Recidivist
Super Anarchist
My current club is entirely volunteer. Club racing is a pretty small scene, and income from that and memberships would not pay the insurance, let alone maintenance on building and rescue/course boats.
Fortunately the club has a history of running regattas, which are well supported by competitors from far and wide. We try to give the competitors good race management and enjoyable racing. They in turn appreciate the efforts and enjoy themselves, so they come back year after year. Without those regattas, the club would disappear in short order.
I deliberately stay clear of club management, but it seems to me that when AS say something, the club complies without question. Accordingly, they charge for Sailpass - not sure how much, but the annual financials disclose that income from Sailpass is less than $100. That is NOT going to save the club! I am convinced that the administration burden makes Sailpass a nett negative for the club - but then it's not about the clubs, is it? It's about funding for AS, which is the single largest issue they have spent most of the past 15 years or so worrying about.
Hear, hear. Totally agree with this. And mccroc's very valid point that, if Sailpass is good for the sport, why does no other country in the world have a similar prescription?
Edit: Wait, why are we discussing this in the S-H thread? Surely this should be in the AS thread? Oh fuck it - it should be discussed as widely as possible, so have at it.
