Jobson Nails It!

[BrightAyes]

Great read on why we seem to be missing Americ's "Greatest" generation of sailors. Great read, but let me summarize:

1. Public don't care
2. Magazines and news don't care
3. Millenials don't care
4. (and shockingly) Pros don't care

He sums up my thoughts perfectly on the infestation of bro-pros who descend on every major event, no matter how obscure the fleet:

"Historically, there had been a culture of sailors “giving back” to the sport by serving on sailing committees, raising funds for charity events, speaking to junior sailing groups, helping less experienced sailors improve their skills, and serving as ambassadors. Lending a hand does not seem to be in the DNA of many professional sailors these days. The sport relies on volunteer support at all levels, and every sailing organization would benefit from recruiting experienced sailors to serve in some meaningful capacities.

Another contributing factor has to be the proliferation of professional sailing and day-rate champions. The most prominent pro sailors of recent times rarely own their boats and don’t volunteer their time often enough to speak at sailing clubs or promote the sport beyond their self-interest, next gig or Olympic campaign. The pro sailor helps win the title and collects the check, while the owner gets the trophy and all the recognition. But owners come and go."

Sailing's Next Greatest Generation

Gary Jobson explores the question of why, since Dennis Conner and the Stars and Stripes era of the America's Cup, has the sport not developed its next greatest generation.

www.sailingworld.com

 

[eliboat]

Interesting take. I can’t say I would agree that this is the whole problem, but info agree with what he’s saying. I certainly idolized all kinds of sailors when I was a nipper, including Conner, Blackaller, Mark Reynolds, Betsy Allison etc. I also learned about earlier greats like Bill Ficker, C Raymond Hunt, Uffa Fox, Paul Elvstrom and others. He did mention that todays youth are “buried in bytes” and I think that’s a big part of that disconnect.

 

[MagentaLine]

It's a new age and sailing is rich, white man's sport... or at least that's the perception.

 

[bgytr]

Time is the diminished resource. I didn't get my own boat until just before I retired because my work day started at 415am and I got home at 5 to 6pm. Ocassionally some work on weekends as well. Also, saving the overwhelming bulk of my income to my kids college funds so they could come out with their bachelor's debt free. So the bulk of my sailing was crewing on other folks boats.

 

[jhc]

I find Jobson’s optinion exactly wrong. He has been grinding that axe for decades.
Professional, or for that matter, amateur sailors have nothing to do with the situation our sport is in. Rather it is the creaky sailing establishment that Jobson is at the center of that is to blame.
Jobson, and his ilk have promoted an elitist vision of sailing that frankly is stilted, as well as self serving, while ignoring the huge poplar interest in the ocean and environment that is obvious when you look at the popularity of many other water related sports.
Now the chicken has come to roost, and Jobson is denying his culpability.
The myopic and flat out wrong opinion is, in my view, disgraceful. Coming from a “leader” of our sport.
My recent experience with youth sailing here in California is that there is enormous interest in sailing, and sailboat racing in the younger age groups. That potential is just wasted by the self serving money grubbing “foundations” that take huge funds from generous donors, then have no interest, leadership, or incentive to collaborate, and act in a professional way to offer to our youth what they could, to give them a more complete, and positive experience.
Instead, sailing leadership wants to deflect the blame to “pro” sailors, and serve a tiny elitist group, while raking in money to their own pockets.
Pitiful behavior.

 

[BrightAyes]

I find Jobson’s optinion exactly wrong. He has been grinding that axe for decades.
Professional, or for that matter, amateur sailors have nothing to do with the situation our sport is in. Rather it is the creaky sailing establishment that Jobson is at the center of that is to blame.
Jobson, and his ilk have promoted an elitist vision of sailing that frankly is stilted, as well as self serving, while ignoring the huge poplar interest in the ocean and environment that is obvious when you look at the popularity of many other water related sports.
Now the chicken has come to roost, and Jobson is denying his culpability.
The myopic and flat out wrong opinion is, in my view, disgraceful. Coming from a “leader” of our sport.
My recent experience with youth sailing here in California is that there is enormous interest in sailing, and sailboat racing in the younger age groups. That potential is just wasted by the self serving money grubbing “foundations” that take huge funds from generous donors, then have no interest, leadership, or incentive to collaborate, and act in a professional way to offer to our youth what they could, to give them a more complete, and positive experience.
Instead, sailing leadership wants to deflect the blame to “pro” sailors, and serve a tiny elitist group, while raking in money to their own pockets.
Pitiful behavior.

Bitch slam! Kinda strong medicine there Jesus H. Christ!

 

[Code 2]

If you follow the money - which as JHC describes - and I agree - therein lies the problem. I have seen these foundations that rake in big money and then subsidize select campaigns or worse select member offspring or member projects. We have two fleets of one design boats that only certain folks are allowed to use or they sit in storage all year. Yeah its a legacy event - but those boats do not bring in new members and only cater to international teams once a year. Wasteful while our club high school programs suffer. Oh - and don't get me started on coaches that have an agenda - or are outright not suited to be in those positions.

