Club cruise advice

[robertj]

I’m trying to organise a late club but apart from a week in September which I can’t attend, I can’t see why a weekend or midweek event couldn’t go ahead.
My dilemma is that the members are not that adventurous (which I’m completely happy with) and a bit lethargic. Some are nervous about going far so I will keep it really local with a possible meet up for dinner at a pub or restaurant or barbi?
I need advice on whether to have members on a buoy which is only available in one area or a pontoon in another. How to generate interest as I bet when they’ve attended they will enjoy it.
Thanks

 

[lw395]

A lot of places will book a pontoon or section of pontoon for club rallies.
It tends to work quite well, if you want to encourage people to circulate among the boats.
It certainly helps if you want to encourage club boats to take non-boat-owning club members along as guests.

 

[xyachtdave]

I do exactly this for Medway Yacht Club and it's a very tricky beast!

1) I'd not arrange anything too adventurous, this will put off the inexperienced who realistically are the people that will benefit from cruising in company and probably want to come.

2) Don't expect many people to commit until they can see the weather, unfortunately if a favourable F3 wind and the sun appears, loads of people will come out the woodwork at the last minute.

They'll then expect a restaurant, berthing sorted for them and entertainment. As cruise leader you'll also become the mobile life boat, mechanic, navigator, rigger and fixer of all problems.

If it's poor weather, they'll cancel on the day/night before and you'll have to ring the marina/other yacht club/restaurant and explain the table you booked for 25 and 10 boats that were coming.....won't be.

Cruiser Captains tips for success......

1) Don't write a passage plan. Tell them what you are doing, offer friendly tips and advice and leave them to it. If they need to be somewhere at a certain time, say a lock in, emphasise this a lot.

2) Get them to book and pay for their own berths, or give a clear cut off date for bookings 2 weeks before the event. Anybody that appears after this date arranges direct if they can

3) Be very wary in restaurants. When more than 8 people arrive (even if booked in advance) you often overwhelm the kitchen, the food comes out at different times and someone will think it's either crap or too expensive. Be very careful about splitting bills, I made a mistake booking a lovely table for 16 over looking the Thames, menu sent out in advance of the evening.

I didn't expect a 30 minute row 'Well I didn't have a coffee!' and have to pick up the slack financially.

Get people to give their boat name to the waiter and book drinks and food against it.

When you get a group from your club together it's very rewarding, especially when the event is well attended, my record so far is 18 boats in West India Quay. If you avoid the pitfalls - paying for berthing and restaurants you'll be glad you made the effort.

Lots of people are waiting for someone to organise something at their marina or club - racing, cruising or social, it sounds like that someone is you. Have a go and don't get despondent if you get a poor turnout, particularly in poor weather.

Lastly the most popular thing I arrange are social events, a reasonably priced dinner with a boat speaker afterwards always sells out. When you actually involve a boat and travel the numbers are much less.

Best of luck!