Where is Everybody?

[Flaming]

It would be interesting to check back in a non-Fastnet year to see if this is in any way driven by boats deciding to have an "offshore" year.

Agree with those saying that there is no shortage of people with the cash to run a racing campaign. Perhaps those people are more concentrated in London that they used to be, i.e. your 1980s GP / solicitor / accountant based on the South Coast that owned a Sigma 33 doesn't own a J/109 in 2023? Or sailing has lost the social cachet that drew in the upwardly mobile Thatcher generations that watched Howard's Way and wanted to prove they had arrived?

I think there's a lot of truth in this. In reality "race every weekend" type series are mostly going to attract locals.
There's also been a ton of stuff written about the appeal and growth of doublehanded sailing, and a lot of that has centred on the effort required to get, keep and organise good crew. When I think of the boats that have been long features on the Solent that I know of, they all have one thing in common - it isn't the owner doing the crew admin. One of the regulars takes that on.

I did that for 15 years, but this year I've graduated to owner....

 

[dogwatch]

Southern / RORC have changed for sure, Thames / Royal London still very old school. Squadron in a different league.

The Royal London is so out of time, I find it charming. The Southern, I did not. Squadron, I've only been a guest but they look after guests with great grace. Of course, they know and you know you are not one of them, but still.

 

[Snowden]

I did that for 15 years, but this year I've graduated to owner....

Congrats! Question is whether you managed to hand over the diary secretary role or just get the privilege of writing cheques as well as chivvying everyone to turn up on time :-D

 

[Flaming]

Congrats! Question is whether you managed to hand over the diary secretary role or just get the privilege of writing cheques as well as chivvying everyone to turn up on time :-D

I'm keeping it for this year.... To be honest it's got to the point where it's really easy. I'll probably hand it over for next year.

 

[floater]

...why has shorthanded sailing become popular?

 

[Snowden]

JOG has about 90 entries for their Nab Tower race next Saturday

Over 100 now. The "one day passage race" with no delivery home afterwards seems to be a very popular format.

 

[Flaming]

Over 100 now. The "one day passage race" with no delivery home afterwards seems to be a very popular format.

What I find slightly odd is that Cowes is basically 7 days of that but most of those boats don’t come…

 

[Snowden]

What I find slightly odd is that Cowes is basically 7 days of that but most of those boats don’t come…

I am a few years out of date, but last time I did Cowes (2017) we paid something north of £2k to rent a small flat for a week. I'm sure it's a lot more today.

Before the £ tanked that bought you something quite nice somewhere on the Continent with guaranteed weather...

 

[dogwatch]

What I find slightly odd is that Cowes is basically 7 days of that but most of those boats don’t come…

It's not exactly. Cowes Week has mark roundings, with boats coming scarily together in one place. A surprising number of offshore racers are convinced their boat will get broken. I hope the JOGers have fun, the forecast is brisk.

 

[Flaming]

I am a few years out of date, but last time I did Cowes (2017) we paid something north of £2k to rent a small flat for a week. I'm sure it's a lot more today.

Before the £ tanked that bought you something quite nice somewhere on the Continent with guaranteed weather...

It can be pricey, sure… But the jog guys are used to staying on board right? And the total Cowes cost doesn’t get that holiday for the whole crew…

And yes, I get it’s not exactly the same as jog racing, having more mark rounding etc, but it’s a lot more like that style of racing than the ww/lw racing that we keep getting told is the biggest issue with regular inshore racing…

 

[Whinging Pom]

In the winter I sail my 25 year old Flying Fifteen at Grafham Water. an easy 1.25 hour drive from home. The deal for 4 months is £90 for storage and two people, which I recon is a bargain. I get three races every Sunday and use of the lake any day of the week. Launching and recovery is with a tractor.

Summer I'm sailing my relatively recently acquired Dehler 35 CWS, as well as the odd open meeting in the Fifteen. Planning on getting an IRC ticket for the Dehler and doing some of the North Sea races double handed. As an owner, racing fully crewed doesn't interest me at all. You get too much damage, besides all the aggro of organising people.

 

[Moore Play]

Ever since Scooter sold the site, I've been wondering the same thing.

Should be a thread

 

[alctel]

Judging by my friends and family in the UK, everyone is broke as fuck

 

[dogwatch]

Judging by my friends and family in the UK, everyone is broke as fuck

UK retail sales are up. So no, not everyone is as broke as fuck. Though some are, mostly not the kind of people who own yachts.

 

[Flaming]

Now 55 boats entered for the Spring series/champs in black group, 2 weeks before the 1st weekend of the spring champs. Annoyingly the website doesn't split them out.
64 boats sailed at least 1 race in the series last year, and 50 boats sailed the champs last year... So maybe not so doom and gloom after all?

 

[Goodvibes]

Where did that silly old cunt @warbird go?

Did COVID get him after he refused vaccination?

 

[Gissie]

...why has shorthanded sailing become popular?

Because we all hate everyone else to much?

 

[TUBBY]

And only have one friend!