Structure

Originally posted by H2 I suspect that clubs dictating what people sailed went out of fashion when the iron curtain came down and we moved away from calling each other "Comrade". Sometimes it does surprise me that sailing ever survived the boomers.

Dictating is not the way, suggesting is the way forward ( comrades). Rather than just promoting a club to get members with any boat, promoting a selection of classes and gently push those that fill a niche. Now of course every club needs a single hander for perhaps those moving on from double handers ,something that is easier to recover and with some class? I dont see that suggesting to new members and actively marketing some classes is anything but positive. And if someone wishes to join with the first boat in the club of a class fine, but once in perhaps they will be attracted by some of the small fleet groups talking after racing?

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons Originally posted by ian.r.mcdonald Originally posted by JimC Perhaps a touch exaggerated. Even clubs with strict fleet only policies would drop and adopt classes from time to time. What's ironic is that there were many more new classes introduced back then than there are now. A regular review is sensible. It's the acceptance of all boats with no consideration that stops the creation of support groups within clubs and the motivation to get out and race. I would suggest that clubs promoting "suggested boats" whilst allowing most others is a reasonable compromise. Agreed if we don't give new boats the opportunity to gain a foothold in a handicap fleet they will never reach critical mass.