Your feedback

Each contribution may be subjected to a rigorous process of editing for language, taste and imparted wisdom. The opinions expressed in From the Feedback do not necessarily reflect those of the management, staff or investors of madfor sport.com. Instead, and much more importantly, they reflect your views.

Editor's plea. If you write to us and you want to see your thoughts in print, then please include your full name and where you come from on your e-mail. Anonymous contributions will not be published.

From Chris Jordon
Is your class growing or just surviving?Just looking at the numbers at the Enterprise Nationals for class health is hardly a fair comparison. Some classes hold the Nationals over a long weekend. Some hold them over a week event. Some are held in "out of the way places" like North of Scotland. Some are held "more centrally". Some are held in places where families are encouraged to attend the sandy beaches and things to do, while others are on the edge of stoney and shingle beaches. A switch from a mid-term, week long event in North of Scotland to a mid-holiday time event on the South coast with good camping facilities and places to stay for families can add at least 30 to the numbers for that year.

From Jesse Falsone
Is your class growing or just surviving?I don't believe that a class can "just survive". From a fleet building standpoint, my philosophy is a class is either growing or shrinking. In actuality, seemingly static numbers are indicative of a problem looming on the horizon. I don't think numbers at a championship is the only metric that should be investigated. Numbers at a championship vary from year to year based on many factors (timing, location, etc.).

I think a more telling metric for dinghies is average age of the competitors. If the average age of the membership is growing each year with relatively constant championship numbers, it's only a matter of time until you get a precipitous drop. The 505 American Section has identified aging of our membership as the primary problem. While our numbers remain relatively good, we recognize that unless corrective action is taken now, 505 sailors will be retiring at an unacceptable rate in 10 years or so. So, even though we maintain our membership and championship numbers more or less, I have to say that we are shrinking because I keep seeing the same old faces each year at the championships. Until our average age heads south, we have to assume the worst, but work hard to get young blood into the boat.

From Andy Irons
Is your class growing or just surviving?The RS600 is going from strength to strength. Numbers were down slightly at the 2000 Nationals as were all RS fleets because of the location in North Wales. This year we go to Mounts Bay in a few weeks and already entries are well ahead of this time last year. The prices of second hands boats is also worthy of mention. Finding a second hand 600 at the moment is proving very tricky. Quite often they don't even need to be advertised changing hands within clubs through word-of-mouth only. Several clubs around the UK now boast 20+ boats club racing regularly. Another important element in any fleet is the age of the sailors. The new RS600 sailor is likely to be in his twenties with perhaps only 5 entries being eligible for the veterans trophy. This also makes for some energetic apres-sail activities.