RYA AGM

[Beneteau381]

Just had the notification about the AGM and an email address to address questions to.
I have written this:
“Given that the CA has come out with firm protocols to help us cruisers deal with Orca attacks, that the Portuguese coastguard has done the same, ie advocating going astern gently to deter them, is it not time that the RYA does the same?
Best”

 

[Sandy]

How many RYA members take their foiling dinghies, SUP boards, narrowboats or yachts to the coast of Portugal? In other words does the RYA see it as their place to issue advice for an issue that 0.1% of their members might encounter.

Disclaimer: I sailed from Faro to Falmouth in August and might have seen a whale of unknown species about a mile off for about 10 seconds. I am a member and have voted.

 

[dunedin]

How many RYA members take their foiling dinghies, SUP boards, narrowboats or yachts to the coast of Portugal? In other words does the RYA see it as their place to issue advice for an issue that 0.1% of their members might encounter.

Disclaimer: I sailed from Faro to Falmouth in August and might have seen a whale of unknown species about a mile off for about 10 seconds. I am a member and have voted.

+1

Also the RYA is the member of World Sailing responsible for sailing matters in UK waters. Other World Sailing member organisations are responsible for boating matters in Spanish and Portuguese waters. It is the latter two who need to be leading on this.
Would you ask the Portuguese sailing federation to resolve an issue in the Solent? Or would you accuse them of interfering in other people’s waters?

 

[rotrax]

+1

Also the RYA is the member of World Sailing responsible for sailing matters in UK waters. Other World Sailing member organisations are responsible for boating matters in Spanish and Portuguese waters. It is the latter two who need to be leading on this.
Would you ask the Portuguese sailing federation to resolve an issue in the Solent? Or would you accuse them of interfering in other people’s waters?

You are correct in your definition of the RYA except that they are not responsible for ALL sailing matters in UK waters. They are primarily the sports/racing/training side of sailing. Their cruising department went seriously downhill some years ago, prompting my move to the CA.
They, like many other organisations, cannot be all things to all men.
They fulfill their brief quite well and as you say, the Spanish and Portugese Atlantic coast is well out of their area.

 

[SaltyC]

You are correct in your definition of the RYA except that they are not responsible for ALL sailing matters in UK waters. They are primarily the sports/racing/training side of sailing. Their cruising department went seriously downhill some years ago, prompting my move to the CA.
They, like many other organisations, cannot be all things to all men.
They fulfill their brief quite well and as you say, the Spanish and Portugese Atlantic coast is well out of their area.

Unfortunately for cruisers the RYA do not get large sums of money from the lottery to work with and assist, unlike dinghy racing and Olympic Gold Medals.
We are a long way down their priority list.

 

[Daydream believer]

Also the RYA is the member of World Sailing responsible for sailing matters in UK waters.

Well they certainly do not help much with providing accurate info for cruising yachts travelling cross channel to France , Belgium & the Netherlands, so that possibly explains their get out. I do not know how the term "World" comes into it though

 

[Daydream believer]

Unfortunately for cruisers the RYA do not get large sums of money from the lottery to work with and assist,

Well, I have been funding them for the last 59 years, so what happened to that contribution?

 

[capnsensible]

Well, I have been funding them for the last 59 years, so what happened to that contribution?

It was a fantastic party. Thanks. ??

 

[masterofnone]

I feel like that . transfer of allegiance to CA?

 

[Daydream believer]

It was a fantastic party. Thanks. ??

So all you need now is 100 qualifying votes & you would be a dead cert to run for the top job
You are not on holiday anywhere hot at the moment are you? ?

 

[rotrax]

Well they certainly do not help much with providing accurate info for cruising yachts travelling cross channel to France , Belgium & the Netherlands, so that possibly explains their get out. I do not know how the term "World" comes into it though

The ACU does exactly the same job for Motorcycle Sport that the RYA does for sailing.

It facilitates international competition in the Olympics and World Championships, gives access to Insurance for competitors and their kit worlwide - or within other countries within the World Sailing organisation. The RAC Motor Sports Association does the same for four wheel racing within the umbrella of the FIA.

