Yacht clubs charge what the members decide they need to charge to pay for the place. (One just folded in New england). They come in all sizes and flavors and prices and focus on different niches of the sport. Join one and you can have a say in the fees after you see the budget. But in the end sailing is a recreational hobby... it will cost you disposable income and it's not cheap. A club costs you a bit more so that you can do more things with your sailing toy.
and exclusive, Really... what club have you tried to join that excluded you?
and not accessable to most people. I personally wouldn't join any Yacht Club that would have me as a member.(except Gulport YC, because they are full of guys like me!)
Accessible is the key notion. The non sailor who says... I want to learn to sail can take a sailing course from a private business. These guys usually have a way to keep sailing by joining a race fleet of the company boats etc. They can also charter boats to sail as well. They are accessible (open to public) and generally centrally located so the public can get to them.
You would have to convince me that marketplace for sailing training was under served and even more than that ONLY USSA could put together a business model to meet the need and make a buck. I think the industry trade groups and boat builders need to take on getting people into sailing. USSA should support the racers and their specific needs.
As a national organization ... If US Sailing tried to run operations like this, us as members, would be pouring cash into a hole forever. AND it would not convert a high percentage of these people into racers which is what the core mission of USSA is about.
