| |
Sailors Are Always Looking for Excuses As the clouds gather for the upcoming winter, so too do the various yacht club committees gather to assess the past year's events and plan for the coming year. That's where that baneful Bottom Line crawls up from its lowly place to impose its will and dictate the future. Obviously that's a consideration but it's not always everything. Events, such as regattas, have to be measured as to whatever criteria pertains to that event to consider it a success was it a top-notch, prestige event that enhanced the club's reputation not only locally but nationally as a first rate program? Was it a local series open to everyone that brought racers from around the area to participate, a good revenue producer to help support club activities? Club races basically pay for themselves but, most important, give members a chance to enjoy their boats and the clubhouse? And there's all the non-racing events; cruises, rendezvous, speakers, shows, dinners, dances, fund raisers the more social aspect of the sport where people sharing a common denominator can get together. Now there's a bit of a new wrinkle that's taking hold or is it an old wrinkle that's coming back. It's sort of a hybrid of all the above. The Duck Dodge has always been fun, with enough racing to keep people happy, but basically another excuse to get out on the boat for some good times. It's gained some structure over the years, but still manages to maintain it's light atmosphere. We saw that theme expanded in Elliott Bay with their Thursday races which was kinda sorta racing but not really. You've got to love a "race" where the winners are drawn out of a hat. With sponsors and parties, it was wildly successful and another terrific excuse to take the boat out. Something new? Not really. Beer can races used to all be more or less like that. It was the getting out on the water, not what you got for going out. As in most sports, participants eventually polarize into the serious and not-so-serious. The serious continue on and the participation of the not-so-serious tends to fade away. Of course we want to reward, and provide a venue, for those who have worked hard to improve their sailing skills and move to another level, but we also don't want to lose the casual folks, there's a whole lot more of them. So in planning the new year, I hope we're going to see a couple more of these hybrid events popping up in various parts of the Sound. Of course you can't keep that killjoy Bottom Line from crashing the party, but nobody's going to balk at a couple of bucks for some sailing fun, and sponsors should be welcomed. It's always better to spend someone else's money. If that means a couple signs and banners, so what? If you buy someone a beer don't you want them to know it? Planning committees have a tough job trying to please everybody with limited resources, but if you can provide a good time, where sailors can get out on the water and gather afterward; build it and they will come. Sailors are always looking for a good excuse. |
|