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turnturtle View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 05 Dec 14
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Posts: 2538 		Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Open Meetings
    Posted: 10 Jun 22 at 8:33am
I once tried a season of just opens - sailing under the class association.

I went in to it with the best intention: less is more, guaranteed class racing, supporting the class etc. and it was pragmatic as one of my personal barriers to opens before that were the round trips to the SC to pack and pick up the boat - 3 hours minimum usually.

I left thinking it could only work with a lot more free time and cash.

If I ever whinged about club membership fees before that year, I never did afterwards.... they're a total bargain all things considered!
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rich96 View Drop Down
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Posts: 596 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jun 22 at 10:50am
In my experience the people who go to open events still seem to be going

The fuel cost is an issue but is it really THE issue ?.  On a typical round trip to an open the additional fuel cost isnt massive. Its definitely not prohibitive for local ish events

There are of course (and always have been) a large number of sailors who will use any excuse not to to travel despite saying they'd love to if it were'nt for fuel, family etc etc etc

One day events are popular - no overnight accommodation to worry about, less grief from family etc

Regularly you can get a fantastic day of sailing in (3- 4 races) and be home for dinner

The Lasers have always done this and the Solos are now doing so

Lots of classes hold a number of 1 dayers now.
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Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
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Posts: 3400 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 22 at 3:47pm
I've just arrived home from the Blaze Nationals, three days of racing, total expenses (excluding food and drink) £80 entry fee (including free class polo shirt with my number on it), £75 camp site fees (I could have stayed at the club but decided I wanted an electric hook up for 'comfort and convenience') and, even at approaching 40mpg, £120 for diesel, so fuel was significantly the biggest single expense. Will I do it again next year? Yes probably.
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"
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rich96 View Drop Down
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Posts: 596 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 22 at 6:13pm
Sounds brilliant

Well done

As I see - the ones that want to travel find a way and the ones who don't want to travel find a reason not to i.e - ' I should be at this event/that event etc but fuel's too much/roads too busy etc etc'. 

These ones never go anyway
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NickA View Drop Down
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Joined: 30 Mar 05
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Posts: 784 		Post Options Post Options   Quote NickA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 22 at 7:02pm
This year I'll be doing the Bala long distance (Jav helm),  Javelin Euros (crew), Osprey Nationals (crew) and Contender inlands.  Already did the 3000 nationals but that was at my own club.  I'd do more but have other interests too and still working.

Last I looked Bala had 130 entries; osprey nationals last year had 48 (?) so 96 sailors.  Contender inlands last year had 25.  Javelin events bar the euros are almost dead, 3000 events = one a year with a handful of boats.  

43 boats at that excellent sounding Blaze event ... not too shabby.

All very class and event dependent.

I like doing opens - good to sail against similar boats and/or do big or different venues - but feel I'm class switching to find them and maybe the last saddo who won't leave the party!  Back in the day the Javelins would hold a 20 boat + event every other weekend all summer (I'm told!) repleat with drunken antics and skinny dipping (there are photos).
Javelin 558
Contender 2574
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Grumpycat View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 29 Sep 20
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Posts: 497 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Grumpycat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 22 at 8:14pm
I really love the off the water side of doing opens and national events But as a very average club , I just got fed up always being a the bottom third of the fleet all the time  . Yes I know it I had persisted with it I would of got better but at that time I was working shifts and a lot of overtime too so it was just too much trouble . 
These day I am sort of retired and I have the time but at nearly 60 no longer any interest . It’s just easier to work as shore crew for my wife as this means I can drink more with out have to worry about sailing the next day lol .
On the other hand since retirement , my interest in club sailing as never been higher . Am sailing every Wednesday and Sunday I can plus am even doing some pleasure sailing on the odd Saturday ( something I have never done in 30+ years of sailing .) 
It’s amazing what having some extra free time  and a boat that totally for filled everything your have been looking for in a singlehanded, to make you enjoy sailing . Big smile


Edited by Grumpycat - 13 Jun 22 at 8:17pm
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The Q View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Feb 22
Location: Norfolk Broads
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Posts: 126 		Post Options Post Options   Quote The Q Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 22 at 1:13pm
I'll be joining you next year in the retirement sailing stakes. Sailing school assistant Thursday afternoons, sundowner series Saturday afternoon /  evening, Proper racing Sundays, Never had the time to go wandering around doing opens, other than very local ones. 

