Editorial Andrew Hurst Reset
‘Starting all over’, ‘going back to grass roots’, ‘a great opportunity’. We completely agree, though let’s not get too gloomy, that which must not be mentioned is a bringer of appalling personal tragedy and a dreadful thing for the human race, but it is not an extinction event. My heart goes out to those personally affected and to the many more
who will suffer terribly through the knock-on effects on economics, business, mental health and personal deprivation. But I also cannot help but be prompted to recall the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, which I learned about during a pretty first world skiing holiday in Val d’Isère as a quarter of a million people died in little more than an hour. Enough moralising, but it would be wrong to discuss the implications
for sailing without acknowledging that ours is a tiny part of the bigger picture. But it is a part and our part, so over the next few issues let’s look at ways in which we can indeed address the ‘great opportunity’.
Young sailors Let’s all agree that the pressure filtering down from the Olympics at the top of the sport has had a damaging effect on those grass roots. Can’t be helped. The genie is out the bottle and expensive coaches, parent RIBs and motorsport-size motorhomes are now part of youth sailing. As is the draining effect on once strong clubs of the best, or best-funded, youngsters being dragged away each weekend with often previously active sailing parents. It’s been a killer. One way I see to reverse this is to make these clubs more attractive
hear from you) that maintain a ‘youth room’? A room only for young- sters, where parents are verbotten. A place where kids can make a noise and feel a bit independent. When I started out in sailing most clubs had such a room. Our impoverished club kept such a room – though goodness knows they needed the space. It’s great youth sailing has become a family affair. But if youngsters
feel sailing is something they can only do with their parents within shouting distance what chance do they have of developing a bond with the sport that keeps them in it for the long game? Similarly ‘training squads’ and ‘camps’. What happened to ‘actually,
something else that few mention, but we mention quite a lot. The world’s stock of discarded boats is not getting smaller. We
bang on about single-use water bottles but we look the other way sailing out to the racecourse when we pass a half-sunken old sh*tter with a tank of diesel and bits of GRP flaking off. Big subject, too big for most. Understandably so. Let’s go for the
low-hanging fruit, right? Wrong, absolutely bloody wrong. We can do so much better. I’d bet every sailing club on open water
has at least one half-floating embarrassment within sight of the ramp. Launch a club initiative to take responsibility to secure and recycle just one such marine disaster. If you can pay for a new changing room buying a $100 wreck off someone who’s forgotten they own it is easy (ask the harbourmaster). Form a committee (inevitable) to divide up the tasks and over a
12-month programme recover then bit by bit dissemble a boat and recycle each part individually to the best of each’s ability. Damn it, we’ll put up a prize for the club that does the best job
again to the ‘kids’, so they take more persuading to leave their buddies each weekend to join the Olympic feeder machine. How many sailing clubs do you know of (interested as always to
I’d rather stay here and race and party with my friends. Pick me up at 11!’ Our child protection-obsessed society is not as controlling as it suits some to believe. Think about making your own club teenager friendly. Not just a pressure cooker for Ben Ainslie wannabes.
Public service Saving the oceans, saving the planet, green initiatives and recycling in more than name. You don’t need me to remind you. But what about
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me, anyway – Davis
Olympic gold medallist Jonathan McKee racing his Tasar with his wife Libby. With clubs promoting white-sails-only ‘distanced’ racing it’s time grass-root revivalists looked again at one of Frank Bethwaite’s most brilliant designs. Super light, fast, easy to sail, with an advanced rig that makes a spinnaker largely superfluous
between now and next August. A decent prize that will help to get those great youngsters back in the club at weekends (thinking ‘Wurlitzer’ here). In exchange you will of course have to write about it for Seahorse – but I promise it will be worth it. Next month… keeping ‘the rest’ of the youth fleet interested q
ROCK ON Lockdown helps endangered Seahorses
return to UK waters – UK National Oceanography Centre
USEFUL ADVICE If you make the boat too slick the water has nothing to grab and the
boat will sink! – Rod Davis warns the editor off over-polishing his Finn
That’s what they told
C19 SPIN-OFF Wow, the kids got themselves in without a coach boat towing
them! – Chip Johns spots a silver lining
How did this happen!!!! – Johns
WTF You must assume that whatever is being done to protect you will not
may not participate – but AYC did get hundreds of their members out there racing… unlike some other more timorous clubs – ed
GOOD TIMES Composite technology
– is it healthy? – 1988 Seahorse headline
be sufficient – Annapolis YC If you are not willing to assume this risk you
strategic plan to write – Jean-Bernard Le Boucher, marine activity director, Macif
DECODED We have a new
You mean my sponsor-
ship is cancelled? – François Gabart
Actually, yes – Le Boucher
behind closed doors – Markus Schwendtner, Council member and Sailing Classes committee chair
WORSE AND WORSE I would like to express my disappointment that the World Sailing Council mid-year meeting is happening
trust them – Led Zeppelin were years ahead of their time with the rules of engagement on their Boeing 720 Starship
FAKE NEWS Most importantly, understand this – the band will read what is written about them. The band does not like the press. Nor do they
Loki’s new harness There is still some intelligent life out there – ed
SIMPLE IS 1) Remove from package 2) Put on dog 3) Go outside – We were delighted with the instructions for new Seahorse dog
Seahorse magazine and our associate raceboatsonly brokerage site are both at:
seahorsemagazine.com The editor is contactable by email at:
andrew@seahorse.co.uk
SEAHORSE 11
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