Where are all the next generation of sailboaters?

[brackish]

Well thanks for full disclosure.  It is a "membership club".  The facilities are nicer than all of the "yacht clubs" on my coast and far nicer than the sailing clubs I was familiar with in other places.  There are membership fees.  They are as high or higher than many of the sailing clubs and it is in Clearwater a fairly large and somewhat affluent metro area.  It looks like a very nice place but while you mentioned "Sponsored" youth participation, even though they are not required to be members, as  being a bad thing the following quote might be relevant. 

"All youth sailors must be annual members of CCSC."

You, of course are entitled to your opinion regarding "Yacht Clubs" and their elitist attitude particularly in the context that they are not doing anything for youth sailing.  I've not found that at least in my small part of world and would continue to respectfully disagree.  I'm sure Community Sailing is a very good alternative.  I'm also sure there is room for both venues, particularly in smaller towns. I support the existence of both but not one at the exclusion of the other.

[Mas]

Ok boys, bury the sword. As the OP of this thread i would remind everyone that the topic is "Where are all the new generation of sailboaters" not debating which way is best. I just helped a Millennial couple buy a boat at our marina, where the private yacht club with a $85 fee annually is open to anyone. It is not community boating nor elitist and frankly who cares what is is if it gets folks on the water. Join forces, not divide them as the more diverse the different venues are the more than likely we bring on a new generation. Meanwhile slip those lines with someone new to sailing. We all have much to learn.

Peace,
Mas

[jdklaser]

Amen to that.  Brackish, now you are aware of  community boating.  I'm surprised since
it's been around for a bit longer than you and I
have been on the hard. There are a lot of great
ideas coming out of community boating sites that do a ton for the idea of
access for all without limitations, which is the focus of community boating. 16,000 lessons since 2004 at Pleasant Bay Community Boating.  That's a lot of new folks that may not have had the opportunity or means to enjoy the activity.  My point is simple.  The question;  where are all the new generation of sailboaters coming from.  My answer.  Community boating. 

[Mas]

" My point is simple.  The question;  where are all the new generation of sailboaters coming from.  My answer.  Community boating. "

Hey jdk, guess the word "all" doesn't go with "coming from". Truly my friend there are sooo...many ways folks get exposed to sailing. If you look at the backgrounds of most of the sailing vlogggers, many simply had a dream to cruise, got a boat and made it happen. Those channels influence many others to do the same. It was the National Geographic series of articles by Robin Lee Graham and his boat Dove that did it for me. The Millennial couple i mentioned got hooked because a friend took them sailing a few times. There are many different ways. Community soccer influences thousands of young men and women, but most never continue past high school. It mostly takes a special and personal connection to have anyone continue in any endeavor. I applaud your commitment to community programs but I wouldn't be concerned about which way is best, go take someone sailing! I'm going to next week. My signature phrase says it all, "The big thing is to just do it!"

.....on a side note, since i am a Boomer and have been retired for many years, we rarely go to our marina and go sailing on weekends just cuz! Lately circumstances have had us there on weekends more often and lo and behold, there are the younger sailors! Dooh, they are still working Monday through Friday! Hmmm....maybe I should learn to look for someone when they are there!

[jdklaser]

Sorry.  sometimes I get a bit pointed.  Been sailing since 1959, start up municipal sailing  programs in 2 towns 1973 and 1993, and helping with another community boating more recently 2015, coaching public h.s. sailing for a couple of schools here 1993 to'95 and 2013 , sold everything from windsurfers to trawlers, taught sailing and windsurfing extensively, sales manager for a couple of marinas.  My point is I've seen a lot of stuff over the years and have seen what works and what doesn't. Sorry if I offended anyone.  I just think it is really cool that I found a Sun Cat for my wife and I to sail.  What a cool boat.  And the line -- it's perfect.   And the best part is that the designer is the person who has had the greatest impact in the sport with his design of a slightly smaller boat, and the story is even better.   Now, that's grass roots.  It's all good.  JK   

[Mas]

It is good that younger folks spend time outside with no cell phones and the organized life of weekend soccer games. So little time to reflect when your life remains planned for you and you become uncomfortable with the prospect of being alone. We seem to encourage that "more is better."

"At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much."
-  Robin Lee Graham

Robin's book and voyage fundamentally changed my life as i became aware how less can be more. Too many helicopter parents insist upon a life predestined to be one of acquisition and stature. We allowed our son to pursue his dreams (not ours) and he has been grateful ever since. We homeschooled him and gave him his diploma with this written on it:

"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both. "

Sailing is just such a path. We may lament the work our boats may need but all is forgotten when the wind fills your sails. Is it work when it is done with such little distinction between work and play, destination and voyage, knowing that we do not dictate the voyage but instead the wind and sea. This is difficult for many young folks who have their whole lives planned out for them. I am grateful for the opportunity to have sailing back in my life again. It's time to get those youngins out there as well! Lots of boats for the classroom, the sea is a great teacher, where are the students? I'm gunna find some!

I am grateful and impressed so many have found this topic worthy of discussion. I figured it was time to quote my post from years ago when this thread first started as it is still my belief as to what is happening not just for sailing but many other endeavors that require being outside and in touch with your surroundings. I do acknowledge there are many that do have an outdoors lifestyle but am convinced it is in decline as our digital world and the distractions and commitments it brings takes the place of simply being outside. As I type this I am sitting on our porch looking at our mountains planning our work outside today. It is so easy to sit and look at it but not actually go do something. With that said heading out before the rain arrives. Heavy rains forecast, may have to dust off the whitewater kayaks!

[jdklaser]

Take a look at the cool things that Nantucket Community Boating is doing to keep the kids in the game.  Check out the "Star" twin sailboard they are building, the intro to kite boarding, and foiling lessons on Waspz.  It's all on their website and facebook page.  A well run operation.  Had an opportunity to sail in their fundraising regatta last summer in the Lasers.  Hadn't been in a boat for 15 years, (ACL) overweight, old, but it was well run and fun.  Wind wasn't to my liking and the seas were lumpy gravy.  I was fat, but the pictures will prove the boat was powered up and flat.   The kiteboarding pics were spectacular.  These kids will be sailing for quite a while.  JK

[jdklaser]

Check this out.  Get more kids into the sport.


https://www.ussailing.org/education/youth/siebel-sailors-program/