Death knell of Sea Schools?

[Sharky34]

I think you might be surprised how many will survive.
The small one man and a boat operations, are marginal at the best of times. If the man survives and still has his boat. It will be back.
The bigger operations, many don’t own the boats, the boats are owned by individuals, through some program or other.
The agency will survive, The individuals relying on charter income to make payments on boats?

Some will not,
Those who don’t, will probably be replaced by new operators.

The OP isn't about survival of one man band SS, its about whether there will be any customers willing to take the risk of living cheek by jowl, with a load of strangers.

 

[PhillM]

I run one of the aforementioned “one man one boat" schools (technically we're a charity but either way we're an RTC).
Come March it was looking on track be our best year for ages. We'd invested really heavily in the boat over the winter on the back of 60% of our berths for the year already being sold and we were starting to think about perhaps hiring a skipper/instructor towards the end of the season to take some of the load off - currently I teach or maintain all day, and run the business in the evenings/weekends.
We've now cancelled everything up to mid June, and I can't see us operating at all this year. Fortunately we structure the business so that we don't spend the bulk of the course fees until after we've run the trip, but even so if everyone asked for their money back we'd be high and dry. My would be crews have been incredibly gracious and I've only had to refund around a third, the rest have said they're prepared to defer their courses until 2021 and in a couple of cases people have let us keep their deposits.
We still have to pay full whack in the marina where we're based, but fortunately I'm technically employed by the business rather than being self employed so have been able to keep the 80% furlough. The worst thing is the freelancer that helps us out during the season - all her work is cancelled and as a very small fry self employed person she seems to be struggling to figure out how to get the assistance for self employed.
I'm also very lucky that my wife has a 'proper' job as a nurse so at least she's not going to be made redundant any time soon. My biggest fear is that when the country starts going back to work, the furlough scheme will stop before organisations like mine are able to start up again.
Not sure if there was any point to my story - but thought it was good for something from the horse's mouth, as it were...

I too hope that you come through this OK. There may be an upside, sometimes a shake-out reduces competition and when the market comes back, there is a bigger slice of the pie to be had.

It sounds like your overheads are low and so will be able to do keen prices. Have you considered doing some online teaching while the lock-down is on? How about online radio course, or weather or splicing or some other skills that a lot of us bored sailors might be prepared to pay for? Or how about using your company to offer other services, like checking on boats - after all you are commercial and allowed to travel for work - for example, you could use your coded boat to go out to moorings and check for others. I am sure there are many other ideas that, if we all put our heads together, we could come up with.

 

[Poignard]

The OP isn't about survival of one man band SS, its about whether there will be any customers willing to take the risk of living cheek by jowl, with a load of strangers.

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If they are willing to commute to work, shop, go to pubs and do all the other things that normal people will either want or have to resume doing, why wouldn't they want to spend a pleasant week on a yacht?

Especially when there might be some good deals on offer.

 

[Sharky34]

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If they are willing to commute to work, shop, go to pubs and do all the other things that normal people will either want or have to resume doing, why wouldn't they want to spend a pleasant week on a yacht?

Especially when there might be some good deals on offer.

Is it possible for 6 people to maintain 2m social distancing on a 36' yot?

 

[Poignard]

Is it possible for 6 people to maintain 2m social distancing on a 36' yot?

.

I doubt if it's possible for 2 people!

But so what? As I wrote on #63, when restrictions begin to be lifted people will begin to resume normal activities.

The vast majority of us will, as is our public duty, have complied with the laws and guidelines on social distancing and will, rightly, feel ourelves entitled to enjoy our traditional freedoms again.

Or do you expect us to live like frightened rabbits for the rest of our lives?

 

[shaunksb]

I think that the mass production of testing kits could help to solve the problems where 2m distancing is not practicable.

You buy a £10 test kit and everyone does a swab on arrival.

If you’re clear you get on the boat.

