TVR !

[No Regrets]

My Jeans were soggy.....

 

[oldgit]

The Beaufort scale (upper thames) translation

F1 Calm (glassy) ........ Minor mention in club bar.
F3-4 Light air Calm (rippled) ......... Heroic but vague tales of problems getting back
F5 Light breeze Smooth (wavelets) ......... Buy me a pint tales of derring do
F10 Gentle breeze Slight waves ......... Life threatening yarns
F13. Moderate breeze Slight–Moderate ........ Tales of mountainous waves at Clivedon

 

[boatone]

Boat Handling Competition

Whilst not belittling the achievement of those who won the silverware, there is a big question in my mind regarding the boat handling competition.

With over 60 boats attending only 7 actually entered the competition of which one was a 'visitor' from a non-TVR club (UTMYC)

Only Bray fielded its full entitlement of 3 boats, Windsor 2 and Oxford Ditch 1. Harleyford (the other TVR club) didn't enter at all and Penton, although not a TVR club also didn't enter as visitors although they had several boats present.

The tests were significantly easier this year than in the recent past.

So, would it be crass of me to ask what needs to be done to breathe some life into this event?

 

[jecuk]

Whilst not belittling the achievement of those who won the silverware, there is a big question in my mind regarding the boat handling competition.

With over 60 boats attending only 7 actually entered the competition of which one was a 'visitor' from a non-TVR club (UTMYC)

Only Bray fielded its full entitlement of 3 boats, Windsor 2 and Oxford Ditch 1. Harleyford (the other TVR club) didn't enter at all and Penton, although not a TVR club also didn't enter as visitors although they had several boats present.

So what you are saying is that No Regrets - having woken up on time and bribing to get a good crew member had fairly good odds of winning?

 

[DogsBody]

Whilst not belittling the achievement of those who won the silverware, there is a big question in my mind regarding the boat handling competition.

With over 60 boats attending only 7 actually entered the competition of which one was a 'visitor' from a non-TVR club (UTMYC)

Only Bray fielded its full entitlement of 3 boats, Windsor 2 and Oxford Ditch 1. Harleyford (the other TVR club) didn't enter at all and Penton, although not a TVR club also didn't enter as visitors although they had several boats present.

The tests were significantly easier this year than in the recent past.

So, would it be crass of me to ask what needs to be done to breathe some life into this event?

You are not the first to notice the lack of enthusiasm for boat handling competitions, I'm not on the TVR committee but know that the lack of entrants for the Bray boat handling competition has been discussed several times on the BCC committee and I suspect on committees of other organisations that organise boat handling contests including the TVR one.

Looking back over recent years, I know that easier and harder tests have been tried, there have been "novelty" tests such as blindfolding the helms-person or hitting a ball out of the water with a tennis racket. Yet the numbers in all the competitions, I have seen are at best holding even, if not declining. I understand in days gone by that such competitions were very popular, indeed I believe one of the reasons for founding the TVR was due to the popularity and number of separate boat handling competitions taking place.

It just seems that the current generation of boaters are not as interested in doing competitions as those who came before them. I'm sure anyone who organises such competitions would be happy to hear how we could increase the number of entrants, so if anyone has any ideas for what would make them likely to enter one, please put them here...

Darren.

 

[miket]

Competitions

To state where I am coming from;
I have been doing boat handling competitions since being a lad of 15 on my father's boat. Since starting boat ownership in my own right from the mid 1980's I have continued with these and enjoyed them enormously and had some success.
In the earlier years of ATYC and later with TVR (5 Clubs Rally originally) entry numbers were in the order of 30 boats (ATYC). Standards were high and even competition to be one of the club boat entries!! Heady days.
Interest in competitions sterted to wane (not sure when) and the 5 Clubs Rally was born because the 5 clubs concerned were finding it difficult to get enough entries for their individual club competitions, so decided to combine.
Entry numbers for both ATYC and TVR (as it became) continued to fall.
Both ATYC and TVR over the years have tried all manner of different ideas to encourage entries but to no avail. Personally, I feel that the idea of simplifying the competition and judging, has not worked to encourage new entries (no idea why) and has alienated the more experienced entrants.
I know that both bodies would welcome ideas.

I believe that my interest in competitions has enhanced my boating because I feel totally confident to tackle any situation that I find in my normal cruising, river or coastal.
I am afraid I am not impressed with the general standard of boat handling on the river and often wonder if people actually get the enjoyment they should from their very considerable investment.

 

[No Regrets]

I enjoy boat handling, it's a great, and very cheap way of learning how to do things properly.

I have lots to learn, and thus enjoy the more experienced members offering tips!

Can't beat it

Competing in a modest single screw boat is more satisfying too!

 

[Chill]

To state where I am coming from;
I have been doing boat handling competitions since being a lad of 15 on my father's boat. Since starting boat ownership in my own right from the mid 1980's I have continued with these and enjoyed them enormously and had some success.
In the earlier years of ATYC and later with TVR (5 Clubs Rally originally) entry numbers were in the order of 30 boats (ATYC). Standards were high and even competition to be one of the club boat entries!! Heady days.
Interest in competitions sterted to wane (not sure when) and the 5 Clubs Rally was born because the 5 clubs concerned were finding it difficult to get enough entries for their individual club competitions, so decided to combine.
Entry numbers for both ATYC and TVR (as it became) continued to fall.
Both ATYC and TVR over the years have tried all manner of different ideas to encourage entries but to no avail. Personally, I feel that the idea of simplifying the competition and judging, has not worked to encourage new entries (no idea why) and has alienated the more experienced entrants.
I know that both bodies would welcome ideas.

I believe that my interest in competitions has enhanced my boating because I feel totally confident to tackle any situation that I find in my normal cruising, river or coastal.
I am afraid I am not impressed with the general standard of boat handling on the river and often wonder if people actually get the enjoyment they should from their very considerable investment.

I too as a 14-15 year old remember taking part in the boat handling (in dads Princess 38) at the 5 club rally in the early 80s. Representing BCC I think we won that year with "pig sticking, figure of eight forwards and astern mooring in confined space etc. Some thinks dont change seem to remember it pi**ed with rain that day but there was always a large number of entries from all 5 clubs. Also fond memories of inter club rounders competition dressed as cats.

Chill

 

[oldgit]

a few bottles of wine a natter and a snooze = bliss

As time has moved on the sort of thing that attracted people to boating in the first place has changed,the hands on aspect of buying a boat,doing it up and using it as a cheap holiday accomodation has faded.As we have become more affluent,the ability to spend considerable sums of money on this pastime has become more widespread with the result that many new boaters are far more interested in the social side of boating than the practical aspects.Most of the people I know new to boating have very pressured lives and have bought a boat to relax and nearly always pay somebody to do servicing,even very basic stuff.
The lack of interest in competitions could have something to do with the age profile.Have a look round the club house,how many under 30s ? could they afford to buy /run 95% of the boats in your marina.
Suspect that for many,just getting away from work,jumping on the boat turning that key and arriving at the Peoples Republic of Henley to idle away the weekend is pleasure enough.
.....And as for untying the boat, going round in circles for half and hour only to go through all the palaver of mooring up again while being watched by people who could do it so much bitter ? than you

Corse had I been there to show you lot how its done......unfortunately due to a war wound that I am very reluctant to mention ...

 

[No Regrets]

It must be a very tiny war wound....