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Arresting the Decline and Fall of our Sport. |
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tink
Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jan 16 Location: North Hants Online Status: Offline Posts: 788 |
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Topic: Arresting the Decline and Fall of our Sport. Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 5:06pm |
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Hope I didn’t come across as blaming the clubs, I have sailed a fair bit on the sea and understand the limitations of the geography. I think what we had up North fitted so well that is was disappointing I couldn’t find similar. That said we would all be wrapped up for four months my now. Burghfield is great, challenging and different and a step learning curve.
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Tink
https://tinkboats.com http://proasail.blogspot.com |
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Jack Sparrow
Really should get out more Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 4:56pm | |
The decline and fall of '...................'
I think 'Reginald Perrin' would have the answer to this question.
'The rules of the game are too complicated.' Here's the RYA discussing the subject: |
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Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 4:54pm | |
All true, but I guess golf and running have an internal check of performance (score or time) where sail racing generally doesn't - you can only benchmark externally by comparing your position with others. Events like the Round Sheppey are a little different - you can compare your time one year to the next and get a sense of achievement just getting round, but they are the exception not the norm.
Many clubs already run 'novice races' for those less experienced, so in the sense it already happens. But it will be years before most of those people travel to an event because they are worried about being intimidated in a fleet of 'serious' experienced racers. So why not set up a 'Grade 6' open meeting where it is clear that it is an event aimed at the less experienced or the less serious, give sailors a rating based upon club results and anyone with a rating that is too good is excluded, or better, asked to run it. Get a couple of decent results in those events and feel confident to move onto a 'Grade 5' event where the competition is a little stiffer. And so on. By all means have 'open' events to, open to all as well. |
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eric_c
Far too distracted from work Joined: 21 Jan 18 Online Status: Offline Posts: 382 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 4:12pm | |
Some of my wife's family are into running. They seem quite keen to get an entry to events like the London Marathon where they will come well down the pack. Likewise cyclists will have nice day out and come 80% down the event, but feel pleased they've beaten a mate from their club on an affordable bike, or put in what they consider is a decent time for the amount of trainng they've done. Likewise I've known people enjoy a game of golf and play courses where the pro's get around in half as many hits. I reckon half the people at my club don't really care where they come, they just want to have a go at each race and enjoy being on the sea. Some will be pleased if they get around the course without too many capsizes and no breakages. It's social, fresh air and being part of the club. I think some people even buy odd boats so their results are comfortably obscured by the PY system that most don't really care about. Even some people who've done well at high level 20 years ago are not obsessed with winning now. But they still enjoy a race.
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ian.r.mcdonald
Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 440 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 3:03pm | |
I think your suggestions are sensible but I dont think that downgrading a national championship for some dinghies would be positive. And my experience is that the " shouty/ not keen on duties " sailors are normally mid fleet and by grading racing we would just exclude the superstars. And lose their input and tuning advice etc,
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Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 2:49pm | |
As a lifelong sailor and the parent of an ambitious tennis son (with no previous family history in that game) I find it interesting to compare the two sports.
Tennis has a much lower barrier to entry – just a pair of trainers and a borrowed racquet, plenty of municipal courts available etc. The amount of training available is also much, much greater and so the overall standards at club level are higher in tennis than in sailing. Most club level players will have professional coaching at least once a week, county standard juniors probably four times a week. Tennis is quite gladiatorial – one on one, no hiding place. It is tough being beaten 6-0 6-0, and not good for continued participation. Each player has a rating (not a ranking) and to move up you have to beat people of the same or higher rating. Tennis tournaments are therefore graded – grade 6 being open to all with an emphasis on fun, and lower grades tournaments have a minimum rating requirement. This prevent newbies being cannon fodder for seasoned players and ensures you are competing at a standard suitable to your level of skill, fitness and commitment. One of the god things often espoused about sailing is that the rank amateur has the opportunity to sail against Olympians at Nationals. This is true, but equally when your typical weekend club race involves a seasoned campaigner lapping the Level 2 novice, it ceases to be fun for either, and with coaching so difficult to get it takes a lot of perseverance to stick at it long enough to get near the front. Perhaps (some) sailing events should be graded? We sort of have that informally – an open is likely to be higher standard than a club race and a championship a higher standard still, but do all of your club races need to be open to everyone? Should puddle-on-the-wold races be equal in stature to Hayling Island races? Should Wineglass races be equal to Merlin Rocket ones? |
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ian.r.mcdonald
Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 440 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 1:49pm | |
What a nice and interesting post! Think it works better on this type of swallows and amazon" type water. Bit tougher to keep focused cruising round a concrete bowl |
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Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 1:42pm | |
Growth is overrated, both in sailing clubs and National economies. The expression 'to cut one's cloth' is where it's at, a club needs numbers that fall somewhere between enough to pay the bills and generate sufficient volunteering to run the place at one end of the spectrum and max capacity in premises/boat park at the other. Numbers will vary from year to year but if you can maintain them in that region you have a successful club.
Fleaberto, well done for changing the emphasis on your racing. It's the culture amongst the shouty sailors that was bad not the racing itself, as you have proved with your new low key racing. My holiday club runs racing and casual sailing along similar lines, we don't have any shouty sailors but nor do we attract that type 'cos of the way we run our races.
Edited by Sam.Spoons - 14 Nov 19 at 1:43pm |
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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
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eric_c
Far too distracted from work Joined: 21 Jan 18 Online Status: Offline Posts: 382 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 1:17pm | |
One of my former clubs has been through several periods over the past 100 years or so where it definitely wasn't growing, but it's not dead yet!
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423zero
Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3406 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 19 at 1:17pm | |
Fleaberto, what acreage lake did club have that stopped racing ?
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Robert
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