#GetOutAndSail update
by Mark Jardine 18 Mar 2013 10:16 GMT
18 March 2013
It has now been two weeks since we launched #GetOutAndSail and the response has been fantastic - even September has 45 nominations for events already! It has been great to see you promoting the initiative to your sailing communities and getting as many nominations in as possible.
#GetOutAndSail is real funding for your event; each month, from April to October, we will award £500 cash and prizes worth £1,000. This support could be used to reduce entry fees, hire a professional photographer or do something like providing bacon butties on arrival. All we want to do is encourage more sailors to attend.
Sailors' tips and feedback
One of the key objectives of the scheme is to get feedback from the racing community on the barriers to participation and tips to reduce costs when travelling to events.
By far the most common tip for reducing costs is getting a double stacking trailer for when you're going to open events. This of course saves on the fuel costs when travelling to events and also means you've got someone to share the driving with. Some clubs have grouped together to buy a multi-boat stacking trailer which can be used for travelling to open events; four sailors going to an event in a single car with one trailer reduces the costs dramatically and increases the enjoyment!
On accommodation, see if the club allows camping on-site. Many do and it works out as a great option as long as the weather isn't too dire. Many of us camped during the YachtsandYachting.com Forum Open at Broxbourne last October and were fine, even if we did set up our tents in a rainstorm and woke up to find ice on the outside of our tents! For those who aren't too keen on sleeping in a boat park then Youth Hostels are very cost-effective; have a search for local options at www.yha.org.uk.
The key is to do the research and planning beforehand. See if sailors local to you are travelling to the event and whether you can share a lift with them and then talk to the club to see what accommodation options are available.
Supporting #GetOutAndSail
Help promote #GetOutAndSail by liking the page on Facebook, getting sailors at your club, or in your class, to nominate your chosen event, and remember to use the #GetOutAndSail hashtag if you're promoting an event on Twitter.
A huge thank-you to our ten #GetOutAndSail partners; Crewsaver, Gul, Harken, International Paint, Navigators & General, Noble Marine, Ovington Boats, Rooster Sailing, Seldén Masts and Wildwind. Without them this initiative simply wouldn't be possible. It is their belief in #GetOutAndSail which will drive it forward and hopefully get more people out on the water.
We have a couple of other tie-ups in the pipeline that could make coverage of #GetOutAndSail supported events fantastic... watch this space!
www.YachtsandYachting.com/GetOutAndSail