Now I'm too decrepit, sleeping bags, tent's  etc are not suitable any more, so it still will be local opens only, and luckily there are around 20 clubs within 50 miles..

Most opens I attend will be our own, the club hosts half a dozen down river opens, the dinghy and keel boat open weekends, The 3 Rivers Race and of course our regatta week of which 5 days are an open ( 1st -5th Aug 2022 on the river at Horning https://youtu.be/GGCZ_AeyB3M )


Admittedly it not class racing, but at one time you could sail every single day in Norfolk and North Suffolk throughout the School summer holidays by going from club regatta to club regatta..

Just had a look there's one week, and a couple of days this year where there isn't an open, and some weeks there is a choice.


Edited by The Q - 14 Jun 22 at 1:26pm
Still sailing in circles
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The Moo View Drop Down
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Joined: 01 Jun 06
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Posts: 809 		Post Options Post Options   Quote The Moo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 22 at 3:19pm
Originally posted by Grumpycat



I really love the off the water side of doing opens and national events But as a very average club , I just got fed up always being a the bottom third of the fleet all the time  . Yes I know it I had persisted with it I would of got better but at that time I was working shifts and a lot of overtime too so it was just too much trouble . 
These day I am sort of retired and I have the time but at nearly 60 no longer any interest . It’s just easier to work as shore crew for my wife as this means I can drink more with out have to worry about sailing the next day lol .
On the other hand since retirement , my interest in club sailing as never been higher . Am sailing every Wednesday and Sunday I can plus am even doing some pleasure sailing on the odd Saturday ( something I have never done in 30+ years of sailing .) 
It’s amazing what having some extra free time  and a boat that totally for filled everything your have been looking for in a singlehanded, to make you enjoy sailing . Big smile




Lucky you I say. Since I retired I seem to be doing less sailing than at anytime since I was a kid.

In my world there is always someone (or something) ready to steal my time.
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davidyacht View Drop Down
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Posts: 1345 		Post Options Post Options   Quote davidyacht Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 22 at 3:50pm
Originally posted by The Moo

Originally posted by Grumpycat



I really love the off the water side of doing opens and national events But as a very average club , I just got fed up always being a the bottom third of the fleet all the time  . Yes I know it I had persisted with it I would of got better but at that time I was working shifts and a lot of overtime too so it was just too much trouble . 
These day I am sort of retired and I have the time but at nearly 60 no longer any interest . It’s just easier to work as shore crew for my wife as this means I can drink more with out have to worry about sailing the next day lol .
On the other hand since retirement , my interest in club sailing as never been higher . Am sailing every Wednesday and Sunday I can plus am even doing some pleasure sailing on the odd Saturday ( something I have never done in 30+ years of sailing .) 
It’s amazing what having some extra free time  and a boat that totally for filled everything your have been looking for in a singlehanded, to make you enjoy sailing . Big smile




Lucky you I say. Since I retired I seem to be doing less sailing than at anytime since I was a kid.

In my world there is always someone (or something) ready to steal my time.

You have to defend that time ... my family know that Saturday 12.00 to 18.00 is allocated 
Happily living in the past
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hotpunter View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Jun 22
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Posts: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Quote hotpunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 22 at 10:56pm
Originally posted by NickA

I think our overheads are too big.
But I just paid £50 for the Bala long distance ( includes a cut to the 3rd party event organisers I suppose).

£50 for both single and double handed entries with a not insignificant % of that fee straight to a third party? 
No problem in paying out for what an event costs when hard working member clubs like Bala get the full return on their efforts. Can’t say I’m enthused by third party ‘organisers’ offering minimal event promotion, novelty tracking and little to the wider sailing group looking to get back travelling to events, outside of a small few at the sharp end. 
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