[quote=bradinjax]All the above are true but not the biggest reason (in my opinion) for the decline in participation in the sport of sailing in the United States.
The problem is that the US still relies on the Yacht Club model for development of new sailors. Most of the rest of the world uses the Sailing Club model. Here is a breakdown of the differences between a sailing club and a yacht club:
Yacht Clubs
1) Expensive. Membership required plus possible monthly minimums.
2) Emphasis on social events over sailing
3) Some youth sailing but not emphasized
4) Generally has a few large annual sailing events
5) Handicap system for scoring competitive events
6) Bring your own boat
Sailing Club:
1) Inexpensive. No membership required, pay as you go
2) Generally supplies boats
3) One design fleets
4) Emphasis on competitive sailing over social events
5) Emphasis on youth and developmental sailing programs
6) Hosts a lot of sailing events targeted to different age groups and skill levels
In my part of the country (North Florida) there are 9 sailing organizations. All require a membership of some sort, some modest others quite exclusive. Three (maybe four) have some sort of youth/development program. None offer a true one design fleet or pay-as-you-go type option as in a sailing club.
Over the last 40+ years I have watched the Yacht Club model get more expensive, members get older and do less actual sailing but the organizations that operate more like a sailing club are less expensive, have a much younger membership and get more time on the water.<!-- editby --><em>Edited by bradinjax on Nov 08, 2020 - 10:47 AM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
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