Is sailing an exclusive sport?

[BrianH]

So without access to clubs how can you go sailing regulalry without a boat? Even with access you will probably have to go on your own - how many skippers want to take new / inexperienced couples / families with them? How many cruisers want to take anyone with them. I can see a place for new young race crews but no way in to the cruising world.

When I started sailing back in the early 1960s it was more socially acceptable for one to follow a sport while the partner stayed home with the children. That, plus less disposable income, dictated that the man (it was almost always the man) could buy a cheap, old boat that was not family friendly. He could then sail it alone or with other, equally misogynistic friends, until strains started to develop with the relationship at home. I would almost invariably lose my racing crews to the tensions and eventual ultimatums from their distaff side. But even so, this, coupled with my sailing area, the north-east, where Andy Capp was alive and well, made getting afloat relatively easy, although something of a challenge due to a relatively inhospitable coastline.

Since then standards of comfort have risen (it was only in the 1970s that the average UK house began to have central heating), which translates also to marine expectations; both partners often work thus disposable income is higher and couples/families are more close-knit and participatory in any form of recreation. Therefore, it is inevitable that boats are bigger, newer and more expensive.

The solution is to get sailing early before settling down with partner and family. Young people have only to join a club and show a willingness to crew to be inundated with opportunities - first racing as the message above implies, but that can also lead to offers of cruising too.

The other solution is to wait until the statistically likely divorce when a new life beckons, but then maintenance and support limit that possibility.

Life is a bitch, ain't it?

 

[Kelpie]

Wow. I had no idea sailing clubs were like that. But then again I've never joined one and we don't even have one here. Despite this over the past few years I've done some amazing sailing in one of the world's best cruising grounds.

The nearest we have to a 'club' would be the charitable trust which operates traditional sailing boats which are community owned. This trust actively seeks new members from any background, and at £10 per year for as much sailing as you want I'd say it's pretty inclusive!

 

[Tommyrot]

I've never joined a sailing club, live about as far from the coast as you can get in England and don't have large amounts of cash to spend.

I don't want to repeat my post above, but I found a cheap mooring by getting off my bum, driving to likely spots and asking around.
I started with a boat kept at Connah's Quay (near Chester) for free, I had asked at the nearby lifeboat station....
I now have one in Boston (Lincs, the US is a bit too far! ) which I found by asking the locals, £30 a year.
I pointed out to the OP moorings near to him for less than £100 which anyone could have found on the web!

Sailing itself isn't exclusive, any more than driving or mountaineering (my other loves), although there are always going to be a few who like to think it is, particularly those that like to hear the marina gate shut behind them.

 

[Searush]

Jac
Clubs are no big deal. I have sometimes belonged, other times not. It depends on your needs. But most clubs (just not all) are friendly places & need new members to replace those moving on (or passing away!). Go into a few with your family & have a chat with the steward if they have one, or any members hanging around. You will learn a lot about the local waters & possible opportunities for crewing/ mooring etc. There will also probably be boats for sale on the notice board. If you like a club, join it & get involved - the payback will astonish you - you will have dozens of new friends willing to help you.

Many people still get into cruising after having a dinghy for several years. No-one I have ever met has gone out & bought a boat & then taken courses - but I don't live in the Home Counties.

 

[Tommyrot]

Breaking news.


I am now in a club!

New mooring is organised, I'm joining the very small (exclusive? ) club which owns the stretch of bank I'll be building my own mooring on.
All seem to be "ordinary working blokes" and will be mucking in together to get things done for the benefit of the members, which keeps the mooring fees low enough for me to manage.

Me in a club!!! At least it's a "Boat club" and not a "Yacht club".

 

[jac]

Jac
Clubs are no big deal. I have sometimes belonged, other times not. It depends on your needs. But most clubs (just not all) are friendly places & need new members to replace those moving on (or passing away!). Go into a few with your family & have a chat with the steward if they have one, or any members hanging around. You will learn a lot about the local waters & possible opportunities for crewing/ mooring etc. There will also probably be boats for sale on the notice board. If you like a club, join it & get involved - the payback will astonish you - you will have dozens of new friends willing to help you.

Many people still get into cruising after having a dinghy for several years. No-one I have ever met has gone out & bought a boat & then taken courses - but I don't live in the Home Counties.

Take the point re clubs but the point i was making that many people say that anyone can walk into a club and get crewing opportunities. I maintain that that approach will only work if they know you in the club - not the case for the newbie from 50 miles inland who wants to give it a go.

I know from going into some when sailing that you generally get a warm welcome. Even some of the Royals!!! But a warm welcome to someone who goes in with a member or who sails in is different to the impression that many clubs give off to a casual member of the public looking to start.

