Posted by John Birch on September 25, 2000 at 13:11:50 from gateway1.gsi.gov.uk:
This thread stems from Saturday's Midlands event at Cadbury World.
It was an enjoyable day for myself and my two children (many thanks to those who organised it - we lost you and were not able to say so at the end of the day).
However, the turnout was not great with one possible explanation (from a JTAR who did not attend) being that it was only very tangentially AR related.
Which made me think...
Now, as a new member this may all be egg-sucking time so please say if you've been through all this before.
However, from reading this database and elsewhere I come to the conclusion that there are probably three categories of member:
1. "Boat-owners". Members who have boats and sail regularly, and who are probably attracted to the books by their representation of an activity they enjoy.
2. "Sailors". Members who don't own their own boat, but do sail regularly from time to time (maybe on holiday or as a crew member). Attractions of AR much as group 1.
3. "Land-lubbers". Members who have rarely if ever set foot in a boat, but who are attracted by the world AR creates.
Now, I am my family are firmly in group 3. My last sailing experience was in 1966 when I was 5. My daughter has been in a rowing boat but otherwise hasn't really spent much time off dry land. We'd both love to change this and at least have a go, but time, finances, and long distances from anything approaching open water rather get in the way. Not only are we not Group 1 people, I don't know anyone who is (or even anyone who is Group 2...).
The question is...
How common are we? How many Group 3 members are there? And if we are at least a significant group within TARS, would what we used to call (in orienteering circles) "CATI" ("Come And Try It") events attract a better turn out?
And, if all else fails, are there any suggestion for how we might have a go at sailing that does not involve week-long committments to RYA-approved sailing courses which seem (by the liteature) only interested in sailing as a competitive sport. We just want to try it. For a day. We don't, necessarily, at this stage want to enter the Olympics - we'd just like to see what it feels like.
PS. Also not sure really whether this should be "club hut" or not, but being as Club Hut seems to all be highly technical stuff (and is rarely added to or maybe even read) I though I'd stick this here. Feel free to move it, Ian, if you think best.