Another club closure

yep - it's more useful for countering misrepresentation of cost than actual comparison to something someone actively involves themselves in.

Maybe Golf is better comparative?  What do they do right and what do they get wrong? I really don't know, I've only swung at a pitch and put once.

(and Duncan, yep happy to call a truce, and certianly don't consider myself right or wrong - how very binary in thinking... hence why I reached out to you via PM. I assume the provocation wasn't applauding you in your choice of ship and pipe-dreaming about more sailors buying them?)

Edited by turnturtle - 27 May 22 at 10:21am

Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by Grumpycat    Now that is funny. James you really could try out at a comedy story somewhere  Well I did reach out to you via PM - even I acknowledge when a point has been laboured - all I got back was an abusive message headlined by an acceptance that, in your words, you know the writing is on the wall for your club and it won't live out your generation. All I have done is suggest a reasonably minor reason as to what might contribute to that based on colloquial experience, this has been countered effectively in the spirit of lively debate - take from that what you will, but it's not my generation who are driving certain clubs out existence, is it? Anyway - back to the ideas of training and engagement.

Edited by Grumpycat - 27 May 22 at 10:10am

Well I did reach out to you via PM - even I acknowledge when a point has been laboured - all I got back was an abusive message headlined by an acceptance that, in your words, you know the writing is on the wall for your club and it won't live out your generation.

Edited by turnturtle - 27 May 22 at 9:54am

Originally posted by DiscoBall Originally posted by maxibuddah means that clubs need to focus on training first and foremost and accept racing is a minority part of their existence, whereas to date for most clubs it is the other way round. +1 However even then it is difficult to get right. One of my clubs has a bigger rec/informal training side than the racing. We see a lot of churn with each year's intake. Think it comes down to two issues: the training is so informal and basic that the attendees don't get any sense of progression, just a nice potter around. There seems little attempt (though in part covid has been an issue) to bind people in socially by inviting them to hang around at the club afterwards. I think unless you make it a specific invite new people will often drift off as they maybe don't want to feel like they are impinging on the regulars. A point missed when being down on mainly recreational watersports like sup is that there is more time and opportunity for social connections, which is the real reason most people do leisure activities in the first place. The scoresheet is a minor consideration even for most who compete. Without the social glue, comparatively 'irrational' (ie sailing, lots of buck for relatively little bang) sports will struggle to retain people.

+1

I think recognising exactly what a club provides is crucial to making them a better place and you've hit the nail on the head.

Originally posted by maxibuddah means that clubs need to focus on training first and foremost and accept racing is a minority part of their existence, whereas to date for most clubs it is the other way round.

+1

However even then it is difficult to get right. One of my clubs has a bigger rec/informal training side than the racing. We see a lot of churn with each year's intake. Think it comes down to two issues:

the training is so informal and basic that the attendees don't get any sense of progression, just a nice potter around.

There seems little attempt (though in part covid has been an issue) to bind people in socially by inviting them to hang around at the club afterwards. I think unless you make it a specific invite new people will often drift off as they maybe don't want to feel like they are impinging on the regulars.

A point missed when being down on mainly recreational watersports like sup is that there is more time and opportunity for social connections, which is the real reason most people do leisure activities in the first place. The scoresheet is a minor consideration even for most who compete. Without the social glue, comparatively 'irrational' (ie sailing, lots of buck for relatively little bang) sports will struggle to retain people.