A sign on the door - "New members Welcome" would help - what do you actually get - Members only. Hardly welcoming - trawl round a few club websites and they all say seem to say that members need to be proposed and seconded. Again - as a non member not living in the area how does someone new to sailing get to know two people well enough to get proposed - especially if he's not even welcome through the door!!!

And re buying a boat - I had sailed since about 5 years old - Dad had a Hurley Felicity - then a part share in an Iroquis - sailed at university etc and knew i wanted a bigger boat than a dinghy. I was lucky. But how would someone with no connection to sailing get in without buying first.

 

[Searush]

I see where you are coming from, but still think much of the problem is your perception (& maybe the area you are looking at!). Some years ago when looking for my first boat, I walked into every club for 100 miles up & down the coast. I had a look at the notice boards & chatted to the guy behind the bar. Some insisted I was signed in by a member, but someone would always sign for me. Others just chatted. Buy a pint for yourself & at least one other (that's the expensive bit) & start chatting & asking questions.

Don't be put off by "Royals" my current club is the third most senior in Europe & a Royal, but is extremely friendly to visitors - although it does have a remote video lock on the door to keep troublemakers out. Any one prepared to ask nicely will get in. If a club proves to be "snotty", just cross that one off your list & go to the next one.

If you are looking for a crewing berth you will not get it at your first visit - would you invite a complete stranger to share your home for a day? But find out when the cruises and races are held & be around then. You may get lucky the first time if someone is desperate (but that may indicate that they are a Capt Bligh clone) or if you offer to share expenses in some way. Next time, make the point that you were there before, but weren't successful, someone may then chose to help. If unsuccessful, help the Officer of the day, that way every one will get to know you - & you will start to see who might help. Then you can work on them.

I may be teaching you to suck eggs, but "softly, softly, catchee monkey"

Good luck - you can always resort to chartering tho!

 

[westernman]

Now, a new factory-built Optimist costs over £1500 -- and a posh one is knocking on for £3000.

That is a lot of money for an egg carton.

 

[alahol2]

trawl round a few club websites and they all say seem to say that members need to be proposed and seconded.

Probably most clubs have the proposed/seconded rule. In most cases it means nothing. You don't need to know anyone. Go to the club, talk to a few people and find out who the membership secretary is. They will then get a couple of signatures for you if you seriously want to join. I can think of at least 5 clubs around Portsmouth that I would class as working/middle class if you need that kind of distinction. For all I know the others in the area are the same 'class'. I'm fairly certain that any of them would be friendly. All this sociological twaddle is ludicrous. If someone wants to sail and is motivated to sail then they can sail. Even jumping straight into cruising is possible, but probably not the best route.

 

[Robin]

Probably most clubs have the proposed/seconded rule. In most cases it means nothing. You don't need to know anyone. Go to the club, talk to a few people and find out who the membership secretary is. They will then get a couple of signatures for you if you seriously want to join. I can think of at least 5 clubs around Portsmouth that I would class as working/middle class if you need that kind of distinction. For all I know the others in the area are the same 'class'. I'm fairly certain that any of them would be friendly. All this sociological twaddle is ludicrous. If someone wants to sail and is motivated to sail then they can sail. Even jumping straight into cruising is possible, but probably not the best route.

Absolutely correct!

Our YC could look 'posh' from the outside but we have members from all walks of life. Their only concern with new members is that they want to join and contribute not just to get a cheap berth or mooring.

Current policy is we don't keep a waiting list but open up for new members at the start of every new year once they know how many are moving on, then once a new intake is complete the list is closed until the next year. The general thing too is to try and keep a similar balance of numbers between the various sections, from the dinghy side through the keel boats to the cruisers and racers. We also have a specific category for 'crew' members.

I have often seen cards on our boards from newcomers (non-members) offering to crew, although as said by others this is mostly at dinghy level. Crewing for cruisers is a bit different as most owners will want to know folk first before opening up their 'home'. That said there is still cruiser racing several times per week and they are often missing the odd rail sitter.

The proposer and seconder scheme applies in most clubs but is easily overcome as usually the secretary will organise this for genuine applicants that are new or new to the area.

Our club has a probation period the first year when they want to confirm newbies are not just in it for themselves but are taking part in club events both sailing and social. None of this should be any deterrent to people really interested in sailing rather than just occasional forays afloat.

 

[oldharry]

Uh-oh. I see my Solent mooring has a price rise again this year: Up a fiver to £170 for the year for my 24 footer....

Plus £40 to keep the dinghy ashore

Plus £200 or so for insurance

This is getting really expensive.

No wonder people cant afford to go sailing.