League of Snooty S.C's

Ripped from here http://drrickschaefer5.blog.com/tag/career-advice/ but widely found in different versions...

...a man who moves into a new town, and proceeds to ask the local sage what kind of people live there. The sage asks, “What kind of people lived in your last town?” The man answers, “Dishonest people; cheats and liars, and really unfriendly.” The sage answers, “We have the same kind of people here.” A second man moves into town and asks the sage the same question, “What kind of people will I find in this town?” The sage asks the second man, “What kind of people lived in your last town?” The second man answers, “Wonderful people; helpful, kind and loving.” The sage now answers, “That is the kind of people you will find in this town as well.”

Arriving in the midlands courtesy of a work relocation, I approached Draycote to find out about joining as returner to the sport.

I had intended to buy a Lark- lots of cheap fun for the recently graduated, only to be told 'we don't sail those here' by the office staff. Needless to say I didn't bother joining. As I also figured there was no where big enough to justify the cost of getting back in to the sport (ex-coastal sailor with a typical misplaced aversion to other little ponds around this part) and didn't bother buying the Lark either (shame, nice boats imo, but too old now to get the best out of them!).

I eventually joined two years later when I set my sights a little lower on the boat evolutionary scale and stupidly bought another knee wrecker- as this was 'allowed' at Draycote...

What did I discover... oh yes, there's a handicap fleet and yes, my prospective Lark would have been very welcome had I just spoken to someone else. Ironically years ago, the club had a very strong fleet of Larks and even had a Lark National Champion- I think he's still using the same spraytop!!!

Is it a snotty club... no, not really- is has it's quirks and petty squabbles like so many. But like a lot of clubs often accused of being snotty, it's just down to catching someone on a bad day.

Edited by rogue - 19 Sep 11 at 1:57pm

Don't get me wrong, I dare say there are some 'reasonable' types in fact my guess they were all out on the water putting on what looked like a great event (I'm really p1ssed that I missed it, light shifty winds and tide, I'd have loved that, instead I had the bread knife and daughter in tow they were equally impressed - not),  it's just the whole way the sailing world is so often disinterested in the interested observer or passer by, as far as he was concerned I was just some punter on a day trip asking stupid questions and I didn't press the point, knowing what a pain in the neck it can be if you are a recorder or whatever it was they were doing up that ladder.(I do hope they were recorders and not just spectators)

Edited by G.R.F. - 19 Sep 11 at 3:16pm

Originally posted by rogerd Grumpf at least someone spoke to you. I went to a lake club in the SW and I was ignored by just about everyone there. I have since learnt that I wasnt the only one who is treated this way.

what do you expect Roger- surrounded by some of the best coastline this god-forsaken island has to offer and they choose to sail on a pond!!!

stay off the moor...



Edited by rogue - 19 Sep 11 at 10:20pm

Salcombe Y.C... If you happen to be sailing in Salcombe week with a wife a baby in tow, and you think it might be nice to have drink after the racing the the club. Don't bother, unless you want to spend a little more time away from your family. As I was aggressively told, with a wagging finger pointing to a sign. Absolutely NO children in the yacht club. It's out side for you. What a great club, I always make a bee line for there bar to spend my cash now, every time I'm down that way.