Time to walk to the Butt & Oyster from Woolverstone?

I thought it was really boring, Peter, don't hold your breath!
I didn't read every word but my impression was that it talked about clubs that bore no resemblance to any club I've ever visited or belonged to. Perhaps we lead a sheltered life here on the East Coast, where all natives are friendly.

I found it really interesting. Yes it was quite in depth in places but I felt that the social / political nature of the evolution of these 'clubs' required that depth of analysis. Admittedly it read more like a thesis than a populist article, but sometimes that's not a bad thing.
 
What if the host club is RYA Affiliated & the visitor is an RYA member & his club affiliated too
Although that is the rule for most clubs, there is a circle of Solent clubs that will only accept visitors from within that circle. We were guests at the Royal Solent a few years ago and there was a notice to this effect.
 
I thought it was really boring, Peter, don't hold your breath!
I didn't read every word but my impression was that it talked about clubs that bore no resemblance to any club I've ever visited or belonged to. Perhaps we lead a sheltered life here on the East Coast, where all natives are friendly.

Well, I've read it now and, while it contains some material of interest, it seems to be buried in a mass of opinionated axe grinding. I was puzzled at the start by his assertion that when he started sailing around 1980, he found yacht clubs difficult places to access. I remember in the 1960's being welcomed at Aldeburgh Yacht Club and RHYC arriving in an Enterprise as a member of Waldringfield Sailing Club. Around 1962, we went for a family holiday to Dartmouth, taking the Enterprise with us, and were welcomed for lunch at the Royal Dart, on the opposite bank as guests off the water. Later in that same decade, sailing in my Uncle's Stella, we were welcomed at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk, both the RCYC and RBYC, the Royal Thames, the Royal Solent and the Royal Dart (again), none of them concerned at the small size of our yacht. I'm just mystified as to where he found the unwelcoming clubs 15 years later.

His views on the future are more rational, yachting in the UK is becoming an old people's pastime and the reduction in numbers participating will lead to the demise of some clubs or, better imho, their merger. I think there is merit in his view that time poverty is at least as much to blame as lack of financial resources, although I'm not sure the two are totally unrelated.

Altogether I'll give him 5/10.

Peter.
 
I avoided the place for thirty years. Six years ago I actually set foot in it, realised the huge mistake I had been making and joined.

Snipped...

When I first turned up there and asked about joining I was told I would have to meet the commodore

Only he was out under his boat doing anti-fouling. :)

I like it, relaxed welcoming, good food and good value.
 
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