grafham

Seizure

We (the club) did have a few issues with results and some boat tracking.  Not a surprise when we have multiple boats wit the same number (something in the pipeline to try and make sure this does not ahppen again.) .

If you read back you will see that people understand the problems we had, and had a good weekend inspite of it. 

We'll not be asking for the club racing to be cancelled as I do not believe this is what we are trying to acheive.

One thing we (as club members) MUST understand is that we have a fine bit of water and others want to sail on it.  How many clubs could run open meetings with around 100+ boats on a regular basis.  Not many.  This year we have had

Topper Inlands 255 boats

Oppies 273 boats 

Cats 192 boats

and umpteen between 100 and 200, RS's etc.

Seizure.

As far as I can ascertain the Catamaran fleets did not request that Grafham Water Sailing Club (GWSC) held this event for them. They were, in fact invited by GWSC and its members. Although you stated, “I’d rather there weren’t any open meetings getting in the way of my sailing at my home club” assuming that GWSC holds an AGM at which all members are able to express their views, the majority of the members of your club did request the presence of these guests and you should respect that decision. As you rightly pointed out “I didn’t check the calendar (my fault)” you had the option not sail that weekend if you thought the Catamarans would destroy your sailing pleasure to that extent, nor can you correctly say “Note: These are my own views and are in no way connected to GWSC and it’s members.”

Should you have invited guests to your house for a meal and you have to use patio furniture, for example, so that all may be seated at the same time, I assume you would gladly use the most uncomfortable item yourself whilst the guests had the pick of the best? So “Again, we were shoved up at the “crap end” of the lake for the benefit of you guys” should carry no weight in your argument.

“I wish people would come on these forums and actually praise people or clubs for doing a good job rather than just using it to air their displeasures.” Yes I fully agree with you about the silent majority but “who have discovered that forums allow them to rant about how rubbish something is slate the club for putting on a bad event” I feel is wrong because they would always have done this, only you (GWSC), would not have heard about it directly, and so not had the opportunity to put your side about “illegible handwriting and duplicate sail numbers” nor have been able to learn from the constructive criticism [Quote Scooby_Simon – “something in the pipeline to try and make sure this does not happen again.”].

Firstly, as I said before, everything in my previous post were wholly my views of the weekend and the vibe I got from the previous posts. I came on the forum to view this post with an open mind having heard comments in the bar after sailing yesterday. I have formed my own opinions and stated them.

It is correct that there are some constructive comments, but there are also a few less constructive, only for the poster to back peddle later on. Part of my post was to say if you are going to comment, be careful as text replies can often be misconstrued.

Scooby_simon – I understand we have a great bit of inland water, that’s why I sail there. I was just stating my view in opposition of some of our visitors thoughts that club sailors shouldn’t be allowed on the water during the open. I can see that that annoyed a few people, as it annoyed me. Now, I’m not suggesting the club should drop all opens, but perhaps people should start seeing both side of the debate rather than just wading in with impractical, allegedly constructive, comments.

Shadowman – Perhaps I am reading more, or less, into some of the replies. I would say that there are some unconstructive comments within this post. Not all, granted, but some. I aimed my previous post at them.

Major Iyeswater - Your analogy of inviting friends round to a BBQ and sitting yourself on the uncomfortable chair is slightly flawed. So without trying to attack your comment, this is how I see it. I personally didn’t invite you. So, role reversal, I’m invited to your house for a BBQ. You’re not exactly delighted by the fact that I’m there, eating your delicious burgers, cooked on your BBQ while cracking open a few of your favourite beers. I think then, I’d understand why you would get the hump for being made to sit on an uncomfortable stool, in your own home, while I spread out on your nice comfy garden swing. Can you see my point now? I agree that I should have checked my calendar, I can’t argue with that. Yes, we do have an AGM and I could express my opinion. But GWSC is run as a democracy, so no doubt I’d be in the minority. Doesn’t mean I should change my opinion to fall inline with the majority though. They are my opinions, I’m entitled to them, and they carry the same weight as those of someone who wants to actively encourage opens. The comment about the minority on the forums was intended squarely at them. Quite often people can be far more vocal with their views in the faceless environment of the forum. I know you will always find people that aren’t happy with an event for some reason or another, but by voicing their opinions in a more public forum they are reaching a wider audience, rather than just the few fellow sailors that happen to be in the bar near them after the race. Perhaps we should learn to ignore the odd comment. But if you had seen how downhearted some of the event organisers, who did it all for free and in their own time, were last Sunday having read the whole of this post, I think you too would have felt the need to return comment.

F18 paul – I take your comment on board. As stated before, they are my views collected over the past two weekends, and my views alone. Please don’t think I am the voice of the club. I am merely a member – just one in a vast number. My comments, as mentioned previously, were not aimed at those posting constructive comments, but those that came across (to me anyway) as unconstructive.

Following on from the “faceless environment of the forum” I will be in the bar after sailing on Sunday. I’d welcome a civil chat over a beer with anyone about my comments, whether you agree with them or not. Let’s not see some of the comments made by the few ruin a good open at the best (again, just my opinion) inland sailing venue. I just get annoyed at those that criticise whilst hiding behind a user ID in forums.

I'm not a cat sailor but have followed this thread with interest, it would make me think twice about going to Grafham if that kind of resentment [which I'm sure is wholly unrepresentative of the vast majority of Grafham members] towards visitors is simmering away within the club.