Future of Sailing Clubs...

That's why most clubs don't use this business model and for inland clubs with fixed overheads it's just not possible. Draycote sc make it work, but only just. Think they have only made a profit twice in the last decade. On the other hand having to pay seven Trent in the region of 25k a year doesn't help their balance sheet much.

It is still possible, just, and with the cooperation of the 'employee', to get around the tax and NI issue (they need to be a self-employed 'freelance' and, provide the main equipment needed to do the job.... so boat, flags, stopwatch?) but it has been getting much more difficult as HMRC try to block any loopholes employed by the black economy.

Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by transient Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by Sam.Spoons Duties are part of the deal, I want to race, for me to do that there has to be, at the very least somebody to run the start sequence and log the finish. Some kind of safety cover is nice too. If we're not paying somebody to do that then we all have to take a turn or nobody gets to race. is that idea so pejorative...?  I know a good few excellent sailors in retirement age, and indeed still in education, who might very easily be persuaded that their time could be better valued at a decent sailing club rather than stacking shelves in Tesco or answering banal questions from the plebs that frequent B&Q on a Saturday morning. As much as I hate to admit it I think that is the only way that many clubs will survive.  Fewer clubs making more money with paid positions. Local councils facing more pressure to capitalise on their land/property rental. Clubs facing closure. Changing attitudes of younger generations with time issues and a sense of entitlement  (rightly or wrongly) expecting service for their subs..........Inability to share the honours, all sailing single handers. What do the rules say about taking selfies at the windward mark? Nothing?....it won't be long.....hopefully I'll not be sailing by then. c'mon, we all know you old boys hike harder when the camera boat is coming past .... you're just as egotistical as the 'sick dude' with his factory fit go-pro mount on his RS Aero.

I appreciate your levity lol.

and


In general, not all youngsters of course but in very general terms there is a trend to move closer towards individuality amongst the younger generations, particularly with the millennials.......whether this is good or bad is of course a matter of opinion but one of the symptoms, which would be foolish to deny, is the rise of the "f**k you Jack I'm all right" attitude seen in nearly every quarter of what was ironically called "Western Civilization".

The traditional volunteer run, member owned Sailing club is incompatible with this trend IMO.

And yes I do have some very nice pics of us in a boat, the galling truth is that my crew is much more photogenic than me.    She doesn't pout or wear ridiculous eyeliner either.

In general, not all youngsters of course but in very general terms there is a trend to move closer towards individuality amongst the younger generations, particularly with the millennials.......whether this is good or bad is of course a matter of opinion but one of the symptoms, which would be foolish to deny, is the rise of the "f**k you Jack I'm all right" attitude seen in nearly every quarter of what was ironically called "Western Civilization".

Originally posted by transient ...one of the symptoms, which would be foolish to deny, is the rise of the "f**k you Jack I'm all right" attitude seen

I thought one of the most interesting parts of the original paper I linked to was when it talks about the effects of what it calls ‘neo-liberal capitalism’, in particular the discussion around p46. It highlights that its probably a mistake to see things as a selfish attitude from individuals, but more as a reflection of changes to society. I shall stop there, because otherwise I shall get into very political territory, and while its desirable for sailing folk to work out how we should respond to visible changes in society, I think discussing the desirability of or alternatives to such change is best discussed elsewhere.