 

['Bacco]

One of the biggest problems is the sport is so different at the top end than at the amateur level. Kids reading articles and watching America's Cup and Sail GP boats with the apparent wind so far forward they look like they are constantly upwind doesn't translate well to getting out on a Wednesday night on their parent's C&C 35.

I get all sports to have a performance delta between the pros and the amateurs, but sailing is extreme. Karts and F1 cars have the same theoretical race. J/70's and Sail GP do not.

On a positive note, our Jr program has an incredible demand, which is encouraging.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Jobson has been in and around the management of US Sailing for more than 30 years - in other words, the entire time he's been helping to steer the organization, the sport has been falling apart.

Jobson is the ultimate poster boy for failing upwards.

 

[Sisu3360]

One valid difference between yesterday's pros and today's is that in decades past you couldn't support yourself by just being a pro sailor. Most pros were also sailmakers or boatbuilders. That tied them back to the amateur community, which formed the bulk of their client base.

 

[jhc]

On a positive note, our Jr program has an incredible demand, which is encouraging.

Exactly my point.
Where is our sport’s national leadership on this? Nowhere.
We have, in this country a huge potential to raise a generation of young sailor who are competitive, and conscientious members. Instead of promoting that, as a goal, our leaders rail against “pro” sailors as not doing enough.
It’s the leadership that is doing nothing, as demonstrated by recent developments. Their focus on corrupt international competition, rather than grass roots enthusiasm is I say pitifully inept.

 

[Sisu3360]

I get all sports to have a performance delta between the pros and the amateurs, but sailing is extreme. Karts and F1 cars have the same theoretical race. J/70's and Sail GP do not.

Yeah, I've been railing about this for years. The top inshore events no longer really resemble the same sport the rest of us play, especially if you're at a crew position other than driver or main trimmer. They're fun to watch, sure, but as you point out there's now a difference in fundamental mechanics. But then again sailing was never much of a TV sport outside of the AC.

 

['Bacco]

Exactly my point.
Where is our sport’s national leadership on this? Nowhere.
We have, in this country a huge potential to raise a generation of young sailor who are competitive, and conscientious members. Instead of promoting that, as a goal, our leaders rail against “pro” sailors as not doing enough.
It’s the leadership that is doing nothing, as demonstrated by recent developments. Their focus on corrupt international competition, rather than grass roots enthusiasm is I say pitifully inept.

Couldn't agree more. The America's Cup, the so-called pinnace of our sport spends more time in court than on the water.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

The America's Cup, the so-called pinnace of our sport spends more time in court than on the water.

derp derp

 

[BrightAyes]

Jobson has been in and around the management of US Sailing for more than 30 years - in other words, the entire time he's been helping to steer the organization, the sport has been falling apart.

Jobson is the ultimate poster boy for failing upwards.

On the other hand, I've heard Jobson give inspirational talk at the Lake Pleasant Birthday regatta Leukemia Cup fundraiser in a tent, 50 miles from Phoenix, in the desert. Saw Conners at a kid's regatta fundraiser. Both were touring the country, speaking @ rinky-dinky clubs helping promote the sport. Real grassroots kinda stuff. Now that's been awhile, but hell we're all old as dirt nowadays.

 

[Glenn McCarthy]

Jobco was President of US Sailing for two years. Name all of his accomplishments.
Scratch that, name ONE of his accomplishments.

 

[Sweare Deep]

I wonder how many of the younger sailors to whom Jobson spoke might have recognized Riley and Elena of La Vagabonde rather than Mark Reynolds and Paul Foerster as "contemporary greats". Just wondering.

 

[WCB]

I find Jobson’s optinion exactly wrong. He has been grinding that axe for decades.
Professional, or for that matter, amateur sailors have nothing to do with the situation our sport is in. Rather it is the creaky sailing establishment that Jobson is at the center of that is to blame.
Jobson, and his ilk have promoted an elitist vision of sailing that frankly is stilted, as well as self serving, while ignoring the huge poplar interest in the ocean and environment that is obvious when you look at the popularity of many other water related sports.
Now the chicken has come to roost, and Jobson is denying his culpability.
The myopic and flat out wrong opinion is, in my view, disgraceful. Coming from a “leader” of our sport.
My recent experience with youth sailing here in California is that there is enormous interest in sailing, and sailboat racing in the younger age groups. That potential is just wasted by the self serving money grubbing “foundations” that take huge funds from generous donors, then have no interest, leadership, or incentive to collaborate, and act in a professional way to offer to our youth what they could, to give them a more complete, and positive experience.
Instead, sailing leadership wants to deflect the blame to “pro” sailors, and serve a tiny elitist group, while raking in money to their own pockets.
Pitiful behavior.

So what do you think the steps are that need to be taken? I see your point, but how does one fix the problem?

 

[Roller Skates]

I wonder how many of the younger sailors to whom Jobson spoke might have recognized Riley and Elena of La Vagabonde rather than Mark Reynolds and Paul Foerster as "contemporary greats". Just wondering.

Wait. Jobson in a bikini doesn't do it for you?

 

[Howler]

Jobco was President of US Sailing for two years. Name all of his accomplishments.
Scratch that, name ONE of his accomplishments.

He showed up at my kids' dinky little youth program and spent quite a while talking to the kids, who seemed pretty engaged. That's an accomplishment of sorts.