Twenty years from now

CHris 249,

"I wonder how much smaller the sailing world would have been if it wasn't for Jack Holt, Haylock and Beecher Moore".

Great - someone recognising the part this trio (and you could well have added in Dusty Miller, foreman at Bell Woodworking to the list) played in the expansion of the dinghy racing scene. For the Holt centenary in 2012 and then more recently for the Merlin Rocket book, I have enjoyed unrivalled access to the Holt family and their own material. What is key to the story was the unpleasant treatment meted out to Jack by the International 14 class and some of our premier clubs in the pre-war years. Jack was denied access to the clubs because he was considered an artisan (though the same distinction was NOT applied to Uffa Fox). Jack Holt believed that the sport of dinghy sailing/racing was far too important to be left in the hands of the elite who made up the numbers back then. So, if you look at Jack's philosophy, it was all about the democratisation of sailing, "boats for the masses" if you want the short version. Interestingly, a lifestyle survey held in the late 1950s identified that boat ownership was the number 1 aspirational wish for people as the years of early post war austerity slipped into history.

There is an identifiable sub-plot to all this that suggests that over the last 30 years, top down policy making in the UK has all be about the creation of a sailing elite - more on that in Part III of the series of linked articles. Let us not forget that Ian Proctor played his part too, will the 'powers that be' even bother to recognise his achievements in a couple of years time, when it is IP's turn to enjoy centenary celebrations.
D

my club membership isnt falling, and we are buoyed up by family and youth memberships, but I think we are an exception.

I actually think that what will kill off the small clubs, no matter how healthy their membership, is the fact we are no longer allowed to use herbicide to keep the weed at bay.  Weed has become our biggest issue.  Big clubs with deep water will survive, but keeping it at bay is massively expensive and time consuming for smaller clubs.

Invasive species will also become more prevalent and might limit travel to opens etc.

we are indeed doomed.

Originally posted by chris_wht Originally posted by Chris 249  they can get a skiff on an interest-free loan, store it for free, get free beer, and get paid $250 just for starting a club race on it. You can? Right, im on the next flight...

Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by bustinben  There aren't many 25-35 year olds who can afford 4-6 holidays per year  i knew plenty who went snowboarding 4 times a year, kitesurfing twice a year etc  - but then the equipment is seriously much cheaper, lower maintenance and the craic worth the hassle of staying in rented.  I bought my first flat at 22 in North London on a 105% mortgage....  we all take our choices. It was often those able to take unpaid leave, or in the armed forces or teachers who seem to get quite a bit of time off compared to the commercial world of 20 days including an obligatory 4 for christmas. And a request for a sabbatical or unpaid leave was basically queue jumping to statutory redundancy during the recessions of the last 10 years.

Edited by bustinben - 28 Jan 15 at 8:51pm

Originally posted by bustinben Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by bustinben  There aren't many 25-35 year olds who can afford 4-6 holidays per year  i knew plenty who went snowboarding 4 times a year, kitesurfing twice a year etc  - but then the equipment is seriously much cheaper, lower maintenance and the craic worth the hassle of staying in rented.  I bought my first flat at 22 in North London on a 105% mortgage....  we all take our choices. It was often those able to take unpaid leave, or in the armed forces or teachers who seem to get quite a bit of time off compared to the commercial world of 20 days including an obligatory 4 for christmas. And a request for a sabbatical or unpaid leave was basically queue jumping to statutory redundancy during the recessions of the last 10 years.  My experience is the same actually.  Going snowboarding or kitesurfing though - £500 for a week?  Doing a sailing event.. probably nearer £1k.  Maybe I'm underestimating though the snowboarding costs though!