We've been discussing this topic for a while now and that is; how do you introduce new people to the sport? We've all heard that it's intimidating for people to join a regatta for the first time and I think they may be even more so true as our numbers slowly decline (at least in my area anyway). Most of the regatta warriors in our region are pretty hardcore racers as the casual racers are less likely to attend anymore. Our consistent caravan of sailors are veterans of Worrell 1000s, Tybee 500s, Steeplechase, or National Champions in one or more classes - but we rarely see new people at regattas.

We've had some discussions locally about how to bring new folks into the sport that we enjoy and we agreed that we need to try something...anything. If we're not trying something, we're not trying anything. We've talked about purchasing boats as a fleet to have boats for people to sail. We've talked about having test sail days for local communities. What will work?

When you get some folks there that are relatively new to racing catamarans, what kind of event do you do? Do you have a training session event? Fun Event? Distance Race? Training drills? Swap boats and swap skippers with the current fleet?

I think the target group already have boats of their own. From what I can tell, some of them have some pretty good equipment. Better than I do, that's for sure. Of course I race two bananas with a 4-poster bed at times, and love it.

This effort should focus on cat sailors who already have basic cat skills. This is a totally different project than trying to get non-sailors into sailboats or catamarans.

Buying boats implies a cash reserve, storage and maintenance issues, and ultimately a disposal problem.

Pick a time and place and I will be there Jake, if I am not on a trip.

Hi Jake,

Here's an idea, before my first regatta I was not all that into racing around marks. My reason for showing up the fist time was so that I could meet people with similar interest. And to a degree I felt intimidated by the "racer" thinking that he/she were on a different level and no longer discussed the things that I was thrilled about or I was wondering about. I now know thats not true, but those were my thoughts. Back to the racing around marks..... I was more looking for a distance race, and I'm not talking about Tybee 500 here. What I use to do, was race together with another cat to an island or similar a few miles away and once there reward ourself with some food/drinks. Thats what I was looking for on a bigger scale, 20 boats would be fun I thought. Sailing alone was never that much fun so another boat made all the difference, but sometimes if was hard to find someone that was able to sail when I was. So I looked for regattas, the more the merrier I thought.

One of my favorite things to do, was to race with a friend or two down the Indian River (inter costal in FL around Cocoa) to a restaurant 8 miles away, then race back with happy belly's.

Now after attending a few regattas I know thats basically what you do. But to a new attendee it's not that obvious.

So I guess what I'm saying is, a friendly 1h distance race with a purpose at the turn around point, maybe as simple as a your favorite brew. Then another hour back, and hey lets repeat it the following day. When all that's done you can throw in scoring based on Portsmouth number or similar to get you hooked on more advanced forms of racing, and they'll be on race course in no time wanting more.

Just a though, see you out there Jake.

Bjorn

I have yet to get my boat in the water but I think a casual thing like this sounds fun. It'd have to be local for me as traveling costs to much. My main intension with this is just to spend some healthy outdoor time with my boys.

Jake,
while our last attempt at the Round Lake Murray Race did not end so well, we were having a blast until the storm hit. So I agree with Bjorn, simple races to or around fun places is an easily grasped concept with no big worries of screwing up due to not knowing all the rules and regulations.

Well, I think we should a learning regatta for those who want to learn how to race. Those of us who have an idea of what's going on should crew for those who want to learn. I'm in.

We used to have a "low key" regatta at a local lake for 35 years. Two races (about 1 hour) around the 3 bouys on the lake. In between the races we used to go back to the beach and eat & drink, talk. Sorry to say that the lack of liability insurance left the guy's running it open to major issues if a problem were to happen. The regatta no longer happens.
Now days it is tough to get a few friends together to sail due to schedules and family.

Having an experienced racer crew for me sounds like exactly what I could use. I'm doing my first regatta as skipper in two weeks.

Cheers!
Bo - N20

A couple of weeks ago TCDYC put on a sailing seminar focused on new cat owners who wanted to improve their boat handling. We did a class room session on Friday evening, talking through the anatomy of basic manovers such as parking, tacking and gybing. On Saturday we did an "on the water" session, doing a series of drills to practice the skills covered in the class room. On Sunday we ran a fun distance race of around 18 miles from the dike to red fish island and back. Entry in the distance race was included in the seminar fee - a nominal $20, but we also opened it up to others for $10 and set off some fast spinnaker boats with experienced skippers an hour after the slow boats, started - so the newbies got to be in the lead for most of the race.

The whole event was very popular - with many of the participants asking us to run another seminar in the near future.

The idea of having a seminar focused on basic skills to provide a link into racing is something I'd been thinking about for a couple of years. Getting basic boat handling nailed is key to having fun on a cat - when tacking, gybing and righting after a capsize are a struggle its easy to be put off the sport on a single breezy day. We had 15-20 mph winds at time during the on the water seminar on Saturday, so capsizes were frequent, but with two chase boats on hand to offer advice on righting (and occasionally some extra weight to help out) folk were very comfortable in these conditions.

We set two buoys perpendicular to the wind for the first exercise, and got people to lap them. This gave them a chance to reach a little, but also forced them to tack and gybe.

