Good Question Getafix...

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

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!

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.

Brent Cross Sailing Centre?

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