Cruising into racing
FINISHING LINE BY PETER RENDLE
Cruising sailors participating in competitive events are a major reason for the changing face of racing.
There are a number of reasons for the decline in the participation rate in offshore racing. Not least of all is the expense of conforming to the category safety requirements and the cost of insurance. These costs have spiralled over the years and probably for good reasons. There is no doubt that lighter boats suffer more damage when the going gets tough. So the need to enforce strict safety regulations, and for insurance companies to ensure their risk exposure is kept to a minimum, are inevitable results of technological progress.
The reduced numbers of offshore racing entries is not reflected in boat sales. In the past few years, more new boats have entered the water than at any time in the history of sailing in Australia. With a buoyant economy and an ageing population looking for recreational areas to spend some of their twilight years and hard-earned bucks, buying a yacht has been a popular option. Many of these latent skippers have experienced their first sail in a sabot or another dinghy at school or at the local sailing club in their formative years. It goes without saying that many new yacht club members have had limited sailing experience and are at the thin end of the ‘J’ shaped learning curve. However, most learn the basics very quickly and after a few trial runs are keen to get more involved, tentatively at first, in the racing scene.
A quick look at this year’s entry at Hamilton Island gives a clear indication of the preferred level of entry and commitment. Of the 158 entries, 78 were listed in cruising divisions with an additional 11 opting for a non-spinnaker division. The IRC Cruising division numbered 32, a group who would consider themselves only slightly off the full IRC pace. So nearly 70 per cent of this famous regatta entered the ‘cruising’ list. Having sailed in the cruising division on a number of occasions, I realise that this is no ordinary cruising fleet. However, for whatever reason, financial or skills levels, the cruising section of the regatta was the preferred entry. These statistics should not be ignored by yacht clubs, brokers or, for that matter, publications such as ours.
The growth of twilight sailing and regatta sailing is a reflection of the future trends. No longer do owners and crew boast among themselves about the hardships of the last Sydney to Hobart or the battering they took in a savage Fastnet race. Talk now is of preparation for the next ‘Hammo’ or Sydney Harbour gig and surrounding this, the culture is different. For instance, sailing clothes are becoming more fashionable and more in keeping with the social surroundings at the local yacht club on a Saturday night. Yachts are sporting sponsorship logos on their booms and sails as smart companies realise that their message will get seen within the confines of the harbour or local sailing areas.
There is no doubt that sailing is taking a new tack as it progresses into the 21st Century. More than anything, it needs to remain affordable. If people are stretched financially to keep up with the latest rule changes and crew demands, all but a few ‘mega rich’ will last the distance. Clubs need to recognise the newcomers and encourage them to participate without being intimidated by local rules and petty officialdom. Events should accommodate all levels of skills from seasoned campaigners to novice beginners with a special emphasis on involving partners and children, if feasible. Social functions held in conjunction with regattas should be relaxed affairs rewarding the best and the worst, with improvement awards giving special recognition. The main thing we need to keep in mind is that sailing is a fun sport. Too much professionalism and it becomes hard work and for many a ‘turnoff’. Personally, I prefer the fun.
