More yacht Clubs

Chas has attended 2 yacht club AGMs in the last few weeks. Although the reporting of the annual business was generally similar in both, in what came afterwards the contrast between the aimiable buffoonery at FYC and the tight lipped hostility at CCC could not have been more marked. The problem at CCC was the festering split in the ranks caused by the circumstances surrounding the previous Commodore. Now I have no access to the true facts and would in no way wish to pass comment here, especially as there seemed to be a rumour that the club was close to a satisfactory resolution with said ex-commodore.. What I would contend however is that if the CCC is to prosper in the 21st century it needs from its officials, plenty of the enthusiastic and friendly inclusiveness which was manifestly demonstrated by Jim McIlwraith during his time in office.

Rib Tony

pic by Stephen Bennie scanned from CCC Tidelines

At BLSS and Kip Regatta and maybe other events you'll probably have heard the Race Officer calling 'Rib Tony' on the VHF. I never knew who that was. Well it is Tony Peters who has just been awarded the RYA Scotland Volunteer of the Year Award having been nominated simultaneously by CCC and RWYC. Tony has assisted at the Scottish Series for 15 years, laying and repositioning marks often in dreadful weather and has always done so with good humour even when soaked. It's people like him who make our racing possible and it's good that he has received this well-deserved official recognition.

Yacht Clubs again

After the official business of their AGM, FYC have long held a discussion session where the floor is opened for suggestions and a very great deal of the aforementioned buffoonery. However some interesting suggestions do get made and we were pleased to hear that the committee will be having some discussion on the findings of the CYCA survey. As always there is a certain amount of hand wringing about the falling numbers of members racing and usually the commodore attempts to put an optimistic spin on things. Whatever, there is clearly a difficulty in bringing new people into racing. Amongst many comments the following points were made:

there is a profound shortage of crew
how can a crew register be set up
people have far less time to go racing midweek
maybe there are too many events
many young people who train in dinghies don't cross over into big boats and may be lost to sailing
getting under 18s on board is fraught with child protection issues
there is no shortage of new boats but they don't race
few people are inclined to buy into old cheap boats in which to start racing
Clyde clubs need to make better connections with university sailing clubs
maybe there are enough boats at cruising musters and we don't need any more
Racing insurance may be a problem
and plenty more

One line of thought that Chas had was an attempt to make contact with the buyers of new yachts - and there have been any number of cruising Jeanneaus, Bavarias and Hanses bought locally by people who are entirely new to sailing. Now, as was pointed out, many of those may want to sail away and make their mistakes in private but it just could be that some could be attracted into the club scene if it seemed interesting enough and the incentive were right. What about rather than merely offering the usual events to new members, there were an actual programme to get the newbies up and running. In general they are not suddenly going to show up for Wednesday night racing and if they did most would be frightened off in no time. Some of them may have been on Sunsail holidays so what about a Mini-Flotilla event attached to one of the big musters where new sailors could join along in a non-race no-spinnaker environment and just pick up some of the social vibe and be attracted in some more. Tarbert, or Portavadie would seem suitable with step ashore berthing. Maybe clubs could offer a reasonably experienced person to go on board if that was desired. You could precede that with free club membership for the first year and one or two winter nights of really basic instruction on cruising issues and maybe even elementary racing topics including how to get a CYCA handicap, basic equipment and upping your insurance to cover club muster racing. I would say this would be best as a joint inter-club cooperative affair- it's not as though lack of new active members is not something concerning all of them. The sailing scene has changed and what worked in 1975 is not relevant now. We need to think creatively outside our time accustomed calendars and try to imagine how club activity looks to a beginner on the outside in 2009. Just my 4p.

The New FTSE

We are assured by someone who ought to know that this the 2009 replacement for FTSE, seen here during sea trials in Egypt. Anyone remember Stingray? Some bowsprit anyway.

Vendee Globe

No doubt you're all already following this most awesome of races. If you're not you should start with the official Vendee Globe site. They've all taken a battering straight off in the Bay of Biscay and strong Brit contender Alex Thompson in Hugo Boss has had to retire along with several others. Mike Golding is hanging on to 11th at the mo and Chas is rooting for the girlies - Dee Caffari in Aviva seen above and Sam Davies in Roxy. The girls have been crossing tacks lately but there's an awful long way to go.

