Well if its a common misconception that we hightech boat sailors just go out there to rape and pillage the less experienced then thats something that a PR director will need to rectify.

I think Jack has a point. We go out on the water, start a race, do our laps, and think very little of it. To a noob, this is a big ordeal and can be very intimidating. Let's face it...our fleet is evaporating and the guys that are left are a pretty hard core group. Most of us are Tybee and Worrell veterans, National Champions, and pretty comfortable with sailing a boat on the water.

However, on the flip side, I'm not sure this really does have a negative affect because its not like we see sailors show up once, become intimidated, and never appear again...we just never see them because they never show up to begin with. I'm all up for working towards some more fun oriented events - we've been talking about doing just that for about a year now - but I'm not sure this is going to draw more people in.

My secondary point is that maybe they have other reasons for not wanting to race that we don't understand.

They are wired differently, not that it is bad wiring.

Let's face it...subconsciously we really want more boats to beat...it is a shallow victory when we win in a 5-boat fleet.

A lot of extra effort can be expended with meager success when you try to force the unforceable.

Well I've never won a regatta. Probably never will. I don't know what its like to even beat 5 boats.

What I know is that a party with 5 people sucks in comparison to a party with 50.

Agreed - if you're not trying something, your not trying anything. So what to try?

I'm all up for the fun event. How do we get the word out to the people that don't show up at our races or participate here - are they lurking here and not participating (I know some of you are! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). How do we reach them to let them know about our fun event?

Get a DMV list of all the boat trailers listed in your area?

Post a NOC (notice of cruise) at marine stores/marinas?

Post NOC at schools? Sports camps? recreation sites?

Ask mfg. to send NOC out to buyers/members in your area?

Firstly...we need to hear from them rather than us sitting here guessing why they aren't coming to the events.

I would start by creating a new thread that addresses that particular subject. However, Jake, you have more recognition here than anyone...so the ball's in your court boy.

This is sort of the problem....many casual sailors have no idea what NOC means, let along can understand one if they saw it.

It is almost like missionaries seeking lost tribes to save.

Why mess up a happy pastime for folks that enjoy reaching back and forth with windsurfers or buzzing half boats?

Having said that, I'm sure that there are a few souls who would join the heavenly flock if shown the golden stairway.

While this thread has gone wildly off topic... there have been countless, endless, ceaseless posts about "how to get more people to race or even sail".

I suggest ressurrection of one of those threads before we decide to hash out new ideas.

I always thought that a fully rigged cat in the atrium/lobby areas of the mall of georgia with a cool music videos would be a great way to get people to get interested... AND you'd do double duty by attracting a bunch of people who have their boats in mothballs.

Also, you could get a bunch of manekins in harnesses to trap out <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Even I don't know what "NOC" means.
I think the use of initials and acronyms without saying what they stand for is one of the worst things you can do if you are trying to attract new people to a sport.

"notice of cruise"

I think

Let me know if you guys pick a day to set up and go out I'll come along

I'm one of those guys that has never raced and feel rather intimidated about racing. I came out to watch the Spring Fever and thought it looked like fun. The problem with racing is that I don't have a legal boat (non-comp tip) and probably other issues that I'm not even aware of. I'm also not that good a sailor and could benefit from a good course in sailing (maybe a Rick White course?) but can't really take the time to go to Key Largo.

An idea might be to put on a course or info day where you racers are around to answer questions or sail with newbees like me. Maybe at Hartwell or Lanier? It would be a way to get some more familiarity with what is required for racing and ease the apprehension of that first race.
Kent

I think the point is RACING!

Some of us just like to have fun without pre-entry, fees, exact start times and traveling all over the SE just to sail. I have other hobbies too. I ride a KTM 250 XCFW, I windsurf on a Bic Techno with a quiver of 7 sails and now I hobie cat sail.

Why do I want to travel 250 miles to race in winds of 5 to 10? I want to sail so I go when it blows. If they raced everytime it blowed good close by I would be there. Same is true for dirt bikes. Who wants to ride or race in sloppy mud. When it comes to windsurfing I want to plan. I don't want to slog I want to go fast and do carving jibe turns or at least try to do a carving jibe.

The only thing missing from my senerio is not a silver platter for a win but just plain old friendship while sailing, riding dirt bikes or windsurfing.

I never windsurf alone nor dirt bike alone nor hobie cat alone.

This is the reasoning behing saying that I could have fun if three of us were out there on a windy day. Not a non-windy prescheduled day. I am in it for the fun not the money. I am not even looking for recognition. Like I said just the fun of it.

I think all you experienced racers underestimate how daunting it is for a first timer to be out on the water with multiple other boats, multiple classes maybe. Not used to being so close to so many boats, trying to figure out where to look for all the signals (let alone interpet them!), stay out of everyone's way, find the start line in the right class, find the marks and just get the boat around the course. Everyone says it's all just for fun but the race faces go on close to the start and it's not so fun for some people any more! I think if you're really serious about attracting new blood and being newbie friendly you could organise an introductory race, limited to newbies, where the experienced guys crew for the newbies and give them a few pointers. That would also help the newbs to see that you are just regular people too who happen to have been doing this for longer.

OK...see?

Now we are getting some productive feedback and this should be on a properly named thread.

Mary, how can these last posts be switched to a proper heading?

Howstev-
That is exactly how I used to get new sailors to race when I started the Prindle fleet in San Antonio. Not that I was that great a racer but I knew what I was doing and as Captain of the fleet was naturally looked up to be the newbies. I would offer to crew (NOT skipper!) on their boat in a race/regatta/whatever they were game for- sometimes just going out on a windy day with them! You have to leave a certain amount of your competitiveness on the beach IMO when you do this because they will still be intimidated in certain situations (starting, mark roundings, etc.) and the point is to teach them and give them some experience so they will be more comfortable doing it themselves. Starts with helping them rig their boat correctly and giving tips (ala how to tie battens and check tension for instance, where "fastpins" are good or bad <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />, etc.). Back in the day I sailed every weekend at one spot- pretty much everybody in the fleet did and knew where we would be and how to find us. I just love to sail and for me racing is one aspect of that and I think that attitude is more agreeable to many "newbies" than the (perceived at least) "hard core racers" who only show up to race, race, and then are gone.

Kirt

There are a good bit of regattas around that are perfect for learning..4-7 boat lines for whatever class you start with. You have to start somewhere so the best thing is to just go out and have at it and learn as you go. There were some talks about having some get together days on Hartwell sometime over the summer, but I'm always up for going out whenever on Lanier as well. I don't have a tramp on my boat at this very moment, but I'd be all up for going out on someone elses boat on Lanier if you wanna go out one day. I don't win races, but that's not saying much given the people in this area we sail against.

If you want more people to join you in racing then you have to recruit them. Windsurfing is a dying sport too. But we have free or low cost clinics ( Learn to Windsurf Day on Lanier ) that bring in younger people. Kiteborading is the new glamor sport. Everyone is heading in that direction.

I have been sailing Hobies for years and after beeing out of Hobies for about 8 years I am now back. When I announce to my dirt bike buddies about my new Hobie purchase they say, "What's a Hobie Cat"!

If you want more people to race you have to show them how it is more fun than work.

Mary said:



Yep to that.

"Anybody can write learned language. Being able to put it in street language is the real test." quote, un-quote