The second exercise was on a windward/leeward short course - which helped people with more tacks and gybes as well as learning how to sail efficiently up wind and down wind.

We also got people to practice beach launching, parking and how to get out of irons and do a tack from a parked position. Before each exercise we did a briefing on the beach and during each one the instructors on the chase boats would bark advice and encouragement.

We also did a fish fry + bonfire social event on the Saturday evening which went well. All of us involved in the on the water coaching found the experience a lot of fun and very rewarding - a nice change from just tearing it up on the local circuit regattas.

Chris Green

Chris,
Wish I had had the N20 for the seminar.... I guess I'll catch the next one, but I'll see ya at Wayward Winds I suppose.

Cheers!
Bo

What do you think would motivate the person that has a boat sitting in their backyard, that probably hasn't moved it in 3+ years?

Boat & trailer part swap meet?

Sailing seminar?

Repair/tuning clinic?

There are some good ideas here but i feel there needs to be some more Dealer / Manufacturer involvement as well.

Why aren’t there more dealers, events, advertising, etc… I know it’s a tough business to turn a profit, but you gotta get the word out! If all these adventure sport / snowboarders saw advertising of someone flying a hull… I bet they would be interested…

How about Nacro / Hobie offer $100 prizes to skipper / rookie teams that win events? (if they do… then sorry)

This is my 2 cents and nothing more. Most if not all recreational sailors are intimidated by the racing scene. I know many ocean sailing beach cat owners that have never attended a race anywhere nor would they. My personal experiences with racing have been very mixed, sometimes positive other times negative. I know when I load up my boat to go race that I most likely will not return victorious. It doesn't matter which class I'm in as there are always more seasoned and better racers there. I go to support cat racing, period. I know that if I am not willing to support it there will come a day when its not available. I also realize that as the numbers continue to dwindle the hope of racing based on experience dwindles as well( ie: a,b & c fleets). I will still come when its convenient for
me and the weather looks good. IMO new racers are not greeted with the enthusiasm and assistance that they require. Few speak to the strangers and even fewer offer to help them set up and tune. Why is there not more effort made to explain the rules prior to the race? I know of 1 skipper in particular, good ocean sailor, that got so frustrated at a bouy race because he couldn't understand what was happening, that now is only interested in distance races. If its not beginner friendly, beginners will not attend. One bad event and its over, interest lost. Each and every race, and the way its handled, is critical. You can't afford to upset anyone if you wish the sport to grow.

Our local dealer (K.O. Sailing) is involved in supporting the sport. They provide raffle goodies for our regattas, carry our fleet cards and leaflets in their store and pass on our contact details to folk interested in catamaran sailing. They also organize an annual event to promote catamaran sailing to the public (called the "Cat Carnival") - where they demo new boats (the plastic ones).

As for offering cash prizes to new sailors winning events - I don't think it likely that new sailors will be winning events (too many grizzeled veterans in most fleets), plus I'm not sure it would provide a big incentive to get people into racing. I think taking the time to speak to new people who show up at events, and helping them to tune and sail better, as well as integrating them into the social side of things works well.

Chris.

You know, I think those are the biggest reasons why some people that are recreational sailors don't get into racing. We (as in us) need to be more open about it. I haven't done the racing thing in a while because of different reasons, but I like it and will do it again.

I helped a newbie one time by just following them around the course and gave them pointers as we went around the buoys. Well it wasn't a big regatta or anything, it was about 3 or 4 of us that set out some buoys and there were a couple of newbies. I didn't win anything that day and wasn't expecting too, but that person that I "coached" around the course really enjoyed it and said they learned a lot. They haven't been out since then, but they popped out a little one a few months after that.

After I did that, I told myself if I see a new comer to sport, I would do it again. I might not do well that day or that weekend, but if I can show someone that it doesn't really matter, they might be more willing to do the races.

We all like to win, but no one will win if the sport dies.


Anyway, just my humble thoughts on the vast universe of the internet. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Something that just popped into my head.

What about offering something to the most IMPROVED racer or the person that makes an effort but gets dead last?

I shoot sporting clays and one way that we have done prizes before was offer lessons to the person who has the lowest score. Of course, they have to show effort, not just goose eggs.

The Indy 500 gives the "Perseverance Award" to the car in the lowest position, but still running, at the end of the race. As a person who often got "scored in place" in one-design racing, it might give a little dignity back, after having the safety boats pick up the buoys as you round them, or before you get there!

I was thinking the cash incentive was for the Skipper... to get HIM to bring a rookie...

The best "prize" would be the knowledge and experience gained by spending time with the guys that know! I don't need any awards to show up. I think that an event like the one in Texas--> sounds like a great idea. I don't know how many cat sailor there are in my area (Lakes Lainer, Hartwell etc.) but I would think that a pretty good response would gather 30-40 people if there was a way to get the word out. I would be very interested in helping out in planning but I don't know the people that could make this go.

Kent

Grab all your friends and bring them out.. there could be a good turnout with a little planning and if all the boats that just sit around the marinas actually came out. I think end of August/beginning of September would be a more wind-friendly time