Are you a member of a Sailing Club......... and why?

[Stemar]

Joined the club shortly after buying our boat because it had a long pontoon not far from my mooring. We subsequently found it had helpful members - there's always someone who'll take a line or lend a spanner- unless you've become known as the bloke who never helps anyone, cheap moorings and a bar what is probably with the cheapest beer in Hampshire. There's a small, but quite active racing section for cruisers & dinghies. What's not to like?

The membership is limited and there's a steady waiting list to join.

 

[jac]

Member of a Solent club as mooring is on the river and needed somewhere to park car and to get out to mooring.

Social side is good. Will go to 1 or 2 social events each year and 3 or 4 rallies depending on diaries. We were actually members before getting the river mooring to access the social side and despite the blue ensign the members are all normal and friendly. Just wish we lived closer so we could pop in more easily

Communication is via weekly email newsletter but also has a moderately active facebook page and a pretty dormant website.

Membership seems stable, possibly growing a little but a lot of effort put in , stand at SIBS, open days at the club etc.

 

[Rum Run]

I am a member of an East Coast club. It provides me with boat storage at a discount to local rates, free car parking when I am there, a bar with good beer, low prices and the opportunity to talk boats and sailing with people.
I live a long way from any coast, so it is very useful to have a base there, and some access to "local's rate" amenities. This is a member-run club though, with no paid staff and isn't at all posh - which suits me well

 

[RupertW]

Very few answers from those who sail but would run a mile from a sailing club in theory, and have that confirmed in practice when every they are tempted.

Some people, like me, don't join things and find that meeting two members of any kind of club makes your skin crawl. Often nice individuals but if you go sailing partly to be away from all rules and petty politics then the mention of maintenance duty or committee membership or a regular commitment to some sailing activity is horrible. If only there could be self service membership where for a premium fee you could get out of everything except sailing your boat.

 

[maby]

We were for several years, but never took part in any organised sailing events. We did use the clubhouse bar occasionally but then I sat there one evening gazing at my pint of bitter and realised that it was going to cost me close to £40! There were several perfectly decent pubs in the village and I realised what a fool I had been paying the previous year's membership fees. If I remember correctly, we were paying more than £600 per annum which was effectively the entrance fee for a tolerable, but not particularly special, pub.

Since then, we have moved to the Solent and there are lots of clubs around. They all advertise that they "welcome visiting sailors", so I don't really see the need to join any of them - just make sure that we space our visits out enough that they don't remember us!

 

[TSB240]

Very few answers from those who sail but would run a mile from a sailing club in theory, and have that confirmed in practice when every they are tempted.

Some people, like me, don't join things and find that meeting two members of any kind of club makes your skin crawl. Often nice individuals but if you go sailing partly to be away from all rules and petty politics then the mention of maintenance duty or committee membership or a regular commitment to some sailing activity is horrible. If only there could be self service membership where for a premium fee you could get out of everything except sailing your boat.

There is something that meets your needs. I am a member of an established (Very very long established!) Yacht Club local to base. However in addition I have Joined for Free A number of Facebook closed groups. Facebook is wonderful for establishing friendships with like minded "Boating " peeps. We have a local FB group that covers good cruising in company friends, relatives and industry suppliers. this has a growing membership and is up to nearly 100 members. I have also joined Sailing and Cruising Scotland and the sister Site Sailing an Cruising Wales. Both of these groups have seen exponential growth since their launch Scotland now has 6928 members with 37 new just today! This forum is a very limited form of social media in comparison. The growth of these groups will make it redundant in the future..

 

[Resolution]

Some people, like me, don't join things and find that meeting two members of any kind of club makes your skin crawl. .

You have hit the nail on the head. The essence of any club is for like-minded people to do something together. So if you prefer to be solitary, then clubs are clearly not for you.
After twenty years membership of my yacht club I find I have gained many very close friends and a wide circle of acquaintances. Also some yachting experiences that I would never have had sailing solo.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I was a member at Kirkcudbright Sailing Club for a few years, really just so that I could store my dinghy in their compound while I had a berth on the adjacent council pontoon. They were all very nice people, but I'm not terribly gregarious, I don't drink and it was fifteen miles from home. When I gave up the berth I let my membership lapse. No great discontent, just not much point, for me.

 

[chewi]

Very few answers from those who sail but would run a mile from a sailing club in theory, and have that confirmed in practice when every they are tempted.

Some people, like me, don't join things and find that meeting two members of any kind of club makes your skin crawl. Often nice individuals but if you go sailing partly to be away from all rules and petty politics then the mention of maintenance duty or committee membership or a regular commitment to some sailing activity is horrible. If only there could be self service membership where for a premium fee you could get out of everything except sailing your boat.

and who would provide the faciliities you use?

 

[RupertW]

There is something that meets your needs. I am a member of an established (Very very long established!) Yacht Club local to base. However in addition I have Joined for Free A number of Facebook closed groups. Facebook is wonderful for establishing friendships with like minded "Boating " peeps. We have a local FB group that covers good cruising in company friends, relatives and industry suppliers. this has a growing membership and is up to nearly 100 members. I have also joined Sailing and Cruising Scotland and the sister Site Sailing an Cruising Wales. Both of these groups have seen exponential growth since their launch Scotland now has 6928 members with 37 new just today! This forum is a very limited form of social media in comparison. The growth of these groups will make it redundant in the future..

