RYA, WHY, update.

[solent clown]

Following on from a thread we posted a while back about joining the RYA, reasons to do so, or otherwise, we finally took the plunge this week and joined.
We did so online, not the quickest application template I have ever used, and quite buggy, but it seemed to have a level of detail that would enable them to inform/market at us effectively - I guess that is a double edged sword, and standard fare nowadays.
I am comparing this membership to the National trust in some ways, not in a like for like manner, but it is an organisation we joined for some of the same reasons, to gain access to certain things, and to support something we consider important (if flawed)
Firstly the magazine, I had a look at the RYA mag online, some good articles, but an awful lot of adverts. I don't think that would annoy me so much on a printed copy, but it is a bore scrolling down a screen to get past them. I appreciate that is a necessary part of the business plan for the RYA, and the revenue goes towards good things, so it is not a bother, just an observation.
I am hoping the welcome pack will give us a better feel of what the RYA can do for us, and what we can do for it. When it arrives I will report back on that. We have joined with family membership as we still have two children under 18 at home, so it will be interesting also to see what contact they receive from the RYA. I am hoping they are proactive in that area as getting kids into sailing is so very important.
Sorry this is not a funny or entertaining thread, But i thought logging a bit of our experiences over our first year of RYA membership might serve to help others make a decision. We will update as we progress

 

[Iain C]

I'm a member and I have been for years. TBH I think they add some value to the sport at a high level from a legislation/campaigning point of view, and it's good to know they are there for legal assistance if needed. Also nice to get some things FOC as a member, such as sail number allocation etc. On the dinghy side, I don't agree with the medal machine mentality which does seem to spit younger people out of the system at exactly the age it might be nice to keep them in. By far the smallest representation of dinghy sailors at my club is late teens to 30s IMHO. But it's not expensive and I think offers far more value than mandatory membership of class associations to race "legally".

 

[Skylark]

I, too, have been a member for many years and think they do a good job at keeping unwelcome and unnecessary burden away from us as recreational sailors. Money well spent for that reason alone.

I have little interest in racing but the UK has done incredibly well at collecting Olympic and World Championship medals.

They seem to do a reasonable job of keeping members and recruiting new ones, young and old.

For those interested in training, their courses seem well structured and progressive.

If I participate in a recreational activity, I believe that I should support the governing body. In addition to RYA, for many years I’ve been a member of BSAC (diving) and BMFA (model aeroplanes). Their membership magazines are equally full of advertising.

 

[CCJ]

The CA have been far more proactive on the Belgian "Red" issue, than the RYA. I have seriously considered my membership of 44 yrs

 

[Deleted member 36384]

The CA have been far more proactive on the Belgian "Red" issue, than the RYA. I have seriously considered my membership of 44 yrs

But the RYA have been far more proactive in keeping Red Diesel available to yachtsmen in the UK, which is, in my mind, the more serious matter. The Belgians have little to offer me. If the RYA had not supported Red Diesel for UK boaters then our marinas and yards would have had to change out tanks etc with the associated costs being past on to you and I. They do quite a lot to stem the bureaucracy aspirations that comes our way from time to time e.g. challenging licensing and compulsory certificates. As providers of a training scheme, while it has some issues, in general it is a good scheme. I think they will also defend us well against future antifouling controls, possible disposal taxes on our GRP boats. I kind of like the sailing success at Olympics etc.

One area where they fail is encouraging boating and sailing at the cruising level, something that I complain about to them. For example, up my way, we have massive comprehensive schools dotted along the coast and none have sailing clubs and the waters are free of kids playing about in dinghies. True, some areas do have well attended school clubs, but not as many as their could be. The RYA could try and encourage that.

 

[[70521]]

You will get free tickets to the Boat Show in London and Southampton.

Like everything you get out what you put in.

Personally, I have ZERO interest in racing, either tiny wee dinghies where you get your arse wet 99.99% of the time or big corporate yachts, but they do a lot of that.

 

[solent clown]

You will get free tickets to the Boat Show in London and Southampton.

Like everything you get out what you put in.

Personally, I have ZERO interest in racing, either tiny wee dinghies where you get your arse wet 99.99% of the time or big corporate yachts, but they do a lot of that.

I am with you on the racing! Karen wants to go dinghy racing herself though.

 

[langstonelayabout]

The only reason I'm an RYA member is to keep my ICC current.

Otherwise I perceive no value in membership, not even for the occasional magazine that is glanced at and then recycled. I have an occasional email from then and rarely have anything that interests me. All the 'good work' they do is essentially invisible.

Thinking of cancelling my membership next time after my ICC is renewed.

 

[NealB]

I've been a member for around 40 years, if memory serves.

It's just a habit: I don't feel I gain anything much from it, apart from the ICC.

I use so little diesel that it's not any sort of issue to me.

The cruising training is generally good, though, if I'm honest, I'm not sure that I want them to succeed at bringing ever more people in to share my hobby: peace and tranquility, that feeling of being remote from society for a while, are large parts of the appeal.

The magazine is only a very quick scan, not something I would buy.

I feel no particular affiliation to the quest for Olympic and Gold medals, despite having done a fair bit of dinghy and keelboat racing myself. Good luck to those that enjoy it: sailing a boat to the very best of your abilities is a very honourable thing to do, but I don't see why I should sponsor you.

