Time to lobby the RYA on behalf of solo sailors/racers?

[MissFitz]

I met a member of the RYA's communications team recently & asked about their current position on solo sailing/racing. The answer was: "I don't think we have one & why would we need one? Hardly anyone does it & I can't see why anyone would want to."

Can't help feeling that perhaps this attitude is related to the depressing lack of coverage in the UK of our Vendee skippers (the only national coverage of Sam Davies I can see is an article from the Independent headlined 'Sam leaving son behind to compete in RTW race'......).

Is it perhaps time to lobby the RYA to get behind solo sailing & support the growing short-handed racing community in the UK?

 

[prv]

I was under the impression that, rather than being oblivious to it, the RYA officially did not approve of (long-distance) single-handed sailing because it is then impossible to keep a proper lookout at all times.

I'm sure their public position doesn't reflect their private attitudes, but they're in a difficult situation with regards publicly condoning an activity that inherently requires breaching the colregs and hence the law. I think I'm right in saying the RYA has never (and intends to never) organised or sanctioned a singlehanded race for this reason.

Pete

 

[Mudisox]

I thought all finn and lasers were solo.

 

[prv]

I thought all finn and lasers were solo.

Wouldn't sail one of them round the world like the Vendée Globe though

Pete

 

[[70521]]

I totally agree with the RYA member of staff.

The Vendee Globe is a French race so why would the main stream British press follow it? Much like the French press never cover anything British; actually with my limited viewing of French TV News I am quite sure they only ever cover news from this side of la manche if it has a Royal in it.

With the Internet the world has moved on and we can follow the Vendee Globe or anything else on there.

Has solo sailing/racing gained popularity since Pete Goss turned back and rescued Raphaël Dinelli in 1996?

 

[awol]

I don't know about single-handed ocean racing - it's not something that I am ever likely to do except perhaps for the AZAB (in my dreams!). However, if they were to lobby for fairness for single-handed sailors - things like reduced marina fees, after all we don't wear out the pontoons or use so much of the facilities; priority on visitors' moorings 'cos it's easier for the multi-handed to anchor; and I'm sure there are other ideas.

 

[Searush]

I don't know about single-handed ocean racing - it's not something that I am ever likely to do except perhaps for the AZAB (in my dreams!). However, if they were to lobby for fairness for single-handed sailors - things like reduced marina fees, after all we don't wear out the pontoons or use so much of the facilities; priority on visitors' moorings 'cos it's easier for the multi-handed to anchor; and I'm sure there are other ideas.

Good idea, HM or their rep to come out to meet us with a bunch of flowers & a bottle of wine on safe arrival at their harbour, then pass us the mooring strop & tell us we can stop as long as we like for free . . .

 

[oldbilbo]

Let me think.... Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, Sir Alec Rose, Pete Goss, Ellen McArthur, Sir Francis Chichester, the Jesters.....

People fly aircraft solo. They drive cars solo. I can't help but think the RYA is out of step.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

It may be admirable, it may be inspirational, it may be difficult.

But, it is still a minority sector of a minority sport. The numbers and tiny.

However, the RYA can waste their money on anything they like I suppose. It's not my money.

 

[PhillM]

Good idea, HM or their rep to come out to meet us with a bunch of flowers & a bottle of wine on safe arrival at their harbour, then pass us the mooring strop & tell us we can stop as long as we like for free . . .

Yp that's what you get in MY marina. (Ok not flowers because they know I get hayfever and they dont bring wine because they know I drink to much already) but otherwise that's the usual welcome I get.

As for the RYA, I do think that more promotion of sailing generally would not go amis. I have to say that much as I love participating, I dont think is much of a spectator sport but like cricket (which I like but find a full 5 day game way too much) it does make good newspaper copy.

 

[Koeketiene]

I met a member of the RYA's communications team recently & asked about their current position on solo sailing/racing. The answer was: "I don't think we have one & why would we need one? Hardly anyone does it & I can't see why anyone would want to."

Nice to see all is well in the ivory tower

 

[MissFitz]

The Vendee Globe is a French race so why would the main stream British press follow it?

That's rather my point though - if the RYA weren't so unenthusiastic about solo racing then maybe we'd get some good races of our own, which would be covered by the British press, & our best sailors wouldn't have to go to France to compete.

