New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Good Question Getafix...
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Good Question Getafix...

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>
Author
getafix View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 28 Mar 06
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2143
Post Options Post Options   Quote getafix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Good Question Getafix...
    Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 12:28pm
So to play devils advocate, do we wait for the 'usual' to kill off numbers to the point where clubs consolidate and thus fleet sizes go up (perhaps with less races scheduled) and then we see a corner being turned?

... is there so many races and boat choices that it just leaves all those Sunday 'extra' sailors confused, not-engaged or simply just not motivated to turn up sufficient to drop other things down the list of priorities?
Back to Top
Medway Maniac View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 13 May 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2788
Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 1:00pm
How are things going at clubs where they insist on everyone sailing in a class start, with no significant handicap racing? 

We used to have that situation in the 90's, with a Commodore who nailed his colours to that mast.  But then there was a coup d'état....
Back to Top
MerlinMags View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 04
Location: UK, Guildford
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 588
Post Options Post Options   Quote MerlinMags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 1:05pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

How are things going at clubs where they insist on everyone sailing in a class start


I can see it is a good idea in some ways. Better racing, but...

Restrict the classes too much, and anyone who already owns the 'wrong' sort of boat will not be interested in joining.

So your only flow of new members will come from non-owners, or those who happen to have the 'right' boat already.

Is the solution to that, to have more club-owned boats available?
Back to Top
iiitick View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 04 Jun 14
Location: gb
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 478
Post Options Post Options   Quote iiitick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 1:14pm
We have two other clubs very close to us, one only 2 miles away. I think we are the best 'racing' club. We would love the nearby club to leave their awkward reservoir and join us. They did share Barts with us and we get on well. However...they have a big youth section and a very strong social scene all of which they are very proud. The other nearby club is a spawning ground for Sea Cadets and they seem happy with their place in the local community. All three clubs have received substantial grants to update facilities, each to his own, but it does seem a bit daft!
Back to Top
pondlife1736 View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king


Joined: 17 Jan 14
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 106
Post Options Post Options   Quote pondlife1736 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 1:27pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

How are things going at clubs where they insist on everyone sailing in a class start, with no significant handicap racing? 

We used to have that situation in the 90's, with a Commodore who nailed his colours to that mast.  But then there was a coup d'état....

I remember it well from the 70's.......


If that happened at my club now though, I would leave in about 1 millisecond. Maybe the fleet guys would support it, but I doubt the club could afford the drop in fees.


Back to Top
solutiongirl View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 02 Jun 10
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20
Post Options Post Options   Quote solutiongirl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 1:40pm
We got 34 whereas a "normal" Sunday seems to get somewhere in the high teams or low 20s. I say seems because I'm one of those dropping off the scene due to having plenty of other things to do. Of the 34, I'd say pretty much everyone has featured in the results already this year - we didn't have any "others". Turnout issues broadly relate to getting everyone to agree to come on the same day. Easy to do when you have a one-off event to focus attention, harder to do as a matter of course when so many people have other things going on in their lives as well.

If we distilled the boring week-in week-out Sunday races into something special less often to encourage everyone to be there at the same time, you're almost certain to clash with someone's wedding/christening/other hobby/bad weather. If you stick to the same thing every week, the happy-to-do-the-same-thing-every-week sailors will be there when us fair-weather types are in the mood/have the time to go for a race.

If you could get a guarantee that changing things would make sure everyone turns up at the right time it might be worth doing but why spoil things for those that are enjoying the status quo in the hope of attracting folks for whom Sunday racing just isn't a priority?

If Bart's Bash happens next year, I won't be organising it on behalf of my club. I volunteered on the basis that it would be a one-off event. But I'll probably make the effort to make sure I show up to go sailing that day, even if it's the only club race I do next year.
Back to Top
JimC View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 17 May 04
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6662
Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 2:05pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

How are things going at clubs where they insist on everyone sailing in a class start, with no significant handicap racing? 
I wonder if that custom, now more or less extinct, is one of the reasons we have so many clubs in the UK?
If they didn't let you sail your boat at the local club, hell, start another. Even if it is on a ludicrously small piece of water. Anyone remember?
Back to Top
kneewrecker View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 09 Apr 14
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1586
Post Options Post Options   Quote kneewrecker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 2:16pm
Brent Cross Sailing Centre?
Back to Top
Medway Maniac View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 13 May 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2788
Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 2:18pm
Budworth SC seems to be doing fine with just fleet racing on Sundays and handicap Saturdays and Wednesdays (and even boards on Tuesdays!), even though the fleets seem to be of boats which would be scorned on this forum:
Back to Top
iGRF View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 07 Mar 11
Location: Hythe
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6499
Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 14 at 2:25pm
And Snipes, they have them, how bizarre? Two clubs racing sailboards also accommodating Snipes, (we had an open meeting recently) what were the odds on that?

Good to see they're hosting Raceboards, a pity more clubs don't do that.

Proper sailing.

Edited by iGRF - 24 Sep 14 at 2:25pm
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy