Future of Sailing Clubs...

Originally posted by PeterG I don't like being asked for circa £15 for 'fish and chips' and a pint of Doom Bar in sailing clubs by the sea On a good night at my club you can get a decent post sail meal and pint for £5-6, and watch the sunset over the estuary. The downside is that once a year you have to cook it!

if I did the cooking you'd need to charge about £15, just to cover all the wastage and spilt stuff

Was it now. Well, don't fear, there have been one or two perfectly adequate replacement members.

After a gap of 20yrs, I returned to dinghy sailing at the beginning of last year. 20+ years ago, I would sail every weekend, either at the club or at various Opens. Sailing was my life and what I did at weekends. It was corinthian and everyone mucked in.

I agree with you in part Blueboy, but the topic is about the future of Sailing Clubs, how membership and sailors have diminished, how sailing as a sport will need to change. Whilst my own type of participation in sailing has changed, I dont think I am alone, and that was the point I was making - make your club a "destination" to go to - not just somewhere to store the boat and go racing. It is not the only solution, but I believe it is part of the overall jigsaw puzzle.

Edited by ttc546 - 06 Mar 17 at 2:16pm

I'm sure there's a role for clubs that offer a wider social side to those who don't race - and in particular for those who want to sail other than to race. But the danger is that the club can end up being run primarily for the social side and not the sailing. At which point it stops really being a sailing club. I'm sure some clubs manage the balancing act and manage to provide a bar and food and the chance to sail when you want, as well as a more regular sailing program, but it's really only an option open to clubs of a fair size, with a clubhouse in a good location - and I suspect it needs some serious thinking by the senior officers to keep the balance right. There's a club near me that seems to manage it, though I'm not a member since the club at the end of my road suits me well. If the distance issue was different I suspect I would join, and I'd probably enjoy being a member.