Royal Southampton Yatch Club, death of

[JumbleDuck]

I did suggest to the committee that they should consider introducing some kind of Social Level membership which granted access to the bar, but not to any of the other services and facilities. I might well have considered paying something like £50 per year for that. But, informally at least, they expressed the belief that such a move would not bring in many new members while the majority of the existing members would switch to the new membership level - slashing their income further.

My local yacht club (I'm not a member because I sail 100 miles away) offers this:

Most gliding clubs in my experience have some equivalent, used more-or-less equally by non-flying partners and ex-pilots who no longer fly on age or medical grounds but like to maintain a connection.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

The Royal Hong Kong used to have some form of 'probationary members' whilst your membership application was considered. If you were a regular crew on one of the race boats, but was known to be 'without means', there was a very small asterix placed against your name so your application never made it to the top of the pile.

It meant you didn't have your own bar tab, so had to put all your meals and drinks on your skipper's account, but as long as you were sailing regularly, you effectively enjoyed membership for free, while the yacht owners got a reliable supply of crew to sail their boats. Twelve out of the 15 on our boat enjoyed this arrangement and the combined monthly bar bill for 12 predominately Australian young people was eye watering. Divvying it up was made easier when the skipper would pay half or more depending on how well we had done.

As a result the place was a vibrant, powerhouse of offshore racing with the money and aspirations of the yacht owners being matched by a large pool of young enthusiastic crew that would eventually become owners / members in their own right. As a result, that one club came third in the Admirals Cup (accepted back then as the World Championships of offshore racing) against teams from whole countries.

 

[Blue Sunray]

There was a thread on the Thames forum a while back about a club that was looking for more young members, in part based on their excellent social programme. So I had a look at their website and found that every single social event was categorised as either "blazers and whites" or "blazers and greys".

This (over stuffy dress code) certainly was not the case with RSYC so far as I could tell. From what I can see from their web site they are continuing to try hard to expand the membership and as result of getting shot of OV they they've cut their membership fees which can't be a bad thing and seem to be trying a couple of other innovative moves with another club. It certainly seems like their current management has something about them and have taken some brave decisions. I wish them all the best.

It's hard to imagine anyone under 70 finding that an attractive prospect.

49 years old, I'm told, but I don't know if he sails.

 

[Walther]

[T]hey've cut their membership fees which can't be a bad thing and seem to be trying a couple of other innovative moves with another club. It certainly seems like their current management has something about them and have taken some brave decisions. I wish them all the best.

+1. Better to take the initiative and make difficult decisions whilst there is still time, than to blindly hope for the best like a frog in a slowly-heated pot.

The partnership with Royal London YC seems a somewhat unlikely pairing. I wonder if the latter is also experiencing certain challenges?

 

[Angele]

Just looked on the RSYC website.

The clubhouse at OV is no longer mentioned - so presumably it has been vacated - and Gin's is currently closed for refurbishment. There is an address under the Itchen Bridge, but that is just admin and training centre. So, if you are a member, you would have no option but to rely on the reciprocal club rights if you wanted to meet up with your colleagues.

Not sure I would be too happy paying my subs and having nowhere to go.

 

[Walther]

There was a thread on the Thames forum a while back about a club that was looking for more young members, in part based on their excellent social programme. So I had a look at their website and found that every single social event was categorised as either "blazers and whites" or "blazers and greys". It's hard to imagine anyone under 70 finding that an attractive prospect.

The problem with generalizations is that they are invariably subject to exceptions. Many young people spending their entire lives wearing trainers, jeans and hooded sweatshirts; but at least some enjoy dressing up, and will welcome the excuse to wear smart clothes.

Conversely: most of the members of a small dinghy club I belong to are millennials. At a club party last year, my wife and I (Gen X'ers) considered the music to be atrocious and left as soon as we decently could. But I know for a fact that some members older than us quite enjoyed the music and stayed very late, dancing.

Different people have different tastes and don't necessarily fit into convenient generational stereotypes.

 

[Walther]

Just looked on the RSYC website. The clubhouse at OV is no longer mentioned.

Not quite.