_________________________

 

[Sharky34]

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I doubt if it's possible for 2 people!

But so what? As I wrote on #63, when restrictions begin to be lifted people will begin to resume normal activities.

The vast majority of us will, as is our public duty, have complied with the laws and guidelines on social distancing and will, rightly, feel ourelves entitled to enjoy our traditional freedoms again.

Or do you expect us to live like frightened rabbits for the rest of our lives?

For the foreseeable future, yes, be bloody stupid not to be.
Do you want to die earlier than necessary, because that's the likelyhood otherwise.

 

[Sharky34]

I think that the mass production of testing kits could help to solve the problems where 2m distancing is not practicable.

You buy a £10 test kit and everyone does a swab on arrival.

If you’re clear you get on the boat.

_________________________

Which readily available, 100% reliable testkits are those then, cos I want one.

 

[FlyingGoose]

For the foreseeable future, yes, be bloody stupid not to be.
Do you want to die earlier than necessary, because that's the likelyhood otherwise.

Likelihood otherwise you do come out with some nonsense , the death rate is minuscule compared to the population , generally most are younger people that go no these courses and it is not impossible for the company to ask people that show any symptoms to not come,
So we have multiply ways that this virus cannot get there on the boat , why the hell does everyone thing this virus is everywhere and in the air , I do believe Sharky some of your posts are Just your sick pleasure of trying to wind up the normal of us
Your constant waffling of fear is only rubbing of on yourself now

 

[Poignard]

For the foreseeable future, yes, be bloody stupid not to be.
Do you want to die earlier than necessary, because that's the likelyhood otherwise.

'

I do wonder whether you actually bother to read posts before you reply to them.

 

[Paddy Fields]

My first experience of sailing was on a mirror dingy at the school sailing club. Unfortunately, the teachers in charge were more interested in sailing than teaching, and I didn’t learn much, other than what capsizing was, that only adults were allowed to wear wet suits, and probably what the initial symptoms of hypothermia were. I was not definitely taken under anyone’s wing.

Roll on a few more decades, and I had the time and money to do some RYA training on a yacht. So I’m grateful for the RYA school route.

 

[dom]

I do wonder whether you actually bother to read posts before you reply to them.

I do love a soft rhetorical muse

 

[Sharky34]

Likelihood otherwise you do come out with some nonsense , the death rate is minuscule compared to the population , generally most are younger people that go no these courses and it is not impossible for the company to ask people that show any symptoms to not come,
So we have multiply ways that this virus cannot get there on the boat , why the hell does everyone thing this virus is everywhere and in the air , I do believe Sharky some of your posts are Just your sick pleasure of trying to wind up the normal of us
Your constant waffling of fear is only rubbing of on yourself now

As stated in the past, my realism regarding what is happening is sensible.
Your macho stupid bury your head in the sand mentality, isn't & you can go ahead with your next snide commentt as much as you like, cos it doesn'twork.

 

[Sharky34]

'

I do wonder whether you actually bother to read posts before you reply to them.

"and will, rightly, feel ourelves entitled to enjoy our traditional freedoms again."
Really?
Seems like you think the Government is the enemy, not the virus.
I doubt whether we will ever experience "our traditional freedoms", after this crisis, like the aftermath of WW1, the whole social structure & how we live our lives, will be completely different. Harping back to how things were before will not help change that.

 

[FlyingGoose]

As stated in the past, my realism regarding what is happening is sensible.
Your macho stupid bury your head in the sand mentality, isn't & you can go ahead with your next snide commentt as much as you like, cos it doesn'twork.

