RYA Classes Forum 2001

This is theRYAs annual get together with each RYA affiliated Class being invited to send two reps. I went on behalf on the Cherubs - I think its probably good they don't have the chance to completely forget us!

How the PY System Works

First on the agenda was a presentation on how PY numbers are worked out. This was basically as presented atSailboat last year.

Measurement Certificate Compliance

Secondly was an update on the experiment talked about last yearabout Measurement certificate compliance. They did some pilots of this, taking published results for some of the National classes and running it off against their master database of registered boats for that class. It proved marginally useful in identifying a situation in one of the National Classes. Apparently a builder had built a number of boats and forgotten to notify the RYA, get sail numbers officially registered or even pay royalties (!). Beyond that, though, the general response (with some exceptions) from Clubs was that they saw it as no business of theirs to get involved in who has a certificate and who hasn't, and certainly not to refuse entries or disqualify people from events. So this is going back for more consideration.

RYA Classes Committee Future

Thirdly was a discussion on the forum itself and the role of the RYA classes committee. Its as well that these things consider what they are for from time to time, but I doubt any of you are interested!

The New RYA Web Site

The RYA web site has seen a big revamp in recent weeks. Content is slightly down at the moment due to, reading between the lines, a small error with backups, but the aim is to make it much more immediate. One thing they are planning is extensive use of message board software to get direct feedback from the sailors. Should be interesting!

Impact of "World Class" programmes

The World Class program is the RYA's big lottery funded programmeo win medals. Its basically a layered and admittedly elitist youth system, designed to produce a few sailors each year who are good enough to be in consideration for Olympic Squads and so on. There is a big base of youth programmes, but it tapers off very rapidly as the real talents are established. Like it or not is has to be like that in order to get the cash. There is concern about what happens to the kids who drop out of the programme, and where they will go, but in my personal view not enough. But again they are heavily hamstrung by the finance source. They cannot spend money from the Lottery etc on making sure those who don't get in the Olympic Squad stay in sailing, but they haven't got money from other sources to do that without crippling other equally important programmes.
The point I made to them later was that what they should be doing is getting the kids who aren't going to hack it more aware of what other classes have to offer. I (predictably) used us as an example. A few of the 29er sailors who aren't quite medal prospects are going to be interested in the nuts and bolts of sailing, how boats are built, what makes them faster etc. Some of those kids are going to work in the industry and produce the next Shirley Robertson Europe mast and foil, Whitbread rig or whatever. Those kids should be pointed at us, the Moths and even the 14s (if they're tubby). Similarly all the other classes have something different to offer, even if it's only the opportunity to have big socials with other people who also hardly know one end of the boat from the other. (You may laugh, but can you imagine how intimidating some of our highly technical round the table pub chat is to someone who's come from a club where the sole topic of conversation is who got the most jammy windshift up the last beat)?

Raising the Game

This was largely a plug for Coaching systems and training run by the RYA, and what they can do for classes. This is an area we are thinking about already as a class, although we have limits because of the size of the class. Just because it was a fairly shameless plug doesn't mean it isn't useful - good products have to be marketed too you know! It was also an interesting session with some practical demonstrations of some of the techniques used. Picture, if you will, a room full of largely middle aged sailors holding hands in circles and solemnly stepping over and under each others linked hands to rearrange the circle...
The key aim of the sailing coach has to be to raise the game and Keep Sailing Fun
The point of raising the game? Well, look at our situation. The Cherub Learning curve is notoriously steep, and people leave the class because they can't hack it. Yes, its no fun if its easy, but its even less fun if you can't do it at all... That's why we're planning to do a training day or two next season, and from now on, which will cover the basics of having a Cherub from the peculiarities of rigging the beast onwards.
There was a lot more on this, but I'm not sure its worth repeating it here. What I will say is that the RYA coaching training looks good and well thought out. If it interests you and your club is getting involved then go for it! From our point of view it may be worth liaising with other classes of our size for a joint program, but again you need to be interested in doing it.

Championship Organisation

The speaker for this was the secretary or the RS classes. Much of what he had to say that was new to many there was about how vital it is for the Class to get involved with the race officer at an early stage to help make for a good event. We're some way ahead of the majority here, as, with the work Tim Dean has been doing with Championship Sailing Instructions and so on, we already do much of what is suggested. I'm not sure Tim has had enough credit for this from the class, and I for one haven't quite appreciated how useful it is. So here's a personal thanks from me for that. What we do need to do is to get our calendar booked up earlier, but that can be easier said than done!

Risk Assessment

This is primarily an event organisers arena that's going to be of limited interest to you guys - until you need it. If project management is planning for everything to go right, then risk assessment is what to do when it goes wrong. The RYA are doing a lot of work to help out race organisers in this way, which will be on their website around April.
One thing that occurred to me, especially in the light of the problems Jon had at the Nationals. Do we as a class issue advice to rescue boat crews on the subtleties of helping out Cherubs - helping get sails down and so on. We probably should!

Cheers all, Jim C