Your Club starts an Adopted Classes Only Policy

when club’s were more locked into adopted classes, different clubs in the locale would have a different mix of adopted classes, therefore presented a different offer.  Not sure how this influences the argument. 

The key issue whether in an adopted class, a handicap fleet or a club is to create a comraderie and sense of belonging that encourages regular involvent both in the short term and the long term.

Yes.  Any racing format can work, the key to sustaining numbers however has a lot more to do with the social aspects of clubs and not just their racing organisation.  Get the social side right with members and the racing will generally sort itself out.   3/4 of club members are not really 'every weekend' racers are they ?   If you ignore the social aspects you will lose them from potentially becomming regular racers at some future points, if that is your objective.  You can also lose them from club membership itself.

'Back in the day' .. lots of things were different.   But to 99% focus on racing organisation in many clubs, as perhaps inevitably on this forum, is a more common fact today.   It is not likely in isolation to provide any sort of solution to declining numbers.  New racers disproportionally come from the 'occasionals'  ... but you have to make membership enjoyable in order to keep them first!       



Edited by Cirrus - 13 Oct 17 at 9:46am

Completely agree. Sometimes basic inclusiveness can be forgotten. I know from being class captain that talking to everyone off the water, sharing a drink and being open about club activities did far more for attendance than format. 

Originally posted by 423zero Getafix and TT, What a depressing view point, Mega-clubs stifle individualism, their are problems at my small club on a small lake, but it's worth fighting for. I have a number of non-conforming boats, large clubs would probably not welcome. Class racing elitism rearing it's undemocratic dictatorial head again.

missed the point and no idea why you think:

• better facilities from more pooled resources
• racing for OD and handicap and beginners at the same club
• and the 'what class to sail debate' being not the deciding factor

... was in any way 'depressing' .

If you think that everyone sticking to their end of the pier, prom or lake and carrying on with the fractured, poorly co-ordinated and often hard-to-access nature of our sport now is the way forward, I'd find that quite depressing.

Originally posted by davidyacht I suspect that small puddle clubs have a higher percentage of activity than the megaclubs.