[syrenab32]

A little over a year ago, a group in Milwaukee got together to survey racers in order for area clubs to improve their programs. About 285 people - skippers, crew, representatives of 4 clubs, ODs and PHRF sailors participated in a 30 question in-depth interview.

While it is specific to a region, it is a large, highly representative sample of racing sailors, and I'll bet that some of the lessons in Milwaukee will apply elsewhere. So here are some highlights.

Chart One (Importance of activity, based on participation)
Most racers compete in handicapped events, and those that do sail around buoys and point to point. There is an important and dedicated OD contingent, but programming around PHRF meets the needs of most.
 Picture_2.png (10.88K)
Number of downloads: 124

Chart Two (What do you want to do more of?)
Most racers want less formality, more starts and quicker on and off the water. More important is that new ODs and boats designs (or lack of them) do not drive participation. You can can conclude from this that if events and schedules were improved people would race the boats that they have more often.
 Picture_3.png (11.55K)
Number of downloads: 138

Chart Three (What prevents you from doing more?)
Don't need to say much about this, except that it explains Chart Two, and it debunks the idea that crew-recruitment is the primary issue.
 Picture_4.png (11.8K)
Number of downloads: 128

After this survey, the powers at the area clubs (SSYC and MYC) made some good decisions, including:

1.) Many 3 race, 2 day weekend regattas were chanced to Saturday 2 race events, and started later in the morning.
2.) Reinvigorated point to point race to Port Washington and added an informal 2 race regatta the next day
3.) Opened a new night of racing for a growing laser fleet, so as not to cannibalize from the PHRF fleet.

The sport is now growing here. We've got a lively PHRF fleet with new boats entering every year. More sailors are sailing more often during the week, because they have more choices. Many of us now own two boats (a laser and a big boat). But there is still work to do. Other research findings showed that connecting new crew to boats is still a weakness...

But good research, thoughtful program changes and hard work by the volunteers are paying off. Thanks to them.
The entire survey is available. IM me if you want it.

[PHM]

I'm glad to hear racing is growing in your area. I think one way to grow the sport is to get more families involved. The changes mentioned in your post (less formal, one-day regattas, etc) probably will help with this. The only reason I have time to race is that my wife and kids race with me--otherwise I would be hosed. It's not easy to get and keep the kids interested (and that's an understatement--too many other distractions competing for their time), but it's well worth the effort.

[Dave]

Can you post a copy of your questionaire?

[DoRag]

Dave, on Nov 30 2007, 08:51 AM, said:

Can you post a copy of your questionaire?

Barring that, how 'bout a pic of the Mrs.?

[syrenab32]

Dave, on Nov 30 2007, 10:51 AM, said:

Can you post a copy of your questionaire?

This is the survey that we ran.
It has some local references, but most of it could be used universally.
It was designed by a research firm, with help from area fleet captains.


1 What type of sailing do you do?

Type: Grid - Radios

Notes:



Only Frequently Sometimes Never

One Design Racing - - - -

Handicap Racing - - - -

Short-handed Racing - - - -

Offshore Racing - - - -

Local Cruising - - - -

Distance Cruising - - - -



2 Which best describes your interest in sailboat racing?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

I've tried it once or twice -

I go when I am asked/invited -

It is one of my hobbies -

I race every chance I get -





3 Approximately how many times do race sailboats per year?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

1-5 -

6-10 -

11-20 -

21-30 -

31-40 -

More than 41 -





4 Where do you do most of your racing?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

Most on Milwaukee Bay -

All on Milwaukee Bay -

Some on Milwaukee Bay -

None on Milwaukee Bay -





5 How valuable are the following aspects of sailboat racing for you?

Type: Grid - Radios

Notes:



Very Valuable Somewhat Valuable Not Valuable

Break from the routine - - -

Like extreme sports - - -

Chance to see friends - - -

Competitive ambitions - - -

Family tradition - - -

Way to use my boat - - -



6 Do you belong to a sailing organization in the area?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

Yes -

No -





7 Do you race on your own boat, or on someone else's boat?

Type: Checkboxes

Notes:



Option Count

Mine -

Someone Else's -

Both -





8 How big is the boat that you race on?

Type: Select List

Notes: 1a.