 

[Angele]

Not quite.

Care to expand?

Ok, there are some references still to "both our clubhouses", which I assume is because they haven't updated the whole site yet, but nothing about "come to OV for...."

I take it you know more. Care to enlighten us?

 

[Walther]

Sorry, the hot-linking feature on this forum doesn't show up very well.

If you click on the phrase "not quite" in my earlier post, it will take you to a page on the club's website that says (inter alia):

Following declining use, our 2018 AGM approved the decision to vacate our Ocean Village Marina premises after a very enjoyable 30 years. The Club now is forging ahead in new directions. Many membership clubs are facing the demographic and cultural changes we have been experiencing. Our approach is to move forward to meet these new conditions and deliver what is needed now to provide opportunities for racing, cruising and socialising to a new generation - while not leaving behind those who value the older standards and ways of operating. In the happy position of being unencumbered by debt and with healthy reserves we have the freedom to be able to choose a new way forward, creating the model for a leading Yacht Club of the future....

Freed of the burden of an expensive clubhouse which has outlived its usefulness, RSYC can now invest in enabling Gins to be an exciting new focus, offering a very special experience to existing, as well as new members from the New Forest area....

But our Southampton roots are important to all members, and we do not intend to be a single-clubhouse Royal Club. We are working with other stakeholders to form a basis for future plans for a return to a more significant waterside presence in the City in due course.... Social life during this interim period will focus on events at Gins combined with an opportunistically peripatetic social experience in Southampton for Members.

Make of that what you will.

 

[Resolution]

+1. Better to take the initiative and make difficult decisions whilst there is still time, than to blindly hope for the best like a frog in a slowly-heated pot.

The partnership with Royal London YC seems a somewhat unlikely pairing. I wonder if the latter is also experiencing certain challenges?

With the apparent decline in yacht ownership in the UK it must follow that we have too many clubs in the Solent area. The "merger" of RORC and the Royal Corinthian was a sensible adjustment. The Royal London have had membership & financial problems in the past. The current management have been doing some good things to keep moving forward, and I would guess that rights over one of the few attractive outposts in the Solent would be welcomed by their membership.

One is however reminded of the phrase used in the business world "Two drunks leaning together for support" :drunk:

 

[Angele]

Sorry, the hot-linking feature on this forum doesn't show up very well.

Ah, sorry. Hadn't spotted it was a "clicky". Thank you.

It ends:

Above all, RSYC is a vibrant, enthusiastic and friendly club - come and join us!

I think that is being a tad optimistic that people will join before knowing whether they will secure a decent venue in Southampton (and especially whilst Gin's is closed for refurb). It does appear that the joining fee is currently being waived, which is certainly an acknowledgement of the fact that the "offer" is somewhat limited at this time.

 

[JumbleDuck]

49 years old, I'm told, but I don't know if he sails.
View attachment 75230

I suspect he has been 49 years old since 1754. It should be possible to fit a coffin in place of a standard bunk.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The problem with generalizations is that they are invariably subject to exceptions. Many young people spending their entire lives wearing trainers, jeans and hooded sweatshirts; but at least some enjoy dressing up, and will welcome the excuse to wear smart clothes.

Oh yes indeed, but I very much doubt that many younger, or even middle aged, people will see blazers and whites/greys as the sort of smart clothes they want to wear. It's all rather 1980s golf club.

(I write as a 54 year old with a dinner suit)

 

[Walther]

I think that is being a tad optimistic that people will join before knowing whether they will secure a decent venue in Southampton (and especially whilst Gin's is closed for refurb). It does appear that the joining fee is currently being waived, which is certainly an acknowledgement of the fact that the "offer" is somewhat limited at this time.

Agreed. And at least they are making it clear that new members are welcome.

Royal London YC apparently (post #50) has trouble attracting new members: which is entirely unsurprising as its website provides zero information on joining. Perhaps one day they will join the 20th century!

 

[Walther]

I very much doubt that many younger, or even middle aged, people will see blazers and whites/greys as the sort of smart clothes they want to wear. It's all rather 1980s golf club.

