Future of Opens
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11549
Printed Date: 12 Jul 25 at 8:48pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Future of Opens
Posted By: winging it
Subject: Future of Opens
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 6:01pm
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There is no doubt that the advent of internet weather forecasts has badly affected the numbers travelling to open meetings. We have an open planned for tomorrow, yet the forecast is dire. Doubtless there will be many who will be planning to stay home And cut the grass, put the shelves up, ride the bike, whatever, while the club is left with an empty lake, lots of volunteers milling about and a well stocked but empty galley. At what point, and in what way, will clubs strike back? Will we see more and more 'enter in advance' meetings, with the clubs charging entry in advance, or perhaps a non return able deposit, or will fewer clubs choose to run opens? Or will there be more of the bigger, multi class and handicap events such as the Sailjuice series? We are so short of time these days, plus travel costs have escalated, what long term effect is this going to have? ------------- the same, but different... |
Replies:
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 6:13pm
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Remind me what we get to do.. Spend all day on the fecking water, back to back racing no lunch, get timed out if we're not up to the hotshots speed, no chance to make a repair between races ?
Or go to some event wall to wall jockeys with crispy sails and a crap handicap system? Future? You have no future unless things change.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: iiitick
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 6:57pm
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Why can't you bumble round at the back with the other bumble round at the backers? I have never seen an open only made up of tooth gritted hot shotters. My whole dinghy sailing career has been spent at the back where you meet a much nicer class of sailor. Get a grip young Fuller and know your place!
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 7:01pm
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I dunno, is it really any different to deciding whether to travel or not based on the forecast on the BBC? I wonder if we're blaming the wrong thing? Its been a pretty dreadful summer weather wise.
The thing about running Opens is that they are the best (or worst) advertising your club can get, depending on how the club comes across. I don't think my club has run an open without a lunch break or imposed a time limit at an Open since I've been there. Sure we finish people a lap early if needed, and we've even been known to catch a straggler half way up the beat and ask them if they want to accept last place and turn round now for the next race, but never a time limit. And yes, we do sometimes fit in 5 races and a lunch break in a day, although 4 is more common. |
Posted By: Noah
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 7:02pm
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Opens tend to be class events so the handicap is entirely irrelevant. Stop banging on about it. Being timed out is a bad thing. We offer straggler(s) a finish. They've made the effort to travel, they should be made welcome. Back to back is a necessity in some places - take some sustenance and fluids afloat. Plenty time for beer and chat after racing. To answer the original question, advance fees or non-returnable deposits will put more people off. You just have to ensure you put on a damn good event whatever the weather. ------------- Nick D-Zero 316 |
Posted By: Do Different
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 7:09pm
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An open to all comers with no prior communications with a few key classes is pretty much a lottery. Recently we have had some nice meetings by building a liaison with a few niche classes. They give us a notice of intent and in turn they know we are expecting them and are prepared to run the event with their preferences in mind. Two or three class starts plus an allcomers. |
Posted By: rogerd
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 8:02pm
| I would turn up for the food at Hunts and the welcome. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 8:06pm
I know my place, it's sauntering up the slipway after the race, to be greeted by a <insert relevant sponsor> girl offering me a beer and would I like it here or should she bring it to my table in the marquee.. Then after one or two cool refreshing glasses we re run the race as it should have turned out whilst explaining life to the sponsor girls and their future in it.  ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: iiitick
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 9:02pm
Well, I have that now! Every Wednesday night a group of bikini clad young women pack my boat away while I spray champagne.
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Posted By: sargesail
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 9:07pm
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Nessa it is a worrying trend. One of the things I like about the 300s and the 2000s is spending time with teh other sailors, including when we can't race. But with an 8 and a 6 year old time on the water with or without them is precious. The thing I really can't stand is turning up at an Open and finding a club not running racing when it could do (wind too light or too strong). I do think that new style and more accurate forecasts are a factor.....people have lost the 'field of dreams' view that if we come they will put on a race! But I've also had some great events when I've travelled more in hope than expectation and the forecast has been better than expected. It's also been really interesting watching the change in attitude to Opens from clubs. We risk an insularity that has never been part of the UK dinghy scene. One of the very bestthings is sailing in new places with new people. I would miss it if it were gone. In some ways dinghy opens do the same thing for me as cruising yachting in remote places, only with a competitive and sociable edge to it.
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Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 10:09pm
It's the only way to roll.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Punky
Date Posted: 11 Jul 14 at 10:13pm
| I was talking to a friend this evening who races vintage cars. The events he attends are oversubscribed. If you don't get a place this year you are guaranteed one next year. Nice problem to have! |
Posted By: patj
Date Posted: 13 Jul 14 at 10:16am
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If fewer people are travelling then combining similar classes for opens would be the simplest way of raising numbers. Hunts cvrda event included a vintage Merlin De May event and a SigneT open and was a good event. I've sailed Larks and they have combined with Scorpions to make better events. Both were still class racing so no PY issues.
Generally if we are travelling then we are committed well beforehand and will turn up to support the event even if we don't sail due to unsuitable weather - we had a great time at a three day open in Wales one year but didn't even unstrap the boat from the trailer! |
Posted By: iiitick
Date Posted: 13 Jul 14 at 11:30am
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It's all this bliddy choice isn't it.....coupled with this fashion for considering the feelings of women and children. Way back in the 50's when I was touring with model racing yachts we had a member who was so selfish that even my callous adolescent self noticed it. His wife and child dressed in rags while following him round with cheese sandwiches wrapped in brown paper. He spent everything on boats and his Ford Zodiac while his 'dependents' lived in poverty. That was not unusual, husband was King...in many cases. Happily things have changed and families are families, women have to be taken into consideration and children have to be indulged in a wide range of alternate activities. To participate actively in an open circuit sailors need to be single with car and income, married with second car and even more income, married with children second car, resident nanny and substantially more income. Some of you lucky chaps will have enthusiastic partners who wish to share or participate, lucky you! When I consider it I think it is amazing open racing survives at all! Having said all this next weekend we have our annual Byte open at Combs Sailing Club where the scenery is wonderful, the cooking sublime and the organisation exceptional. We will train you how to sail your Byte better on Saturday morning as well. Wifes, children, dogs and Zodiac's welcome.
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