Option Count

'10 feet long or smaller -

'11-20 feet long -

'21-30 feet long -

'31-39 feet long -

'40 or bigger -





9 How many crew does the boat require to be sailed well?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

1 -

2 -

3 -

4 -

5 -

6 -

7 -

8 -

9 -

10 -

11 -

12 -

13 or more -





10 How many of your crewmates belong to a sailing organization in the area?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

1-25% -

26-50% -

51-75% -

76-100% -

All of them -

None of them -

I don't know -





11 What racing programs do you participate in? (Check everything that you do)

Type: Grid - Checkboxes

Notes:



Weekday Club Series Weekend Series Special Events Impromtu Racing Rgnl/Ntnl Championships Collegiate Racing Long Distance

MAST - - - - - - -

MCSC - - - - - - -

MYC - - - - - - -

SSYC - - - - - - -

Other affiliation - - - - - - -



12 Are there events that you would would like to participate in but have not? (Check all that apply)

Type: Checkboxes

Notes: Think about previous event matrix here



Option Count

Weekday Club Racing (Monday, Wednesday or Friday) -

Bay-wide Racing Series (Weekend offshore events) -

Special Events (e.g. Louie's, Grand Prix or Mark Stevens Memorial) -

Regional/National Championships -

Collegiate Events -

Long Distance/Offshore Events (e.g. Queen's Cup or Mac Race) -

No - I get enough in already -





13 How important is cross-organizational racing to you? (For example, MYC and SSYC events on the weekends, or events like Louie's where many organization step in to help.)

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

Not important at all -

Somewhat important -

Very important -





14 Who benefits from cross-organizational racing? (Check all that apply.)

Type: Checkboxes

Notes:



Option Count

Skippers -

Crew -

Race Committee -

Sailing Organizations -

Other Sailors -

The Community -

I don't know -





15 How does cross-organizational racing effect participation? (Check all that you think apply)

Type: Checkboxes

Notes:



Option Count

Schedule complicates -

More boats on the line -

Harder to get to start -

Who is in charge? -

More enjoyable -

Builds larger crew pool -





16 What prevents you from racing more than you do today?



Type: Text Area

Notes:






17 Do race event shedules overlap, causing you to lose an opportunity to participate? (For example, one design and offshore events, both scheduled at the same time?)

Type: Checkboxes

Notes:



Option Count

Yes -

No -





18 Would you participate more, if there was less scheduling overlap?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

No more -

0-25% more -

25-50% more -

> 51% more -





19 Does a shortage of crew ever prevent you from racing?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

Frequently -

Sometimes -

Infrequently -

Never -





20 What causes crew shortage, in your view? (Check any that you think apply)

Type: Checkboxes

Notes:



Option Count

Not enough newcomers -

Not enough veterans -

Time commitment to big -

No good place to meet -

Skipper's expectations high -

Poor bay-wide communications -

Takes too long to learn -

Race-boats dont take kids -

Poor youth attendance -

Trainers not racers -





21 Please list any other reasons for crew shortage that we have not named:



Type: Text Area

Notes:








22 What type of racing would you like to see more of on Milwaukee Bay? (Check all that apply)

Type: Checkboxes

Notes:



Option Count

Informal w/ short courses -

Serious 1D -

Serious HDCP -

Point to point -

Short handed -

Classic boat -

Other 1D fleet -





23 What other type of racing would you like to see developed ? (That we haven't mentioned.)



Type: Text Area

Notes:







24 How much more racing would you do if those types of programs were created?

Type: Radio Buttons

Notes:



