Thomas Hubbell, Past-President of US Sailing and the Thistle Class, joins the conversation in how to ensure the health in the sport, and the longevity and vibrancy of the clubs:
There’s no mystery in how to bridge generations and keep sailing clubs going, but the solution goes against the mentality that seems to have been pervasive in the early days of yacht clubs. The enemy is exclusivity. “Members Only” is not a growth strategy.
The current system in many areas works perfectly for the very well off, which is a fraction of the potential number who might enjoy sailing. The McKinsey study of about 20 years ago mapped this out and the challenges are ongoing.
For people to start sailing, they need a hosted exposure to the sport on a somewhat ideal day with a kindly skipper and mates. (For example, the First Sail program developed by US Sailing with collaboration of over sixty sailing-related entities.) But, how do you get past the gate?
For people to learn to sail, they need access to a training program. How do you get past the gate?
For people to continue sailing after learning the basics, they need access to a boat. That takes an investment at a time when college grads have massive debts. How do they get access to a boat? They have to buy one.
For them to bring their newly acquired boat to the waterfront, it’s either going to be a public ramp or marina versus getting past the gate at the yacht club which is usually an expensive hurdle.
There are a few solutions that are not new and have been applied successfully at both fancy clubs and plain vanilla clubs: make sail instruction open to non-members, offer very reduced young adult membership fees, provide club-owned boats available to members for a small daily fee, and bring young adult voices onto the Board of Directors.
Clubs that sponsor high school sailing are in a fantastic position to sustain their future. Those clubs have learned to welcome the chaos that comes with hosting dozens of member and non-member teens with small boats and gear all over the place.
I’ve seen this at my club where one remarkable adult has fostered explosive growth in high school sailing. At least six schools are now based at Hoover Sailing Club in Ohio. The whole atmosphere is alive.
And there’s another solution to these obstacles that has proven extremely successful. Community sailing programs excel in recruiting new sailors and creating life-long enthusiasm for the sport. Their boats are accessible. The nature of these programs carries a spirit of volunteerism to keep the thing going. Anyone can belong and participate. Anyone can learn. Almost anyone can afford it – sometimes with scholarships.
The solutions are inclusive.
Source: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/10/24/the-solutions-are-inclusive/