I agree - I am sure part of two sailing FB groups and love to see photos and swap opinions

 

[RupertW]

and who would provide the faciliities you use?

The people I pay to do it - that s why marinas have been so good for my sailing life, supermarkets for shopping without needing to chat, and fast food outlets when I can't bear having a waiter

 

[RupertW]

You have hit the nail on the head. The essence of any club is for like-minded people to do something together. So if you prefer to be solitary, then clubs are clearly not for you.
After twenty years membership of my yacht club I find I have gained many very close friends and a wide circle of acquaintances. Also some yachting experiences that I would never have had sailing solo.

I find that to receive a lot you have to give at least a little and although I'm always happy to take lines and chat to people who moor alongside I loathe team sports and don't want to give

 

[superheat6k]

Some interesting comments about email newsletters and support from members. About 18 months ago we started an Owners Association for our marque of boat, and have found most owners who know of us are more than happy to join, as we have kept it completely free, including use of a free website. This has significant advantages as there are nil officer responsibilities, therefore nil insurance requirements, treasurer, accounts, etc.

But I have noticed that apart from the two of us mostly running the admin and website as enthusiasts, the rest of the membership are happy to just to go along with it, but getting anything much in the way of contribution about their adventures and experiences is hard going.

A positive for us has been that getting all the information about our boats in one place has increased the profile of the model, which has definitely helped with sales for those moving on because several buyers have cited the Association as proving them vital information to make a purchasing decision, ultimately therefore it has contributed to increased residual values and saleability for those moving on.

Socially the Association has held annual lunch meeting where about 20% of the membership have turned out. The members list also helps break the ice when another boat is encountered as most will be members so will know of you at least.

 

[JumbleDuck]

If only there could be self service membership where for a premium fee you could get out of everything except sailing your boat.

That's a marina, isn't it?

 

[Tranona]

That's a marina, isn't it?

But some marinas become communities of like minded people and clubs are formed......

Yet other clubs build marinas to service their members' needs

 

[PaulJ]

Folks, many thanks for your responses. If nothing else, you have shown that this is a fairly general trend and our club is not alone. I suppose that's what you call "evolution" and we have to accept and adapt. Communication is a tricky one because paper newsletters are expensive and time consuming but some older members "can't be doing with these new fangled computer thingies"! Perhaps a small pile of paper newsletters at the end of the Bar would be a sensible compromise?

Thanks again for your responses, any further thoughts and comments would be very welcome.

Paul

 

[chewi]

The people I pay to do it - that s why marinas have been so good for my sailing life, supermarkets for shopping without needing to chat, and fast food outlets when I can't bear having a waiter

Then look to a commercial marina instead of a club. Clubs are communities not boatyards.

 

[prv]

Then look to a commercial marina instead of a club.

He does, that was his point.

He understands that clubs are about group activities and mutual help, which do not suit him, and so he doesn't join them. Nothing wrong with that.

Pete

 

[jimbaerselman]

Lots of very interesting posts. I research this stuff regularly to advise sailing clubs or associations on ways to increase membership. It is an uphill battle:
,

• Household ownership of boats has declined 1%pa over the last 10 years
• About half boat owners do not join any membership organisations, especially motor boaters
• This year sees the first uptick of boat ownership for a while, largely to higher value boats.
• However, this new ownership is web savvy, gets far more from on-line information, and has the money to enjoy the convenience of quality marinas.
• The main salvors of membership are three things; local cheaper facilities for the boat; active dinghy racing for families; substantial offshore racing activity.
• Clubs with valuable premises in good positions are able to maintain income (not membership) by going professional in catering and bar management. Effectively, competing with hotels for event mangement and catering.
• Kudos and exclusivity guarantees long waiting lists and high fees for a few clubs.

Sources for these comments are The Marine Federation, and interviews with a dozen or so Associations and clubs, and observation of the usage statistics on a range of sailing web sites.

Mostly confirmed by the opinions above! Many thanks!

 

[jac]

Lots of very interesting posts. I research this stuff regularly to advise sailing clubs or associations on ways to increase membership. It is an uphill battle:
,

• Household ownership of boats has declined 1%pa over the last 10 years
• About half boat owners do not join any membership organisations, especially motor boaters
• This year sees the first uptick of boat ownership for a while, largely to higher value boats.
• However, this new ownership is web savvy, gets far more from on-line information, and has the money to enjoy the convenience of quality marinas.
• The main salvors of membership are three things; local cheaper facilities for the boat; active dinghy racing for families; substantial offshore racing activity.
• Clubs with valuable premises in good positions are able to maintain income (not membership) by going professional in catering and bar management. Effectively, competing with hotels for event mangement and catering.
• Kudos and exclusivity guarantees long waiting lists and high fees for a few clubs.

Sources for these comments are The Marine Federation, and interviews with a dozen or so Associations and clubs, and observation of the usage statistics on a range of sailing web sites.

Mostly confirmed by the opinions above! Many thanks!

Our club is going much more into the catering / events area but I do feel sorry for the hosts of such an event as the image may not be what is expected.

This summer there was a wedding in a lovely marquee on the lawn, beautiful warm day and loads of scruffy yachties lugging dinghies to and from the slipway. Even some rather soggy reprobates coming back from a trip to the top of the river involving large scale water fights, buckets and neon coloured water pistols.

Don't see that in many lifestyle publications!!!