Option Count

0-10% more -

11%-25% more -

26%-50% more -

Greater than 51% more -





25 In your opinion, would overall participation in sailboat racing increase or decrease if:

Type: Grid - Radios

Notes:



Increase The Same Decrease

...there were more types of races to choose from? - - -

... there were fewer racing events? - - -

... someone created a formal crew training program? - - -

... there was more cross-organizational cooperation? - - -

... boats racing in handicap events were more alike? - - -



26 Would you be willing to help in some way to enable more racing? (Select all those that apply) <br><br><i><b>Note: no one will call you on this - we're interested in knowing how to best structure programs and people.</i></b>

Type: Checkboxes

Notes:



Option Count

Volunteer to do race committee once in a while -

Be a member of the race committee -

Coordinate social events -

Donate prizes -

Pay racing fees (for the boat that I race on) -

Teach an introductory crew class -

Teach an advanced racing class -

Loan my boat to others to race -

Join a sailing organization that sponsored racing -

Take more kids sailing -

No, I'm not willing -





27 What would you do to increase participation, if you could?



Type: Text Area

Notes:







28 Do you have anything to add to this survey that you feel has not been covered?



Type: Text Area

Notes:

[Foolish]

That's a very worthwhile study. One of the issues I've seen is that in any type of club racing (one design or PHRF), all of the races are dominated by just a few boats that win every time. This leaves the rest of us to the back of the pack. After several years of DFL, I've given up crewed racing. I wonder how many others feel the same way?

I know that some clubs have switched to a handicap system that uses each boat's historical results. Does anyone know how participation has changed in these clubs?

Andy

[Delta Blues]

Is there any chance of posting the answers to #25?

[my nuts]

I would love to see the complete report as front page material. this would actually be interesting to read.

[goblew]

Foolish, on Nov 30 2007, 06:50 PM, said:

That's a very worthwhile study. One of the issues I've seen is that in any type of club racing (one design or PHRF), all of the races are dominated by just a few boats that win every time. This leaves the rest of us to the back of the pack. After several years of DFL, I've given up crewed racing. I wonder how many others feel the same way?

I know that some clubs have switched to a handicap system that uses each boat's historical results. Does anyone know how participation has changed in these clubs?

Andy

I belong to a fairly small club with quite a few informal racer/cruisers. We switched to a handicapping system that uses historical results. We've done some of the other things as well - later starts and Saturday only races on the weekends. The Wed night beer can series is popular because it is very informal.

My personal opinion is that the experience based handicapping is working, although I'm probably disadvantaged by it in terms of results, but I'm more interested in good participation. We've started to get a group of new boats out that over the past few seasons have notably improved.

[rico]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

One comment though. Your conclusion that lack of crew is not the main obstacle to participation is likely driven by your sample. You surveyed people who are already racing. They're not the ones with crew problems. The ones with significant crew shorages aren't racing and perhaps not in your sample as a result.

It would be great to see a parallel but customized study of non-racing sailors.

[jpsail]

syrenab32, on Nov 29 2007, 11:58 PM, said:

Chart Two (What do you want to do more of?)
Most racers want less formality, more starts and quicker on and off the water. More important is that new ODs and boats designs (or lack of them) do not drive participation. You can can conclude from this that if events and schedules were improved people would race the boats that they have more often.

Another observation from chart 2 is that the number of respondents who want more serious racing (serious OD+serious handicap) appears to be about the same or slightly greater than those who want less formality.

 Picture_3.jpg (32.35K)
Number of downloads: 15

If a club's or association's primary goal is to increase participation, it will focus almost exclusively on providing more informal racing as that caters to the needs of marginally committed participants or non-participants.

If the goal is instead to maximize member satisfaction, a club or association will find a way to increase informal opportunities and improve the quantity and quality of serious racing opportunities. Is there a way to readily do both?

[stripclubjunkie]

Put in some awards for the most mid pack finishes, most improved boat, and for most DFL's. Kinda spreads the love and takes "I must win a pickle dish at all costs" mentality out of the game.... Fack, you could even have a reverse award - score everything backwards and have that be the biggest and baddest pickle dish....

