Development high on agenda

Up to 70 per cent of newcomers to sailing do not pursue the sport following their initial training courses according to unofficial estimates by the Irish Sailing Association (ISA). The national authority's newly appointed development officer has been tasked with developing better links between the commercial sailing schools and clubs around the coast.

"A phenomenal number of people are not taking up the sport after completing a series of lessons," according to Harry Herman of the ISA. "People are taking courses as part of holidays and social reasons. The clubs are more successful than the commercial schools where the drop-out is up to 70 per cent."

Part of the remedy involves visiting every club in the country to help devise ways of improving the transition from sailing lessons at commercial schools to regular participation at local levels. So far, the ISA's staff member has visited 33 out of 46 clubs in the Republic since starting the post two months ago. Issues common throughout the country are of clubs expanding their facilities due to existing as well as future demands, though funding remains the single-most frequent obstacle to progress.

More emphasis on strategic planning is being made with clubs handling the local approach while the ISA, newly focused and charged-up with its own five year plan, is dealing with the sport at national level. Experience from the larger clubs, most of which already have strategies in place, is also being passed on to developing outlets.

Feedback from Herman's countrywide tour is showing that smaller clubs make more effort at keeping people involved as they cannot afford to lose members easily. At the heart of the recruitment issue, he agrees with the comparison between a person who cannot swim taking lessons to acquire the skill and sailing where a newcomer learns basic skills but progresses no further other than occasional outings such as holidays.

The comparison ends at this point as the learning curve in sailing is more gradual, spread out over time and is, seemingly, infinite. "The beauty of sailing is that you never become totally proficient as there is always another aspect of the sport to explore," says Herman. His point reflects the biggest aspect to his brief over the coming months.

Safety awareness and particularly to increase the knowledge of prevention of incidents is top of the agenda. "Until something drastic happens, people are very confident in their own abilities but frequently under-estimate the power of the sea - this IS an adventure sport," he stresses. "A man-overboard incident on a racing yacht is the classic example. Unless a crew has practised and been shown how to react, the chances of survival for that crew member are greatly reduced." It is a basic seamanship skill to be able to stop a boat where and when you want to.

Other issues confirmed from his tour is the impact of lifestyle in the "Tiger economy" on the sport at all levels. While dinghy sailing numbers remain static or declining in some parts, mainly due to dilution between increasing numbers of classes and personal time-allowances, the increase of facilities around the coast is boosting numbers of keelboat sailors, both racing and cruising. Convenience is the key as more and more crews are forced to ration the amount of sailing they can afford to do each season.