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Shanty said..
Maybe a Top Hat 25 Don

Hi Shanty

It is something I have considered

Regards Don

Hi all

Subject to a survey it looks like we have a boat

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..
Hi all

Subject to a survey it looks like we have a boat

Regards Don

Good on you Sir Don!
Well,, are you going to keep us in suspense?

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shaggybaxter said..

Donk107 said..
Hi all

Subject to a survey it looks like we have a boat

Regards Don

Good on you Sir Don!
Well,, are you going to keep us in suspense?

Hi Shaggy

I have sent you a pm with a explanation

Regards Don

I hear you on wanting to continue with your teenagers Don.

I have for some years now funded one or two "lending boats" over and above the one I sail myself. Because it both gets people involved who can't immediately afford a boat and provides an immediate supply of boats ready to be sold to someone who wants to buy one, it is a very effective way of providing targeted growth to the club (targeted in the sense you get to chose who sails it or buys it).

I've actually just sold both my lending boats to newcomers to expand our fleet, so now need to find another (which I have).

It will be great if the student sailors do become proactive in maintaining the boat. I suppose my message would be, don't be either disappointed or discouraged if they don't. The ones who will are likely to be the exceptions, rather than the rule- at least initially. Whether you're dealing with students or young adults setting out in their careers and family developments, time will be of the essence for them and what they need to do to the boat to keep it in shape will involve skills that are unfamiliar and even slightly scary (in a challenging, get it right sense) to them. What's more, OHS rules would make me uncomfortable in letting them lose in a boat yard except under the closet supervision.

For me, the cost of running the boats is simply a cost (time and money) of meeting my objectives of getting younger persons into sailing and ensuring there is a supply of crews and skippers.

I might only add, don't write off targeting the 20 to 30 yo's too. Look around and see how you might find them. Mid week sailing conducted at a time which allows mothers to get back for school pick up for instance, gets a parent involved in sailing who will then be keen to bring her kids into junior sailing ASAP; providing a multiplier effect. This is happening right now in my group (although through weekend racing with mid week practice sessions.)

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Tamble said..
I hear you on wanting to continue with your teenagers Don.

I have for some years now funded one or two "lending boats" over and above the one I sail myself. Because it both gets people involved who can't immediately afford a boat and provides an immediate supply of boats ready to be sold to someone who wants to buy one, it is a very effective way of providing targeted growth to the club (targeted in the sense you get to chose who sails it or buys it).

I've actually just sold both my lending boats to newcomers to expand our fleet, so now need to find another (which I have).

It will be great if the student sailors do become proactive in maintaining the boat. I suppose my message would be, don't be either disappointed or discouraged if they don't. The ones who will are likely to be the exceptions, rather than the rule- at least initially. Whether you're dealing with students or young adults setting out in their careers and family developments, time will be of the essence for them and what they need to do to the boat to keep it in shape will involve skills that are unfamiliar and even slightly scary (in a challenging, get it right sense) to them. What's more, OHS rules would make me uncomfortable in letting them lose in a boat yard except under the closet supervision.

For me, the cost of running the boats is simply a cost (time and money) of meeting my objectives of getting younger persons into sailing and ensuring there is a supply of crews and skippers.

I might only add, don't write off targeting the 20 to 30 yo's too. Look around and see how you might find them. Mid week sailing conducted at a time which allows mothers to get back for school pick up for instance, gets a parent involved in sailing who will then be keen to bring her kids into junior sailing ASAP; providing a multiplier effect. This is happening right now in my group (although through weekend racing with mid week practice sessions.)

Hi Tamble

Thank you for your thoughts and I know it will not be easy but i figure in order to keep the club going we need to do something and at the moment there is a lot of support from the club members and people putting their hand up to be involved which is good to see and a lot of support by the local marine companies

I guess that time will tell whether it helps to grow the club and lower the membership age and teach the local kids some new skills but fingers crossed

Regards Don

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shaggybaxter said..

Donk107 said..
Hi all

Subject to a survey it looks like we have a boat

Regards Don

Good on you Sir Don!
Well,, are you going to keep us in suspense?

Hi Shaggy

All going well this is the new boat

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/j-boats-j-24-all-j24-class-features-plus-short-handed-extras/230905

Regards Don

good work Donk !!

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Donk107 said..

shaggybaxter said..

Donk107 said..
Hi all

Subject to a survey it looks like we have a boat

Regards Don

Good on you Sir Don!
Well,, are you going to keep us in suspense?