[S Brennan]

syrenab32,

Good quantifiable stuff. Nothing here surprised me except that the demand for new/OD was so low.

I've been playing a one note tune on the time issue for a while.

I'd like to see new designs/designers address what has to be the number one concern...Time. I see little effort in design to address US time constraints imposed by the ever increasing work week and the necessity for dual incomes. With the exception of Bob Perry's container ship boat which addresses med-term time contraints, I haven't seen designers working on boats that work time issues, boats that can be set up and put away in five minutes.

New areas of design are traditionally addressed by young designers, but in this case youth works against looking outside the box...it's only after a good portion of life slips by that you appreciate time as the most valuable possession, it can not be bought or sold, it's priceless.

Note to Editor,

Set up design contest to address set-up, pack-up/secure issues in both dock and boat arrangements?

[Captain Bastard]

I think US Sailing should be collecting this type of data, sharing it, monitoring changes and results of changes.

What an absolutely useful set of data this has produced. A nationwide survey would be interesting with the collection of some regional info and you could see if this data is consistant across the country. Again, this data is ACTIONABLE!

[Dave]

This is really good information. I for one would love to see the results of all the questions.

Mayb Ed and Dawg could run a similiar pool and see what the results would look like on a even larger scale.

[razorback]

S Brennan, on Nov 30 2007, 01:32 PM, said:

syrenab32,

Good quantifiable stuff. Nothing here surprised me except that the demand for new/OD was so low.

I've been playing a one note tune on the time issue for a while.

I'd like to see new designs/designers address what has to be the number one concern...Time. I see little effort in design to address US time constraints imposed by the ever increasing work week and the necessity for dual incomes. With the exception of Bob Perry's container ship boat which addresses med-term time contraints, I haven't seen designers working on boats that work time issues, boats that can be set up and put away in five minutes.

New areas of design are traditionally addressed by young designers, but in this case youth works against looking outside the box...it's only after a good portion of life slips by that you appreciate time as the most valuable possession, it can not be bought or sold, it's priceless.

Note to Editor,

Set up design contest to address set-up, pack-up/secure issues in both dock and boat arrangements?

Well done as usual SB. Garry Hoyt took a stab it back in the day. He was ahead of his time (just ask him) if a little goofy. But what inspired some of his thoughts was exactly what you are saying about time and I think you are dead on. Lets face it, there was probably half a dozen times last year I would've gone for a quick sail and didn't just because of the time to haul sails to the boat, rig it up, actually go sailing, then put it all away. Quick to rig/put away is an underrated quality.

[rico]

QUOTE

I think US Sailing should be collecting this type of data, sharing it, monitoring changes and results of changes.

What an absolutely useful set of data this has produced. A nationwide survey would be interesting with the collection of some regional info and you could see if this data is consistant across the country. Again, this data is ACTIONABLE!

END QUOTE

I'm in the biz globally, so if anyone comes up with the budget, by all means drop me a line!

Also happy to help on the side of course.

[syrenab32]

jpsail, on Nov 30 2007, 01:19 PM, said:

Another observation from chart 2 is that the number of respondents who want more serious racing (serious OD+serious handicap) appears to be about the same or slightly greater than those who want less formality.

Picture_3.jpg

If a club's or association's primary goal is to increase participation, it will focus almost exclusively on providing more informal racing as that caters to the needs of marginally committed participants or non-participants.

If the goal is instead to maximize member satisfaction, a club or association will find a way to increase informal opportunities and improve the quantity and quality of serious racing opportunities. Is there a way to readily do both?

JPSail,

You're right on, adding the serious needs together. This is exactly why the clubs were right to book another night for a growing Laser fleet. The serious could get serious in a preferred venue... and the beer leagues were positioned for success too.

