Twenty years from now

But Thunder Road, did you sit in that changing room wondering what Richie McCaw, Brian O'Driscol, Wilkinson etc were going going to do in the first half? I can sit in changing rooms wondering what way ben Ainslie is going to go up the first beat, will he go the same way as I intend to? Maybe you were playing Pro rugby, I don't know, and I do get your point, I played a lot of rugby, but there are very few sports (any others?) where you can easily turn up and race the best in the world.
That excites me, that there is no clear division between pro and amateur sailing. Sure you don't get the same adrenaline in 6 knots of wind, but after the thousands of starts I have made in my life, I still get that massive adrenaline rush lining up, with 30s to go in a big fleet, rolling waves, knowing that what happens in the next 30s will make or break you! and don't get me started on what I feel when I round that top mark.
I guess the thing is (and this is not at all judging your sailing ability) when people start out, they are not at that level, bobbing about in a dull boat doesn't cut it for some, including me. For me it is the racing that does it, the competitiveness, and pushing myself to get every little bit I can out of me and the boat.
If I were to start sailing now, in a dinghy, I know I wouldn't last more than a few weeks. Perhaps a big boat, sitting on the rail and pulling the kite halyard when we get to the top mark may.
But then it is a sport for all, a very similar yet very diverse sport, I like to race, Rupert like to sail with his kids, I know a guy with a moth who sails it 3 times a year and spends every night bimbling and epoxying new bits on it and then theres the old man who leaves the harbour in his 30ft caravan, sails to the next bay, reads the paper and sails home.

The more I think of it, the less I think there will be any change in participation in 20 years. I may be the 'racer' now, travelling to opens and championships, but in 20 years time I will (hopefully) have kids sailing around in whatever the kids boat is in 20 years, while I race round the club cans as quick as I can so I can help them pull their boat up the beach when they get in to save me spending the week nights repairing it. a few years later and I will be the old boy sat in the committee boat who week in week out manages to mess up the flag sequence.
Most people who have sailed, even if they sailed until they were 18, before uni, girls/boys, drink, drugs and cars got the better of them will have enjoyed it and I expect most, if they are still close to the coast or lake will try and get their kids into it or at least give them the opportunity. At that level it is a cheapish sport. That is where your 30-40 year olds come in/back.

Most of you probably knew this haha, infact it is probably written in this thread already, but that has all just clicked in my mind hahaha

I've raced all my life, but recently begun to wonder about getting a larger cruising dinghy to replace the old Mirror. Trouble is, I'm not sure it would get used much - the racing gene has passed on down a generation, so while we may camp out at the club, we are all sailing different boats, and likely having more fun that way. Should I buy a 2nd Mirror so 4 of us can go cruising at the same time when we go on holiday, yet have that element of competition, rather than a boat which holds 4 people? Double stack them and it is almost as easy as one bigger boat - maybe more so?

I did not get 'lucky' in the housing market but hard work on houses paid off very well.

An interesting discussion this. How's this for a tangent. I was looking at lawnmowers the other day, exciting I know, and was stunned to discover it's now hard to find a 17 inch mower that you push yourself. Apparently the masses now demand "self propelled" mowers. Now, if your average mower of lawns cant even be bothered to push a small domestic mower, what hope do we have of getting them to participate in any kind of sport?

Originally posted by Rupert I hated my push mower, but love my boats - one feels like hard work, the other like play. Our next door neighbours view gardening like I view sailing, so are very happy pushing a hand mower.

As a former second row forward I enjoy pushing things :-)