CYCA Survey Report Published

The survey which was comissioned by the CYCA and jointly funded by the CCC has now been published after some delay due to the greater than expected volume of responses. 1600 questionnaires were issued and nearly 700 were returned. The background is the recognition of a declining number of boats turning out to race and the survey, which was presented to the CYCA's autumn delegate's meeting in October by Jo Lloyd, the new vice chairman of the CYCA and the report's author, is considered to be the most comprehensive survey of the attitudes to racing among keelboat owners in the UK. The principal findings are as follows:

Positive and negative responses on the handicapping questions were evenly balanced, which is regarded by the CYCA Executive as evidence that, on the whole, the system is working well.

“Rogue” handicaps cause angst to clubs and other owners.It is not clear to clubs and owners that “rogue” and other handicaps can be appealed against.

A number of suggestions on new allowances were made

Feedback from clubs, racing secretaries and owners to CYCA is vital if handicaps are to be adjusted.

There is a strong desire for more passage and white sail racing. Round the buoys racing is the least popular form of racing, with windward/leeward racing being particularly disliked.

More short-handed racing, especially on the Scandinavian model, is desired.

Many have simply become bored with what is on offer at their sailing club. However, there is reluctance on the part of sailors to express their wishes regarding changes in race formats to their clubs. Disappointingly 52% of those who would like changes made have not told their club.

Clubs should co-operate more and compete less

The majority of those who have given up racing now go cruising. Lack of crew is a key factor in giving up racing.

There is an endemic shortage of racing crew. The frequency with which this point was raised indicates a demand for crew registers or some other mechanisms to put owners and crews together.

Racing or high tech yachts “pot-hunting” in white sail classes is particularly disliked.

A few interesting statistics found in the report detail are that it is estimated that there are about 6000 yachts on the Firth of Clyde with a further 4000 on the wider west coast. In the UK there are 1962 boats holding IRC certificates with around 70 of those (3.6%) being in Scotland. The report was obviously produced from the standpoint of the CYCA as a handicap system provider and there is considerable discussion on the operation of the CYCA system as the system favoured by those who form the backbone of the racing fleet in Scotland and its relatively low cost in comparison to IRC. Apparently 4% of respondents were said to have found racing sailors unwelcoming when they had gone to race and the delegate's meeting found this a sad and disappointing indictment on the sport but we would think this is hardly a significant number or cause for serious concern.

Copies of the report have been sent to all CYCA member clubs and additional copies are available from the CYCA price £25. We do not have permission to display the full report here but you can read the press release here. The findings are certainly worthwhile reading and it is to be hoped that many of the conclusions and recommendations will be discussed and taken on board by yacht club committees. The CYCA is well aware of this website and I suspect that they will be interested to read any constructive comments that you care to post on the forum.

New boat

Thought I'd let you all see a couple of pics of her afloat, taken on the day I agreed to buy her. The name has already been removed btw. Am interested to hear crewing offers certainly for Clyde events. Esp a bowman - carbon dip pole. IRC approx 1.032

FYC Autumn Points - the end at last but in sunshine

Alex Salmond would be proud of them. It's those young turks on Tigh Solius which pulled second in Class 1 of the FYC Autumn points. You can read Andy McLaren's final account here.

Crunchy times

For the marine industry. We hear that Whiterock Yachts who were the N. Ireland Elan dealers as well as for some stinkboats brands have gone belly up in the last week or two. That follows on from the demise of Sea Ventures, the big Jeanneau dealers for South of the border. Select Yachts who built the Cornish Crabbers and a few British Hunters has closed. The German Government is having to bail out Dehler yachts and Sweden Yachts is in trouble too. Whatever next?

Frostbite Racing for the Health Service

See the intense concentration on board that sleekest of racing yachts, Out Of The Blue as she heads for the windward mark in the Serpent Yacht Club frostbite race on Sat 1st Nov. No worries about seeing under that genoa. It was what we expect to be Troika's last time out on the Clyde so here's an apres drinks pic of Saturday's crew back in Largs after what had to have been as nice a day sailing as it is possible to get in November.

Helensburgh Sailing Club has been undergoing a few modifications. Here's how it looks now:

Graeme Busby says that the new premises should be available for occupying by May 2009. The normal dinghy race programme continues until 23rd November - presumably members hang their street clothes on some of the sticks and he hopes that some sort of winter series will be possible in the new year - although managing the soup and pies will take some doing. Good to see an active club taking a big step anyway.

Chas's new plaything

arriving at Clyde Marina from the Hamble. It's an Elan 37 which has seen Commodore's Cup duty in the past. Once again we need to think up a new name as well as learn to steer it with that big twirly thing.

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