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

I feel like that . transfer of allegiance to CA?

I've been thinking something similar. I really don't see that I'm getting any return on membership.

 

[dunedin]

I feel like that . transfer of allegiance to CA?

Most people I know at the CA are also members of the RYA.
Their areas of operation overlap slightly, but mostly they are complementary.
The CA majors on cruising information - including their app CAptains Mate - giving information about cruising grounds like the Mediterranean, French Coasts, Channel, Baltic, Celtic waters, and European Inland Waterways.
Both CA and RYA have been active in areas like trying to understand and where possible mitigate the chaos Bxxxxt has caused for UK cruisers sailing abroad - 90/180 days, reporting processes, VAT etc.
There is no doubt that we gain most impact when both RYA and CA can lobby in parallel. Amongst government the national authority, with much more members, will always have more clout - albeit CA punches well above its weight, with incredible diligence and persistence.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I dropped my CA membership after 5 years and retained my RYA membership of 30 years. The CA was not relevant to me as a UK coastal sailor compared to the RYA. If I was going abroad, I may join the CA again.

 

[laika]

The CA was not relevant to me as a UK coastal sailor compared to the RYA.

That concurs with my (14 years outdated) experience, and I never knew why they used to charge people with a uk address more than people with a boat and a home abroad when it was those with boats in the med that the CA seemed to be geared towards. A quick check of the website suggests they don't do that any more fortunately but the benefits do seem geared to those doing long term sailing on distant shores rather than folks bimbling round the UK and adjacent coasts.

I wonder whether anyone from the RYA reads and acts upon the comments in their member survey box about "if you're not planning on renewing next year what are your reasons"?

And before I don't renew, does anyone know if you get invited to a cocktail party at Ensign House after being a member for 10 years or are those only ever for "important people"?

 

[PhillM]

I feel like that . transfer of allegiance to CA?

Except then you’d have to retake an exam for your ICC every 5 years. Whatever else I do or don’t get from the RYA it’s worth it for the ICC auto renewal. That is a service for cruisers that is often overlooked.

I can also praise their legal dept. Saved me several thousand when I was sold a duff second hand motor.

 

[Tranona]

Except then you’d have to retake an exam for your ICC every 5 years. Whatever else I do or don’t get from the RYA it’s worth it for the ICC auto renewal. That is a service for cruisers that is often overlooked.

I can also praise their legal dept. Saved me several thousand when I was sold a duff second hand motor.

You don't have to retake - just pay for the renewal rather than getting it "free".

 

[Habebty]

I have been a member of the RYA for 23 years. The magazine is crap. The content not in the slightest bit relevant. There seems to be little meaningful representation of cruising sailors at any pertinent level. The final straw for me was the dismal reporting of post brexit arrangements for cross channel sailors, with some of the information given being plain wrong. No one from the RYA seems to be lobbying for a simple yachtsman’s reporting system. They seem out of touch, out of date, and arrogant to the needs of anyone outside their favoured groups of olympians, dinghy sailors, and the like.
Shame really, because I do applaud the work course trainers put in for both shore based and practical training.
I will not be renewing my membership in January.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

The RYA updated their web pages on all matters post Brexit. Here is what the RYA have, and are working on, post Brexit, for U.K. sailors. Some of the pages are accessed through membership.

Post-Brexit

 

[Beneteau381]

I have been a member of the RYA for 23 years. The magazine is crap. The content not in the slightest bit relevant. There seems to be little meaningful representation of cruising sailors at any pertinent level. The final straw for me was the dismal reporting of post brexit arrangements for cross channel sailors, with some of the information given being plain wrong. No one from the RYA seems to be lobbying for a simple yachtsman’s reporting system. They seem out of touch, out of date, and arrogant to the needs of anyone outside their favoured groups of olympians, dinghy sailors, and the like.
Shame really, because I do applaud the work course trainers put in for both shore based and practical training.
I will not be renewing my membership in January.

Nailed it. I reported their spokesperson on Orcas for being downright rude, hetalked over me on the phone and wouldnt let me talk.