SNAKES!

TT - so your concern with re-statement of what should have been blindingly obvious is what exactly  ?

If people don't like the current offering in relation to dinghy sailing clubs then they can do something else - or start their own related business.  Somehow I doubt the latter.   The sport will change and clubs need to adapt, reduce their costs where possible and obviously reduce in number through consolidation.   If some members want to buy themselves out of duties there will no doubt be others who would be very happy to be paid .. or receive a worthwhile reduction in their own membership cost. 

Clubs really do need to grasp this latter point rather than simply taking the 'bonus' income and passing on added pressure for replacemenst onto those who already do their share.   

Originally posted by eric_c Originally posted by JohnJack ... The problem is, sailing isn't really a "club" sport. A club is really just a place to sail. Unlike other sports, which are possibly more team based where you would have First Team, Second Team and so on and so on sailing in crew boats tends to be because your are just good mates who sail together (for the most part). I agree. I've been involved with a few different 'inter-club' things over the years, they often seem to breed resentment and apathy in the club that gets thrashed and people who don't make the team. The arguments about the best way to score an event where some clubs could field 10 boats and others only 5, when each clubs uses their own munged PY scale, can go on a long time.

Edited by JohnJack - 30 Jan 18 at 2:18pm

Why the dichotomy - personally I wouldn’t mind topping up my pension with a stint on a committee boat- beats the sh*t out of pushing pallets of cement around at the builders merchant like I did as student

A fair proportion of club members may be prepared to regularly do an extra duty or two for a discount off next years fees....  Many clubs already accomodate the 'time poor / cash rich' by offering them a form of 'buy-out' as well.   

Couple the two together and just maybe you get the best of both worlds .. those on a tight budget and with more time available get to sail/race when otherwise it might be tough for them to justify the cost... and those with a higher income but little time to spare already have some much needed flexibility.  They would effectively pay for the system in monetary terms.

Very simple  indeed to administer.  If say the 'time poor' are already buying themselves out of  say 3 duties per year for maybe £ 100 - 'pay' those with extra time to spare £ 30 off next years club subscription per extra duty (and the club even gets to keep a bit !!)    Surely you record people turning up - or not - for duties already ?  

Flexible fees and a flexible approach to duties' allow more people to get into sailing - and then might perhaps keep them there longer.

Perhaps a part time job for a student ? Most Cities and Large towns have a University of some description, what is minimum wage ?