazy? Do the feel it's OK for the Scottish guys and Gals to haul themselves down from the North to support the class champs but feel a little reciprocation is too much to ask? I have a feeling that this is not confined to just the Tasars, but is in fact insipid across many classes. Just another example of the southern looking south? maybe? Edited by tack'ho |
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I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e!
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alstorer
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Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899 |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 10:06am |
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I think there's some truth in this. Most classes naturally have the most sailors in the south. This is partly a simple demographic thing- after all, most people live int he south. I think this encourages a somewhat resigned attitude from the Scottish and northern sailors who accept that most of the time, if they want to sail in big class events they're going to have do some serious driving.
It would be an interesting (if tedious to do) exercise to go through the nationals attendance list and look for anomalously low numbers and check the locations of that year and the preceding and following years. |
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Al |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 10:40am |
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I don't think it is totally suprising that numbers at championships in Cornwall and the south coast are generally higher, especially for Tasars, who have large fleets in the south west. North Berwick is a lovely place for a championship, however, spending your summer holiday in Scotland is always going to be risk, perhaps a risk too far for some? I did the 200 nationals in North Berwick a few years ago - there were just over 100 boats there, which was about par for the course, perhaps 10-15 boats less than the previous year. Unfortunately the weather was cr*p (foggy), and we spent more time playing pitch & putt, than sailing. Can't fault the hospitailty or facilities though. |
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JimC
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Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6661 |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 10:46am |
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There's truth in this, but it gets complicated... When I sailed in Cherubs, for instance, it was notorious that we'd get lousy turnouts for east coast championships, even when the venue was actually closer to the majority of boat owners than somewhere down in the South west.
Its certainly the case though that people in different parts of the country are prepared to travel different distances... There are plenty of parts of the country where you might have to travel 100 miles to see a band for instance... The thing is though its not (IMNSHO) reasonable to just do your Champs at Weymouth every year, or whatever venue seems most popular: good support of your sailors round the country does mean that you need to vary the venues, and accept that some years you're going to look bad in the YY table. |
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GraemeB
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Joined: 21 Aug 06 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 84 |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 12:08pm |
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Having taken part in said Tasar event, it was great, no fog, sun a lots of wind - most of the time. The class is small compared to the RS's and doesn't have the backing of the big machine that is RS. So I'm not sure you can make a real comparison. Historically there are a large number of boats at a few clubs in the south who rarely travel at all, I'm sure thats the asme for other classes as well. The Scottish boats have supported the UK nationals on the south coast in some numbers over the last few years and had a great time, it was great to return some of the hospitailty we've been shown over the last few years. Much credit must go to the Class Association, all the sponsors anf ELYC for making it such a good event.
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craiggo
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Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810 |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 12:19pm |
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I think this has been known for some time certainly within the large popular fleets. In the 700 for instance you always get a large turnout when at Hayling because the Hayling mob actually take part but if you hold a 700 event anywhere else the Hayling crowd stay at home. From memory the most successful RS event I've been to over the years north of Winchester was Phwelli, although as fleets grow in other locations, Hunstanton and Carsington being good examples the turnouts their seem to be good.
It is sad that fleets dont travel to the likes of Largs, Helensburgh and North Berwick as they are all fantastic venues for a Nationals/holiday and are soo much better than dreary Weymouth or Torquay. I think the only south coast nationals I actually enjoyed was Mounts Bay. Having just got back from a long weekend over in Northern Ireland, I cant understand why there arnt more events on Lough Neagh, its an amazing venue. |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 2:02pm |
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I don't care how greater distance there is to travel and have done plenty of events up north and have even popped into scotland to largs.
HOWEVER.........it is cold up north.  It's no wonder the south coast events get the bigger turnouts, you northerners can't wait to travel down to the land of tan. |
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tack'ho
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Joined: 08 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1100 |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 2:30pm |
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Yep, can't beat them traffic jams, expensive beers and crowded beaches...hold me back
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I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e!
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Stefan Lloyd
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Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599 |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 2:40pm |
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"Too much to ask" implies an entirely misplaced sense of entitlement. Nobody is obliged in any shape or form to turn up for an event. It's supposed to be fun, that's all.
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nathan
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Joined: 26 Apr 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 143 |
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Posted: 03 Jun 09 at 3:38pm |
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Travelling from the South coast to North Berwick for a 3 day event is a big ask. Approximately 8-10 hours travelling each way. So that's Friday and Tuesday off work the majority and especially thoe with children who need to break the journey up. A big ask I think.
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