Sailing end in sight

[JumbleDuck]

That is a serious issue for midwives and was in the news only a couple of weeks ago. Big jump in births in September ...

Perhaps canny parents in England are timing things to avoid August births, because children born then go to school when they are very small and overall are significantly outperformed by those who start school almost a year older.

 

[ostra4]

I think your bang on with your observation .All my sailing is now done in Greece and it gets noticbly busier every year .
Sailing in warm sunshine with the choice of a cooling dip when required,little tide,vast choice of free or very reasonable harbours,hundereds of free anchorages, fantastic scenery,hospitable welcoming tavernas stacked against the UK sailing experience particularly for families/ wife's n partners not that keen on sailing and I can see why numbers would decline in the UK.

 

[RichardS]

The sensible ones are in Croatia.

But even that's not always the answer.

We cut our holiday short in August because 40 degrees and no wind was just tedious so decided to try again later. We arrived yesterday and are currently sitting in our marina with a lovely blue sky and warm sun at 25 degrees so perfect ...... except the wind is gusting to 20 knots in the marina which is very sheltered so we know from experience that it will be gusting to double that a mile down the channel and around the corner.

The grib and the marine forecast both say 25 knots ex-gusts for the rest of the day so with just SWMBO and I onboard this trip it looks like a breezy walk over to Primosten will have to suffice for today.

Richard

 

[JumbleDuck]

We arrived yesterday and are currently sitting in our marina with a lovely blue sky and warm sun at 25 degrees so perfect ......

You poor, poor things.

<remembers the Scottish "summer">
<sobs>

except the wind is gusting to 20 knots in the marina which is very sheltered so we know from experience that it will be gusting to double that a mile down the channel and around the corner.

Less good, but you still have sunshine and warmth. Any ferocious flesh-stripping insects?

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Perhaps canny parents in England are timing things to avoid August births, because children born then go to school when they are very small and overall are significantly outperformed by those who start school almost a year older.

Grandaughter just made it. Born 0249 on 01/09/17! Parents were concerned she would be born on 31/08/17 at 2359!

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

I am surprised no one has mentioned the poor performance of the RYA Level1/2 courses in encouraging retention to the sport. Over the years, since their introduction, the RYA have extolled their virtue and publicised the large number undertaking them. But so few continue. In business if your product does not meet the demand you alter the product. More people need to be attracted and retained in the sport: that is the demand of the courses. New approaches need to be piloted and successful innovations incorporated in amendments.
I would highlight 2 obvious current deficiencies. Unless you pay for expensive private individual tuition you have to wait for a course to be run. By the time one is available you have lost the customer. Second, for many young adults it's so boring. No real excitement. The various kids clubs have got the right idea but the transition into dinghy or keelboat racing is often poorly handled by clubs.
Recruitment to cruising boats is much more complex, but without a flow through from dinghies, the future is bleak.
Incidentally static caravan parks are having problems with vacant plots. Families going to Florida for 2 weeks rather than 2 wet weeks in Wales?

 

[Kelpie]

Interesting observation about RYA stages. I don't know a single yachtie who has done them, self included. Uptake for Day Skipper or a shore-based theory course is maybe 50%, but I know plenty people who have done these courses and barely sailed since, let alone bought a boat. The ones who sail are the same ones who already did prior to the course- in my experience it doesn't encourage new people to become active in the sport.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Interesting observation about RYA stages. I don't know a single yachtie who has done them, self included.

I know the RYA have stages for dinghies - have they been introduced for bigger boats as well?

 

[TangaraToo]

I know the RYA have stages for dinghies - have they been introduced for bigger boats as well?

That would be Start Sailing, Comp Crew, DS, CS, YM Offshore wouldn't it?

 

[prv]

That would be Start Sailing, Comp Crew, DS, CS, YM Offshore wouldn't it?

I don't think so, because in the same post Kelpie says that 50% of people do Day Skipper, and that nobody does "stages". I don't know what he's referring to, but it's seemingly not CC, DS, et al.

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

That would be Start Sailing, Comp Crew, DS, CS, YM Offshore wouldn't it?

Well, that's what I thought the cruising stages were, but it looked as if numerical stages were being talked about.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

I was referring to dinghy Level 1/2 courses following on the earlier discussion re starting sailing via dinghies.

 

[lw395]

I was referring to dinghy Level 1/2 courses following on the earlier discussion re starting sailing via dinghies.

I think it's working OK around here. The youngsters seem to progress from training to racing Toppers and Mirrors etc.

The level one used to be available to lots of skoolkids as an outdoor centre kind of affair, no surprise most did not immediately become committed sailors any more than they become habitual abseilers or hill walkers.