Hi Shaggy

All going well this is the new boat

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/j-boats-j-24-all-j24-class-features-plus-short-handed-extras/230905

Regards Don

She looks like a very pretty boat Don.
Hope she brings a bunch of kids some great memories, good on you and the club!

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Donk107 said..

I guess that time will tell whether it helps to grow the club and lower the membership age and teach the local kids some new skills but fingers crossed

Regards Don

If you want some encouragement and reinforcement that you can achieve your objectives, have a look at the most recent posts on the training Facebook page I linked in my first post.
Two years ago, our club was essentially like yours; about 100 members, basically all in their 50's and 60's. We have always had a junior LTS, but getting them to stick and settle in as regular racing members was just not working that well. Most members have commented to me how much the demographics of those sharing in the post race social nibbles changed in the second half of last season.

The photo represents about two thirds of the regulars associated with my group (the others away on holidays or with work or having done the theory training last year). Only two people in that photo were members two years ago - none, except me, three years ago.

All (but one) now have either permanent crew or skipper positions (mostly on the 15's), or regularly act as fill in crews on other boats. And the exception only joined at the very end of last season.

Which might make it sound like it happened quickly. Perhaps it did, but it was only after five or six years (on this particular programme) of working away at it; accepting there'd be a degree of rotation of lightly sticking participants until I got the critical mass that tends to be self reinforcing and changing my approach and target audience until I found what best works.

Best wishes for your efforts.

PS: the J24 looks ideal for your task

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Tamble said..

Donk107 said..

I guess that time will tell whether it helps to grow the club and lower the membership age and teach the local kids some new skills but fingers crossed

Regards Don

If you want some encouragement and reinforcement that you can achieve your objectives, have a look at the most recent posts on the training Facebook page I linked in my first post.
Two years ago, our club was essentially like yours; about 100 members, basically all in their 50's and 60's. We have always had a junior LTS, but getting them to stick and settle in as regular racing members was just not working that well. Most members have commented to me how much the demographics of those sharing in the post race social nibbles changed in the second half of last season.

The photo represents about two thirds of the regulars associated with my group (the others away on holidays or with work or having done the theory training last year). Only two people in that photo were members two years ago - none, except me, three years ago.

All (but one) now have either permanent crew or skipper positions (mostly on the 15's), or regularly act as fill in crews on other boats. And the exception only joined at the very end of last season.

Which might make it sound like it happened quickly. Perhaps it did, but it was only after five or six years (on this particular programme) of working away at it; accepting there'd be a degree of rotation of lightly sticking participants until I got the critical mass that tends to be self reinforcing and changing my approach and target audience until I found what best works.

Best wishes for your efforts.

PS: the J24 looks ideal for your task

Hi Tamble

I appreciate the information you have provided and hopefully we can make a go of this

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..

Tamble said..

Donk107 said..

I guess that time will tell whether it helps to grow the club and lower the membership age and teach the local kids some new skills but fingers crossed

Regards Don

If you want some encouragement and reinforcement that you can achieve your objectives, have a look at the most recent posts on the training Facebook page I linked in my first post.
Two years ago, our club was essentially like yours; about 100 members, basically all in their 50's and 60's. We have always had a junior LTS, but getting them to stick and settle in as regular racing members was just not working that well. Most members have commented to me how much the demographics of those sharing in the post race social nibbles changed in the second half of last season.

The photo represents about two thirds of the regulars associated with my group (the others away on holidays or with work or having done the theory training last year). Only two people in that photo were members two years ago - none, except me, three years ago.

All (but one) now have either permanent crew or skipper positions (mostly on the 15's), or regularly act as fill in crews on other boats. And the exception only joined at the very end of last season.

Which might make it sound like it happened quickly. Perhaps it did, but it was only after five or six years (on this particular programme) of working away at it; accepting there'd be a degree of rotation of lightly sticking participants until I got the critical mass that tends to be self reinforcing and changing my approach and target audience until I found what best works.

Best wishes for your efforts.

PS: the J24 looks ideal for your task

Hi Tamble

I appreciate the information you have provided and hopefully we can make a go of this

Regards Don

I'd add my thanks to Don's Tamble.
That''s great info for anyone trying to attract new 'stayers' to the sport.

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shaggybaxter said..

D

I'd add my thanks to Don's Tamble.
That''s great info for anyone trying to attract new 'stayers' to the sport.

Thanks Shaggy
But I'm never cocky about these things. You only know they're really stayers after 10 years

And I should have added, the Facebook page is an important tool in generating interest in the group; although you'll need to work out any additional issues regarding photographs and minors.