 

[Contest1]

That's rather my point though - if the RYA weren't so unenthusiastic about solo racing then maybe we'd get some good races of our own, which would be covered by the British press, & our best sailors wouldn't have to go to France to compete.

Not a racer myself but can,t see any benefit in the RYA/ISA taking a keener interest in singlehanded cruising. It requires a bit of rule bending even on short passages and how they could condone this is beyond me.
Most likely outcome I see would be to push this practice further into the legal quagmire and give insurance companies a further opportunity to insist on more cotton wool before setting off.

 

[sarabande]

People fly aircraft solo. They drive cars solo. I can't help but think the RYA is out of step.

Pilots or drivers who fall asleep whilst flying or driving tend to be a self-limiting group of people.

OK, a/c have autopilots, and suffer from solid cloud (in the same way that yachts hit rocks) if the autopilot or proximity alarms are not monitored actively. With the growth is size and speed of yachts used in single handed racing, the consequences of of undirected collision are considerably increased. Even with AIS, See-Me, interactive satellite plotting, on-board video cameras and other pro-active gadgets, the risks of solo yachting are considerably increased over multiply crewed races.


I'm less than easy with the concept, but admire the execution.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Is it perhaps time to lobby the RYA to get behind solo sailing & support the growing short-handed racing community in the UK?

Why?
Is it really a growing community?

It strikes me that there are dozens of other sports which get little media coverage and would be a lot easier to cover and a lot more likely to capture public imagination.

 

[TimBennet]

The start of the Vendee Globe is live on
http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xs4ndk?autoplay=1&hidePopoutButton=1

Solo racing in the UK is better organised today than ever with the Solo Offshore Racing Club.
http://www.offshoresolo.com

There's also the Artemis Academy helping bring on young sailors.

We've now had a succession of skippers getting a campaign together with Alex Thomas being widely regarded as one of the best in the world.

There's also the 'corinthian spirit' alive and well with the Jester Challenges. Even the OSTAR has returned to being an 'everyman event' to cater for the interest from ordinary people in these sorts of events.

Interest in double handed events is also on the ride with lots of cross over of people into the solo events.

If the RYA doesn't want anything to do with it, so what? They're too busy trying to sort out red diesel and speed limit issues to worry about people who actually go sailing.

 

[nortada]

The start of the Vendee Globe is live on
http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xs4ndk?autoplay=1&hidePopoutButton=1

If the RYA doesn't want anything to do with it, so what? They're too busy trying to sort out red diesel and speed limit issues to worry about people who actually go sailing.

Horses for courses.

Rather glad that the RYA busies itself looking after the interests of all of its membership (largely Mum, Dad & the Kids), who DO GO SAILING & largely leaves the racing fraternity to look after itself.

I suspect if the RYA were to take a 'more active interest' it would soon be accused of 'sticking its nose in where it is not wanted'. Probably can't win

As to the greater British Public's interest in racing - only when medals are involved.

Bit like rugby union & the 6 Nations.

 

[oldbilbo]

There's also the 'corinthian spirit' alive and well with the Jester Challenges. Even the OSTAR has returned to being an 'everyman event' to cater for the interest from ordinary people in these sorts of events.

Interest in double handed events is also on the ride with lots of cross over of people into the solo events.

If the RYA doesn't want anything to do with it, so what? They're too busy trying to sort out red diesel and speed limit issues to worry about people who actually go sailing.

I share the view that the last thing we want is the RYA taking a close interest in real ocean sailing. I well remember the 'cods' they made of their entry into a recent Fastnet Race.....

 

[onesea]

That's rather my point though - if the RYA weren't so unenthusiastic about solo racing then maybe we'd get some good races of our own, which would be covered by the British press, & our best sailors wouldn't have to go to France to compete.

I think a group of interested people have started some good racing on there own on the south coast. I have no involvement as not IRC rated...

I share the view that the last thing we want is the RYA taking a close interest in real ocean sailing. I well remember the 'cods' they made of their entry into a recent Fastnet Race.....

+1 know nothing about that they did at the Fastnet but I see them and boats like the kennel club best kept away from dogs .

 

[ytd]

RYA position quite understandable given single handers break one of the basic rules of navigation. At least Vendee sponsors get something back for the risk that their name will be associated with an accident.