An explanation of my RYA location posting

[Guest]

So, it was a mistake to try to condense it and make it as short as possible, something that writers are always being advised to do.

Let me say a few words about it, please.

I do not deny that yachtsmen have benefitted from the RYA. It could hardly have survived if they had not. Nor would I have been a member off and on for 54 years if I did not think it had an important function. I particularly admire the work of Mr Whelan.

But it is surely not unreasonable to suggest a debate among members about the location of the HQ. Why should the Sec Gen veto a letter to their ridiculously anodyne magazine on the subject? It was quite out of order. I would have had no objection if there had been a debate and the concensus was to indulge in a purpose-built HQ (and as a one-time investment manager, I know this is usually a way of spending money unnecessarily). But the members must be allowed to express a view and important matters like this must not be railroaded. Mr Carr is quite out of order.

I also feel that it is time to face the fact that the days when the Solent was the capital of british yachting are over. It was so a hundred years ago. The proposition held good about 50 years ago. But it is not so now. It is true that the moneyed yachting is on the Solent. Perhaps that is what counts to the RYA. But grotty yachting is not Solent based and there atre more grotty yotties than you imagine.

But still this Solent myth goes onb.

So my original posting flushed out the Solent Mafia in all its offended pride. Good!

William Cooper

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your explanation which makes your previous post much clearer. What a pity you had to spoil it with the last couple of paragraphs.
Vitriol does not become you, Sir.

 

[incognito]

Oh, I thought Bill was being quite gentle, really....

I agree with most of his points about the RYA. It is a non-representative, closed, cliquey bunch. It does some good work, but it is motivated by the opinions and intentions of the little clique.

(member for many years, so entitled to be critical, I think)

 

[PhatBuoy]

Great stuff,
Never a dull moment when your on line. I'm even of the same opinion on some of these issues. (which makes a change)

Phil

 

[Guest]

Glad to know somebody is!

William Cooper

 

[Guest]

The pot boils

I discussed this with my spouse (the Cripple) who is also a personal member. She suggested that the proof of the pudding was in the eating.

We have been both racing and cruising yachtsmen since the last war. Was sailing more fun in 1948 than it is today? Because it has been the policy for all that time of the YRA and RYA to look after the interests of yachtsmen.

There is no question in our minds that yachting, by which I mean sailing, but will also include dedicated motor cruisres, is less congenial now than it was, and that this is a british problem.

Because generally speaking, yachting abroad has improved, while yachting in Britain has got worse. (I'm sorry, you youngsters, you'll have to take the word of oldies on this subject.)

This means that the YRA/RYA has failed. No, that is putting it too strongly. It has not done well enough.

Yacht berths. England is the worst in Europe for number of berths per head of population. Only approximate figures are available, but I believe that to be true.
While the administrative climate (i.e. poltics) abroad is in favour of encouraging yachting, in England almost all political entities are united to stop it. As I say the RYA has failed.

As an example, there is not one (that I am aware of) radio or TV programme dedicated to yachting. Compare the continent, where there are no equivalents to the RYA.

The SCD, which is an awful load for the yachtie to bear, originated in England, but what did the RYA do about it? They acquiesced.

One cannot say that the RYA have made things worse. Of course not. But they haven't done any good. And that is the point. It seems to have given up and perhaps it now exists for the benefit of its paid employees, most of whom seem to be concerned with insurance, selling us things we do not want and 'development', whatever that is.

William Cooper