Mr Sharky in no way have I called you names or tried to insult you . unlike yourself. , you belittle yourself with such language , the true art of debate is to finally defeat the opponent in a sensible discussion, you know when you have won when one resorts to insults, I take your surrender as a gentleman should ,
I await for you in our next tussles, I think the score is 4 to nil in my favour
But remember that fear will drive you , unless you gain knowledge and control over fear which will see you through this virus .
Until we meet again my Friend

 

[Sharky34]

Mr Sharky in no way have I called you names or tried to insult you . unlike yourself. , you belittle yourself with such language , the true art of debate is to finally defeat the opponent in a sensible discussion, you know when you have won when one resorts to insults, I take your surrender as a gentleman should ,
I await for you in our next tussles, I think the score is 4 to nil in my favour
But remember that fear will drive you , unless you gain knowledge and control over fear which will see you through this virus .
Until we meet again my Friend

"that fear will drive you"? What the hell does that mean?
You continually bleat, that this situation is nothing to worry about, well imo it is & again that is being realistic.
You can call it whatever you like, but ignore it at your peril.

 

[jac]

"and will, rightly, feel ourelves entitled to enjoy our traditional freedoms again."
Really?
Seems like you think the Government is the enemy, not the virus.
I doubt whether we will ever experience "our traditional freedoms", after this crisis, like the aftermath of WW1, the whole social structure & how we live our lives, will be completely different. Harping back to how things were before will not help change that.

I think you're being negative here.

Whilst our social structure may change a little ( for example i expect this will accelerate existing trends to work from home, shop online, use video calling etc) but people will still want to do the usual things.

At some stage we will have a better handle on the mortality rate, the transmission rate and can remove some of "better safe than sorry" restrictions. Add in some element of herd immunity as the healthy recover and better treatments, possibly even a vaccine and the world will look a different.

"Things" have a tendency to revert to the mean so whilst we may have some restrictions ( maybe no visiting care homes if you're ill, test if you have a cough, wash hands a lot and encouraged to work from home) i don;t think the ywill feel onerous or change society at all.

 

[FlyingGoose]

"that fear will drive you"? What the hell does that mean?
You continually bleat, that this situation is nothing to worry about, well imo it is & again that is being realistic.
You can call it whatever you like, but ignore it at your peril.

Fear creates irrational though, it creates paranoia and in some cases allows people to make mistakes, based on illogical steps , it is part of human evolution, fight and flight response, If I Stand perfectly still this elephant will not charge, this is a proven fact in most cases, but if I run as my body screams to do , the elephant picks this up as fear and a challenge and charges
Can be added to sailing as this is ofc a sailing discussion, the more knowledge one has the more they will make the right decisions in a fearful event , say a storm, etc, panic and fear may cost lives , a good knowledge and fear response may save lives
Most of your posts are fear driven and are escalating a situation that may make you not see the sense of it all as you are driven by fear and lack of knowledge of this particular subject ,

 

[Ningaloo]

Have you considered doing some online teaching while the lock-down is on? How about online radio course, or weather or splicing or some other skills that a lot of us bored sailors might be prepared to pay for? Or how about using your company to offer other services, like checking on boats - after all you are commercial and allowed to travel for work - for example, you could use your coded boat to go out to moorings and check for others.

Unfortunately the furlough scheme makes no allowance for reduced hours working. Working a single hour for the employer that furloughed you is a criminal offence.
Unlikely that finding casual alternative work will match the 80% offered by HMRC.
Must be the first time ever that you have been paid by the tax man NOT to work and penalised if you DO work!

 

[Sharky34]

I think you're being negative here.

Whilst our social structure may change a little ( for example i expect this will accelerate existing trends to work from home, shop online, use video calling etc) but people will still want to do the usual things.

At some stage we will have a better handle on the mortality rate, the transmission rate and can remove some of "better safe than sorry" restrictions. Add in some element of herd immunity as the healthy recover and better treatments, possibly even a vaccine and the world will look a different.

"Things" have a tendency to revert to the mean so whilst we may have some restrictions ( maybe no visiting care homes if you're ill, test if you have a cough, wash hands a lot and encouraged to work from home) i don;t think the ywill feel onerous or change society at all.

The only thing that makes sense is "At some stage", which imo isn't going to be anytime soon.