So .... yes, mainly a habit, for me.

 

[GHA]

All the 'good work' they do is essentially invisible.

If it's not seen by you does that mean it doesn't happen.......



http://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/current-affairs/Pages/red-diesel.aspx

 

[oldharry]

If it's not seen by you does that mean it doesn't happen.......



http://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/current-affairs/Pages/red-diesel.aspx

+1. I too have been a member for40+ years, and like most of us more than once wondered what I got in return. Then when the MCZ row blew up in Studland i found myself working quite closely alongside RYA, an was nothing short of amazed at the amount of work tjhey actually do keeping the sport from being stifled by a range of other interests. They also have a very close watching brief at Westminster for new legislation coming through that might affect us, often reshaping it to ensure it does not impinge on us too much. A major case was the 2009 Marine Coastal and Access bill which the way it was originally framed would have resulted in serious and far reaching limitations on recreational boating. RYA managed to remove a number of clauses which would have had a profound effect on us.

None of this was apparent in their publicity, so we (BORG that is) asked for and had a meeting with the CEO to suggest they were a bit more transparent about their achievements. The difficulty clearly is that much of this work is behind closed doors so either cannot be made public, or is 'non-news', i.e. something that isnt going to happen. So how can they make this sort of stuff known? RYA is in a position sometimes to act very swiftly to stop something: when for example English Heritage arbitrarily decided to create their own No Anchoring Conservation zone in the bay off Osborne House, complete with jobsworth sending people packing , there was an outcry on this forum. I contacted RYA legal department and within 24 hours they had MMO (Marine Management Organisation) telling EH that this was illegal and to stop preventing people anchoring. This just one of many such instances involving both Conservation and Commercial interests seeking to impose unnecessary restrictions on recreational boating activity.

 

[GHA]

Worth reposting in its entirety
Having departed the frozen north I would have cancelled membership had i remembered, but you've just convinced me to keep it up.
:encouragement:

+1. I too have been a member for40+ years, and like most of us more than once wondered what I got in return. Then when the MCZ row blew up in Studland i found myself working quite closely alongside RYA, an was nothing short of amazed at the amount of work tjhey actually do keeping the sport from being stifled by a range of other interests. They also have a very close watching brief at Westminster for new legislation coming through that might affect us, often reshaping it to ensure it does not impinge on us too much. A major case was the 2009 Marine Coastal and Access bill which the way it was originally framed would have resulted in serious and far reaching limitations on recreational boating. RYA managed to remove a number of clauses which would have had a profound effect on us.

None of this was apparent in their publicity, so we (BORG that is) asked for and had a meeting with the CEO to suggest they were a bit more transparent about their achievements. The difficulty clearly is that much of this work is behind closed doors so either cannot be made public, or is 'non-news', i.e. something that isnt going to happen. So how can they make this sort of stuff known? RYA is in a position sometimes to act very swiftly to stop something: when for example English Heritage arbitrarily decided to create their own No Anchoring Conservation zone in the bay off Osborne House, complete with jobsworth sending people packing , there was an outcry on this forum. I contacted RYA legal department and within 24 hours they had MMO (Marine Management Organisation) telling EH that this was illegal and to stop preventing people anchoring. This just one of many such instances involving both Conservation and Commercial interests seeking to impose unnecessary restrictions on recreational boating activity.

 

[NealB]

Thanks, oldharry .... I feel mean now!

 

[Heckler]

Worth reposting in its entirety
Having departed the frozen north I would have cancelled membership had i remembered, but you've just convinced me to keep it up.
:encouragement:

Indeed!
My personal benefits that I have used, 15% off Albufeira marina fees, ICC, free SIBs tickets, the knowledge that I have someone to call like Harry did is invaluable
Stu

 

[Mr Cassandra]

I have only been a member for a couple of years. What does the legal system offer in the way of free advice ?

 

[oldharry]

I have only been a member for a couple of years. What does the legal system offer in the way of free advice ?

http://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/legal/Pages/hub.aspx

 

[Pasarell]

I've also been a member for 40+ years. Used to race Tornado's and benefited from various support although much less than the Olympic classes get today. I've been a dinghy instructor and seen the effort that went into setting up a teaching system in the early days. Since then I've used the legal department once in a dispute with a broker. had sail numbers issued and maintained my IC for quite a few years. Most of their work goes on behind closed doors but well worth supporting in my view. Nowadays I'm also a member of the Cruising Association. Complementary organisations, not competing!

 

[solent clown]

The "Welcome" pack arrived yesterday, stuffed unceremoniously into our letterbox and ripped by the postie. Inside we found three membership cards, two adult, and one youth. Proper plastic cards, unlike the national trust flimsy affairs. There was a loose collection of marketing and informative sheets, an issue of the magazine, and most interestingly, the Youth Notebook. It is a combination of a basic sailing reference guide, and information about various youth courses, with a log, and a notebook section. I would have liked it as a kid, even if the info is scant and basic it would serve to whet the appetite. My son wants to listen to the shipping forecast now as it has a map of the areas he can reference. A thumbs up for that booklet. It was also a nice touch that he gets his own RYA card, unlike some organisations where kids are tagged onto the main cardholder. I can see an expensive future where he insists on doing some courses....