Mark as far the bike racing I don't understand your comment. Are you saying bike racing has more participants than sailing so sailors should not be able to get a spot to launch at public ramps and bike riders get government land to build trails on. Our six race bike spring series gave away over 8,000 in prizes and had an average of 60 riders not much more than sailing. Last weekend I rode in a race with 30 riders and they gave away 1,500 in prize money. Please help me understand your comments.
You as an individual can take your boat wherever the community allows you to launch. Back in the hey day of sailing... lots of sailors... equaled lots of launch access.
My nephew rides a mountain bike... All of his local trails have been shut down... the property owners and or the state parks have shut down all but a few trails.
He never talks about A RACE either... Moreover, A RACE is different... You can't just show up like a flash mob at this same public launch, seize beach access and expect the park to allow that.... They now demand you cover the cost of their liability.. US Sailing put together an insurance package that address's most of their demands. But the sailors have to pay for the coverage.
The decline of beach cat sailing is mostly because there is not good places to launch and the daily sailor just wont buy a boat if there is no place to sail it.
Perhaps, but I don't see this in my world.... When Sandy Point changed the park around years ago... they had two years of beach use numbers.... the perfect sailing venue had dropped to just one or two boats a weekend. They had other groups that wanted more space... The racers did not use the park but once a year... The beach cats in galesville using that oyster shell RAMP for their parking spots decided to take an opportunity and join the yacht club down the street. We have space on the beach for new members... we don't have waiting lists.... Bottom line. no demand for trailer access to the water ... no demand for yacht club spots. We have issues.
I agree with your main point....(help get the tools for the job)...
BUT... you have to have people to help. The racing clubs have solutions they use... the rec sailor has no organization. Dealers have gone away... local dealer agents don't take on maintaining the recreational beach access. it's a problem.
RE swag..
So... 60 riders for your local race... Well... 60 boats would be among the top 5 events in the country for turnout this year for a catamaran race.
Back in the day... the swag came from lots of places... dealers, bars, Coke a Cola, etc etc. So... No big turnout numbers... no easy access to swag!.. Now, I just watched Annapolis Yacht club generate almost 20 K in swag for their Junior Olympics... 300 + kids and their parents.... so... numbers equal good swag... BUT it took a lot of work by their volunteers to get that swag.
I simply don't see a good comparison between beach front property that EVERYONE WANTS and so is among the most expensive real estate in the country and a mountain that you can't build on... or use for much else. Sorry, I just don't see it.