To your second point. This is a tangential, chicken before the egg issue, related to a specific club's health. This research looked at the whole bay and all the people using it and was not member- or club-specific, although the individual clubs could then choose to cooperate or go out on their own, given what they learned. For the most part, thankfully, they've cooperated.

SyrenaB32

[syrenab32]

Delta Blues, on Nov 30 2007, 12:59 PM, said:

Is there any chance of posting the answers to #25?

Answers to Q25

 Q25.png (29.5K)
Number of downloads: 93

[deckersr]

Captain Bastard, on Nov 30 2007, 02:33 PM, said:

I think US Sailing should be collecting this type of data, sharing it, monitoring changes and results of changes.

They are too busy representing our interests re Olympic events

[radicalmove]

Syrenab32, this is really great stuff. I totally agree that US Sailing, or some one
should be collecting this type of data. The Beneteau 40.7 group in Chicago did a
similar study of their members. The woman who collated the data lives in Milwaukee
and works at Marquette. maybe you could get that info from her (Kate I believe)

It might be worthwhile getting a seminar together at Strictly Sail Chicago so that a
wider geographic range of clubs can contribute.

As to who might collect this data on a national or regional scale, it seems that Sail
America, the industry trade association, would be interested in it, and the folks at
Sailing World/Cruising World and their consultants who put out the state of the sailing
industry report each year. After all, if it is the racers who most consistently get their boats
out on the water, and use them, this is the prime market the entire industry should want
to support and get behind, or at least target for sales and marketing.

As for the laser resurgence in Milwaukee, I think the clubs looked at the fact that the
racers/race boat owners were getting a little old. This was a way to introduce new/
younger potential members that would reinvigorate the racing scene in the area.

[syrenab32]

rico, on Nov 30 2007, 01:17 PM, said:

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

One comment though. Your conclusion that lack of crew is not the main obstacle to participation is likely driven by your sample. You surveyed people who are already racing. They're not the ones with crew problems. The ones with significant crew shorages aren't racing and perhaps not in your sample as a result.

It would be great to see a parallel but customized study of non-racing sailors.

The survey was dominated by active racers, but past and dormant racers and cruisers were invited and had a voice.
If you ask a them why they don't race, it is not because of crew shortage, but for lack of interest (they say they are too old) or lack of time.

Overall, only 9% says crew short is frequently a problem, and 60% say is is infrequently or never a problem.

 Shortage.png (10.96K)
Number of downloads: 12

[syrenab32]

syrenab32, on Dec 2 2007, 07:58 AM, said:

The survey was dominated by active racers, but past and dormant racers and cruisers were invited and had a voice.
If you ask a them why they don't race, it is not because of crew shortage, but for lack of interest (they say they are too old) or lack of time.

Overall, only 9% says crew short is frequently a problem, and 60% say is is infrequently or never a problem.

Shortage.png

To add to that, here are the different views of newcomers and sailors with other things to do.

 Newcomer.png (13.33K)
Number of downloads: 35  Hobbies.png (13.08K)
Number of downloads: 32

[MidPack]

Add me to the list of 'great/interesting survey and I'd like to see this done with a larger crowd (ie Area III or SA),' thanks for sharing your results. The local YC (like most) is on a constant search to get more people out there. They recently put the emphasis on white sail racing hoping to get new blood that would become interested in joining the spinnaker sections. They did get new people out, time will tell if they join the chute group. The same people winning (and losing) seems to be a real deterrent to long term participation IMO.

[syrenab32]

radicalmove, on Nov 30 2007, 07:09 PM, said:

As for the laser resurgence in Milwaukee, I think the clubs looked at the fact that the
racers/race boat owners were getting a little old. This was a way to introduce new/
younger potential members that would reinvigorate the racing scene in the area.

.. according to the data, the average age of a laser racer in Milwaukee is mid-40s. But it is worth noting (from my own limited experiences on this race course) that this is an event that puts grandparents, parents and kids on the same starting line. I'm not sure how much of this was pre-conceived, but has turned out great so far.