I think when people head off to college they suddenly discover many new interests including the opposite sex and college sailing. Post college there is the establishment of a career in addition to things like getting married and starting a family. Besides money being tight, I think the demand on people's time is pretty heavy to and if they are probably lucky to get out to do local club racing.
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Anyway, it is clear they do come back, more and more with each year in age until you start to hit the realities of the actuarial tables.
I got married right after college and have 2 kids. I think gouvernail is right in the fact that sailing took an abrupt turn from a family activity, to something more akin to "dad's poker night." I'll be damned if that happens in my family.
1. Are people in that bracket simply not supporting the class? No- it is agreed that this is a representative sample of sailing as a whole.
2. Or is this chart just a snapshot of sailing as a whole? Yes - See Above
3. Has the graph always showed this trend? Anyone? How far back is this data tabulated?
4. Is the class going to Implode once the "baby boom" crowd starts leaving the class? Anyone? The data from #3 will provide the answer. If the data always showed this relative change, then we'll be OK.
5. Is there an existing perception that joining the class provides no real value other than allowing you to race sanctioned regattas? This was only out there if the answer to #1 was yes. I think it is worthy of discussion since I know there is a hell of a lot more than 2300 people sailing lasers in NA.
....then people want something they can hold in their hands for their money. We do have a nice full color quarterly news magazine which is devoted entirely to Laser, Radial and 4.7 sailors. However, a problem is that this is a publication covering North America in general and I'm guessing the casual club sailor doesn't necessarily find it relevant to their particular case. So... you tell me: what does the casual club sailor want that will get them to shell out their $40/year to support the class?
Of course, their are many solid reasons why everyone racing a Laser, Radial or 4.7, at any level, should support the Laser Class. At the very top is motherhood and apple pie: that money supports the very infrastructure that is primarily responsible for them sailing Lasers at their local club instead of, for example, Force 5's or Banshees or Sunfish or Lehman 12s or ... which is also the reason why their boat is worth so much when they go to sell it... but none of that matters when convincing people to join...
I think when people head off to college they suddenly discover many new interests including the opposite sex and college sailing. Post college there is the establishment of a career in addition to things like getting married and starting a family. Besides money being tight, I think the demand on people's time is pretty heavy to and if they are probably lucky to get out to do local club racing.
The problem??? Nobody is inviting friends out to try the "BRAND NEW FYLIBMO!!!"
Interesting and I agree but also I think local variations play an important part. In France it seems each year most clubs (round me anyway) have a "Fete du Nautism" - basically an open weekend where everybody is invited to come along and have a go. Loads of publicity and fliers pushed through letterboxes, etc. and people do go to them and have a great time. Add that many schools seem to have sailing classes during term time (the kids love it despite teachers being there) and during the summer holidays kids have training courses (all day, most weekdays) and they have a really great time. Trouble is that for them to continue as they become adults involves so much paperwork, so many rules and bureaucracy - it just becomes more effort than it is worth for many. It is the typical way things are often done in France. For example, my Laser and my sailing have to be covered by 4 separate insurance policies, I need a medical each year between 1st Jan and my first sail, but only after I have purchased my sailing licence (valid from and available from 1 Jan). Then, although the licence is stamped and signed by your doctor, you also need a separate medical certificate, etc., etc.. Enough to discourage the most determined person.
Ian
For example, my Laser and my sailing have to be covered by 4 separate insurance policies, I need a medical each year between 1st Jan and my first sail, but only after I have purchased my sailing licence (valid from and available from 1 Jan). Then, although the licence is stamped and signed by your doctor, you also need a separate medical certificate, etc., etc.. Enough to discourage the most determined person.
Wow. You need a sailing license(!)...and what the heck are the 4 insurance policies for?