Dinghy popularity

No jimbo that's not what I'm saying at all, the reason you can get anything round a course is because like just about everyone else here you've sailed since childhood, I'm saying that in order to attract the adult demographic that I generally market to there needs to be access to the cookie jar you''re tempting them with.

The progress you are making now in windsurfing only came about because the high end stuff got easier to sail than it was, trust me, in the early nineties the high end sutff was every bit as tricky to use as high end dinghy stuff is now, we spotted it, too late but we did at least change, our issue other more attractive sports to our demographic came along.

The ace in the hole dinghy sailing has, is the club structure, but in order for it to function as we read here time and again, is new members, but the needs and requirements of modern day newcomer, newcomers that is that haven't come through the child of previous sailor and the oppie squad route, is instant gratification, without it they do something else, that instant gratification means like it or not if they see flying things on sticks going faster than everyone else, that's what they might want...

Originally posted by Chris 249 Originally posted by Old Timer Originally posted by iGRF Originally posted by Old Timer Why on earth do you think that all areas of the sport should be accessable to a novice? Why shouldn't they, give me the name of another sport that makes inaccessibility a feature? Pro Golfers use the same stuff as Amateurs, Pro Cyclists etc etc. It is precisely because of the inaccessibility factor that is driving the sport to the margins of coffin polishing. Kitesurfing is a pretty high on the list of 'dare devil' activity yet every weekend hundreds are being taught and they use the gear they are taught on. Pretty much every sport has different equipment for experts and novices. You would not put someone who has never cocked their leg over a bike on a downhill MTB and push them off an alp ... or put them on a fixed wheel track bike and send them round a velodrome ... they would fall off. Same with golf, the clubs used by a pro have such a small sweet spot and novice couldn't use them.   I'm pretty sure from personal experience that when it comes to many popular bikes you are wrong and Grumpf is correct.    If you take someone - whether they are Joe or Joanna Average off the street or a weekend club warrior - and ...

Originally posted by Rupert Chess on the water, that is how I want my sailing. Are dinghies more like track day cars than bikes? You can take your slightly souped up "everyday" car to the track - which I guess is taking the 2000 along and flying the kite, or you can go and buy a Kourneggggggggsegg. If you do the latter with no experience, chances are you'll drive it into the tyre wall on the first corner. This is more Musto Skiff-like. Does this mean no one, not even the Stig, should be allowed to drive anything faster than an Astra, because he crashed a Koureggggggseggg once? And woe betide anyone who wants to drive an F1 car - no way you can jump in one and go, so it should be banned, and not even aspired to? What we need is a car with F1 speed, Astra price and the ease of handling (even in corners) of a Clio.

The good thing about the slow barges that people learn on is although they are not fast, they kick up a lot of spray and feel fast. That feels good when you are learning. You don't actually need to be going fast.

I read once that although someone sailed an 18' they preferred a laser for sheer fun and exhilaration because they felt fast.

Originally posted by iGRF No jimbo that's not what I'm saying at all, the reason you can get anything round a course is because like just about everyone else here you've sailed since childhood, I'm saying that in order to attract the adult demographic that I generally market to there needs to be access to the cookie jar you''re tempting them with.

Edited by yellowwelly - 27 Jun 13 at 10:03am