Who knows? I am a bit younger than you, but have no real insight into the average 25-year-old’s mindset.

FWIW, RN uniforms are positively Edwardian, yet they are a strong element in recruitment and retention. Some people are repulsed by traditions, but some find them very attractive.

 

[Blue Sunray]

FWIW, RN uniforms are positively Edwardian, yet they are a strong element in recruitment and retention.

You are a very funny man, or a delusional RN officer. I very much doubt that one rating has been retained in service by a love of dressing up, (thankfully) it's not the Guards.

 

[Walther]

You are a very funny man, or a delusional RN officer.

Why can't I be both?

I very much doubt that one rating has been retained in service by a love of dressing up

I could be wrong (I often am!), but I suspect that you are not speaking from personal service experience and just making an uninformed guess.

FWIW, in the early '70s the US Navy issued all of its ratings a business-style (suit and tie) service dress blue uniform. While the new look initially received positive feedback, over the next few years there was an ever-increasing sentiment to bring back the old jumpers and bell-bottoms: which in fact happened in '80s and they continue to be worn to this day. See further here.

Uniforms and traditions are an essential part of naval morale. Sailors are proud of their service and want to look like sailors, not bus drivers or civilians.

 

[Walther]

Death of another Royal YC

Looks like the Royal Southampton's woes are just part of a trend.

A newspaper reports that the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club is in the process of selling its premises. The club's website confirms this, with the following January 14, 2019 announcement:

The Flag Officers and Directors of the Club have decided that in order to carry forward the hospitality business at the Corinthian a new investor is required.

Accordingly the clubhouse building will be offered for sale in the very near future.

It is probable that the activities of the Yacht Club itself will have to move from Madeira Road; although it is hoped the Club will be able to retain a presence at the current location in order to operate its yacht and dinghy racing programme from the existing Start Line.

The development of the hospitality business may carry on with the style of activities currently offered, but at this stage this cannot be guaranteed.

It is expected that the process of sale to a new investor will take place over the next six months.

Whilst the Flag Officers regret the necessity of this move for the Club, the future of the building and its attendant business, situated as it is, in the iconic position at the head of Plymouth Sound, is both positive and exciting.

I have no inside knowledge of what led to this development. My impression (could be wrong) is that the club tried to bolster its financials by operating an open-to-the-public restaurant and wedding venue. However, the fact that the clubhouse was open to everyone probably destroyed the private club atmosphere and may have adversely affected membership subscriptions.

No doubt it is tempting to bring in some extra revenue by hiring out under-used club facilities, and quite a few clubs do this. Unfortunately, over time there is tendency for the tail to start wagging the dog and a club's (nominally primary) other functions and activities suffer.

If anyone has the actual background story, please share on this thread.

P.S. While the press release refers to the flag officers and directors, I presume (?) that such a drastic move required the approval of the membership by majority vote.

 

[Hot Property]

Who knows? I am a bit younger than you, but have no real insight into the average 25-year-old’s mindset.

FWIW, RN uniforms are positively Edwardian, yet they are a strong element in recruitment and retention. Some people are repulsed by traditions, but some find them very attractive.

So much so, that they are currently losing staff 4 times faster than they can replace them, have outsourced the medical tests to capita who promptly lost my son's results resulting in him withdrawing his application as they ponced around for 4 months in a ( now vain) attempt at recruitment. He would have been an engineering officer which the fleet desperately needs. Nothing changed in the process since I joined 40 years ago!! ( Except capita and no ownership in recruitment!!!)

 

[Blue Sunray]

So much so, that they are currently losing staff 4 times faster than they can replace them, have outsourced the medical tests to capita who promptly lost my son's results resulting in him withdrawing his application as they ponced around for 4 months in a ( now vain) attempt at recruitment. He would have been an engineering officer which the fleet desperately needs. Nothing changed in the process since I joined 40 years ago!! ( Except capita and no ownership in recruitment!!!)

Similar experience here, son earned a 1st in his MEng and on the side did the Reserve Cdo Cse and passed both flying grading and AOSB but is now a confirmed civi.

(Not sure of the relevance to yacht clubs though).