Another club closure

Foilers will never work on our waters, they'd sail behind the first tree and crash down..Our club was failing, then about 15 years ago they set up a club sailing school. 
They now have up to 80 children signed on each year, for sail training. 
It took a while but it has revived the dinghy classes, and some of the adults have been learning to sail and are beginning to feed through to the keel boat classes (and a few with the dinghies).
Oh I intend to volunteer to help with the sailing School from next year when I've retired.

Edited by The Q - 05 May 22 at 6:28am

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The Q Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 07 Feb 22 Location: Norfolk Broads Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Post Options Post Reply Quote The Q Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 May 22 at 6:27am
	Foilers will never work on our waters, they'd sail behind the first tree and crash down.. Our club was failing, then about 15 years ago they set up a club sailing school. They now have up to 80 children signed on each year, for sail training. It took a while but it has revived the dinghy classes, and some of the adults have been learning to sail and are beginning to feed through to the keel boat classes (and a few with the dinghies). Oh I intend to volunteer to help with the sailing School from next year when I've retired. Edited by The Q - 05 May 22 at 6:28am
	Still sailing in circles

CT249 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jul 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 394	Post Options Post Reply Quote CT249 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 11:42pm
	It's no wonder that people think sailors are toffs, when World Sailing and most of the media (Y & Y being an exception) continue to try to throw the entire sport down an elitist wonderland rabbit hole where everyone can afford to sail a carbon foiler. It's not working, it will never work and none of the earlier elitist sailing models really worked, but it seems that actually looking at evidence is too hard for WS and much of the sailing industry.

NickA Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 30 Mar 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 780	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickA Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 10:21pm
	Even medium size midland clubs ( Carsington ) are struggling. Loss of members post Covid, lack of younger dinghy racers coming through to replace the oldies giving up, not really made up by the small rash of wing foilers and foil boarders, increased rent by the landlords etc etc plus the difficulty of getting people to help out with safety boats and race running...I guess people reckon they've paid a hefty membership fee and that should be that. The answer (apparently) is to buy our way out of trouble by souping up the training division, running lots of courses and thereby getting in new members. Not convinced it will work, but hope it does else were screwed ( and lumbered with lots of expensive ribs etc ) Meanwhile I was down at Bowmoore SC in the Cotswold water park last weekend. Tiny duckpond but 25 boats out ( fewer than usual apparently ) and lots of family groups staying the weekend on site. They got something right that we didn't!
	Javelin 558 Contender 2574

Late starter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 477	Post Options Post Reply Quote Late starter Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 8:18pm
	When I started sailing in the 70s there were 6 relatively local clubs, there are now 3 so club closures isn't a new issue so I guess we should treasure the ones that are left. The local paper are saying that the council intend to kick Sutton in Ashfield SC off their site to allow a commercial water sports centre to be developed. Not for me, but perhaps it's the future. https://www.chad.co.uk/news/environment/last-chance-to-enjoy-sailing-at-kings-mill-reservoir-as-sutton-club-launches-final-season-3655675

Grumpycat Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 29 Sep 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 496	Post Options Post Reply Quote Grumpycat Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 7:08pm
	I agree to a certain extent . Speaking as a member of a small club in the midlands , I don’t think it’s it’s a one minute midnight for us, more like 10 mins to midnight. . The only good thing is when my club does go, it means more sailors for other small/medium clubs in the area like Banbury, Shustoke, Earlswood , Tamworth etc. None of us want the big club experience like Draycote . Edited by Grumpycat - 04 May 22 at 7:17pm

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3298	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 6:35pm
	Small sailing clubs are at "one minute to midnight" from what I can see in West Mid's. What about other areas ?
	Robert

Grumpycat Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 29 Sep 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 496	Post Options Post Reply Quote Grumpycat Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 3:08pm
	It’s always sad when a club closes , I know from personal experience. But at least as TT pointed out ,there are at least options of other clubs not too far away .

The Q Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 07 Feb 22 Location: Norfolk Broads Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Post Options Post Reply Quote The Q Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 3:00pm
	Looking at Ogston on the maps / earth view they have a ton of spare space.. Looking at their fees they are quite reasonable too, their membership fee is over 50% more than ours, but their berth fees are much less.
	Still sailing in circles

turnturtle Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2512	Post Options Post Reply Quote turnturtle Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 2:31pm
	Let's hope Ogston welcomes their members and has boat park space

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3298	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 22 at 12:19pm
	Very bad news, sailing clubs get very little consideration from council officials, they are like the majority of people who think we are all 'Toffs'.
	Robert