Youngsters top dinghy charts

Poptastic Gerald New looks at the climbers and fallers in the dinghy Top 100

Who's fault is this state of affairs - the clubs or is this the only way they can survive? Or the RYA which rightly takes the plaudits for the tremendous efforts at the Olympic level and is driving forward the junior programmes, but seems oblivious to the crisis in the dinghy classes. Clubs are hassled for their handicap returns and encouraged to enter personal and venue factors but what encouragement is there for the development of one design class racing?

The so-called National Classes have little, if any relevance - what do they signify? Surely a new look at these classes and a programme to promote them alongside the Olympic classes as a focus for the Club sailor who cannot devote the time and money to the International circuit would be a positive step. It would at least give the youth sailors, who are moving on, a focus for their talents and give clubs some guidance in choosing possible classes to encourage and raise standards.

The RYA through its Facilities Strategy is providing nine Sailing Institutes aimed at 'talented and elite sailors'. 4,000 youngsters complete race training and competition programmes and 60,000 youngsters are introduced to sailing every year according to the RYA, so where do they go? Why are the clubs and classes not bursting at the seams with new members. If these figures are correct why have the numbers competing in our most popular dinghy classes not shown any increase in the last three years?

The dinghy manufacturers have led the way with combined class championships to spread costs and maintain sufficient numbers at venues, but the UK do not have a major dinghy regatta to stand beside Hyeres, SPA or Kiel. The focus on Olympic medals has been successful in recognising the potential and providing the training facilities, but aside from these elite squads it would seem dinghy class racing will soldier on - in a slow decline.

Full 2001 table on page 5........