Suggest that you look up the "Jester Sailing Challenge".
Without the organisation there is no event.
Isn't the first rule that you got no mates to sail with?
I fear you don't understand much about sail racing in the UK. Almost all races are organised by clubs - mostly local sail/yacht clubs, but also things like RORC, class associations and a handful of top level events by the RYA directly.
It's not a case of criticising the use of the word "sport". It's merely pointing out that the sail cruising that I do is not a sport. When I go out walking, or go for a ride on my bike, they are not sports either. The last thing that I need or want is some "regulatory body" telling me what I can or cannot do in my spare time.
Exactly, and the RYA lobbies to keep it so.
Pardon?
Yes.
Yes, they do. See above.
Quasi Autonomous National Government Authority, I believe. I rest my case, supported by the views expressed in a number of posts,
My experience was the direct opposite.
Well, a very nice person from the CA took the time to explain the benefits of membership to me at the Southampton boat show. We've met & socialised with members all around the UK & Ireland, used the discounts, attended the meetings (whether in person or by zoom), visited HO and used the info on "Captains Mate" and elsewhere. Whilst not a statutory body, they certainly campaign pretty hard - better an effective members group than an ineffective statutory body?My experience it the reverse! I've little idea what the CA do and they don't seem to have any statutory role.
I just had a skim through their upcoming events list... the impression it gives is that anywhere north of the Wash is an adventurous destination, rather than home for their any of their members!
In recent years the RYA have become aware that the lack of expenditure on blowing their own trumpet is counterproductive and training centres and instructors are asked (& incentivised) to promote membership.
The RYA is the national governing body for boating, not just racing, and seems pretty effective to me: for a start, without their representation I think that licensing would be required for recreational boating, with pricing evolving to support enforcement. Just look at the industry that's grown up around HMO regulations for letting properties: local council staff expansion, training schemes for them, requirements for fire certifications, electrical installations, gas installations, green credentials... all driving up the cost of renting a home, as the tenant ultimately pays. Has this resulted in a huge reduction in deaths & injuries in rented accommodation? I don't think it has because (1) there were never that many to begin with (2) the rogue landlords letting dodgy properties just avoid the system and (3) the regulations are badly targeted. If the RYA can continue to hold the line against skipper licensing and boat registration then that's worth a chunk of (voluntary) fees in itself!
People have been boating in the UK for years with no licence and sometimes with little knowledge. I get the impression that our boating 'accident' rate is no worse than countries that require a licence and training and long may it continue. There is I believe an upper limit to size without a licence, but that doesn't affect many if any UK boaters on here apart from commercial operations. Most people new to boating do training as they don't want to create problems, put other family members and friends off their new interest.