What's wrong with the Oldies?

[Joe_Cole]

What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

There’s a small article in ST which reads

“When Chichester Harbour Conservancy surveyed over 500 harbour users they found that over 40% of those sailing in the harbour are in the 51-65 age category and there is also an increase in those over 65.

According to the Conservancy this trend follows the results of an earlier survey by the RYA and highlights the need not only to get young people into sailing but to keep them involved during their 20’s and 30’s.”

Whilst I’m not at all surprised at the results of the survey I find myself asking why they have come to those conclusions. Why? It’s a bit like doing a survey of skateboard users and then concluding that you must do something to encourage OAP’s to take up the sport




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[benjenbav]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

I expect many are like me: sailed all the time on dad's money as a lad. Had to pay for house, kids etc in my 20s and 30s whilst climbing the corporate greasy pole. Got back into boats when nearly 40.

Now where did I leave that skateboard? Heaven is a half-pipe, don't you know.

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[Becky]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

There are extenuating circumstances when looking at Chi Harbour. Firstly you have to put your name down for a swinging mooring at birth, so those who are lucky enough to have one tend to pass it on down the family. And each year that passes the average obviously has to go up by one. So new sailors do not easily get into the harbour mooring heirachy. Also the older sailors still pay the bills, despite the fact that younger family members actually use the boats. Believe me, I have spent years studying the myraids of sailors in Chi harbour; there are loads of young sailors haring around in positively lethal sail-powered devices at way above the speed limit, almost certainly subsidised by elderly parents who have possibly never seen a Laser 400 (which was what my youngest sailed). In the summer, you can walk across Itchenor reach by stepping from boat to boat without getting oyur feet wet. It is true, believe me./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[hlb]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

Where they going to find 20/30 year olds with a spare 100 grand or so!!!

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[benjenbav]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

If you can walk across Itchenor reach by stepping from boat to boat why do the dinghy sailors all spend so much time swimming? I always think it's so I've got something to watch.

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[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

"I expect many are like me: sailed all the time on dad's money as a lad. Had to pay for house, kids etc in my 20s and 30s whilst climbing the corporate greasy pole. Got back into boats when nearly 40."

Sounds familiar...... thanks Dad.... /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[oldharry]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

S'obvious ennit? CHC are worried about what happens when all us wrinklies die off and they are left with loads of unlet moorings cos the next generation cant afford anything bigger than a Topper....

Called long term investment for the future.

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[Joe_Cole]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

Haven't they realised that, when the current wrinkles have all gone to that great boatyard in the sky, todays pre-wrinkly generation will have become wrinklies themselves?

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[Clive_Rigden]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

It only goes to prove what a socially exclusive and therefore divisive so-called "sport" yachting is, invented and regulated by the indolent classes as a summer diversion when there's no hunting and the House of Lords is not sitting.

High time we were all cast off our moorings to enable the esturies to be better utilized by wind-surfers and jet-skiers.

And whats's more, surely anyone over fifty should be working at week-ends anyhow, to ensure they don't become a burden an the State and to support those who have to study well into their thirties simply to get a decent HND or such like in social or media studies.

Hurrumph ! /forums/images/icons/mad.gif



<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[cardinal_mark]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

This is great news, cheaper moorings all round!

Perhaps there should therefore be an active campaign to discourage newcomers to the sport?

Mark

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[mikewilkes]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

<And whats's more, surely anyone over fifty should be working at week-ends anyhow, to ensure they don't become a burden an the State and to support those who have to study well into their thirties simply to get a decent HND or such like in social or media studies.>

Bog off Clive /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Mike

 

[Guest]

Young ones and money ??

Count the number of expensive cars on road and who's driving .... fair proportion are still young !! Yuppy days may have passed .... but there are still plenty around.


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Clive_Rigden]

Re: What\'s wrong with the Oldies?

Is that one of the Scuttlebutt exploding bogs, Mike?
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<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber