slammer Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Sorry guys but building a boat will not 'create ' interest. Buying a kid an electric whatever kit from Tandy will not get them into electric guitars/ computers etc. These kids spend $1000 bucks on a stereo for their crap Nissan, $160+ to go to a concert. They want feeling and entertainment. You've got to get people in boats, ANYONE will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmatelot Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Hi Mal, I wanted to say that, but I felt that you would make more impact. pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgh Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 But where is the organisation,the structure, the coming together. Quite a few people on this thread want to do something.. Pete says that doing something as a group is history .. why? Where/who .. is the the peak group for multihulls ?? If there is no organisation,there is no future. United we stand divided we fall..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgh Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 aaaaaaaaannnddd ffffurthermore... (hic) Doing my nightly round of my websites before I retire..., I note that Live Sail Die is looking for input. This an out there ,youthful ,local website.. A great place for someone to talk up multihulls. Soo.. where is the young , hip, verbose..multihullenthusiast..to feed them some copy that fast sexy and sexiting??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmessee Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 What we need is a boat that is a multihull, has the adaptability that lets it interface with an IPod, has a plasma screen for the Play Station VII and a membership to Video Ezy. YES??? This is what I deal with everyday with my company. Making the younger generation realise that is is not dorky, not out of fashion and not in with what is happening. My company is 75 years old and going strong. We re-invented. Is that what is needed??? Forget what we know. What is needed??? What is real for today??? What do the kids want??? Yes! we need to attract them. This is easy. Well, is it not the parents? My kids are more than happy to follow my interests. Sailing... Radio models... Astronomy... Business... Wine... Beer... Wine... Beer... Beer... oops. I think the sailing community has a responsibility to try and encourage others to follow. Yes, a good boat would help. But the answer is in the attitude of all of us. Make sure that it is a thing that they want to do. Not just cats. Any sailing is enough for me. I have enough problems that my local club is a centreboard club . No Cats. Most cats have centreboards last I looked. Changing the government was easy. Now change old salts to see that sailing is sailing. one, two or three hulls. Four if you like. Matty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoom Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 awwww. baby's got a temper! don't all show you've got a sense of humour at once. (it was a joke) now I don't want to sound rash, and it's not that I dislike a certain brand of catamaran on the australian market. but It's hard for me to find many good points about them. as they say if you can't say anything good about something.. [/end rant] so moving right along.. how to raise the funds?.. well I reckon if all the catsailors in Australia start a chain letter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mal gray Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 I'm splitting my sides. Keep it up and you will eventually win every regatta you attend....on your own! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dowling Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Save your jokes for the bar at about midnight shoom. We're all in this together trying to promote our sport and way of life. The last thing we need is someone inside the cat community displaying bad jokes to the world which criticise our own. The last time I looked a Hobie Tiger was pretty much up to date with developments particularly in rig design. That main looked surpisingly similar to the one on my Geltek Flyer 11. As for Hobie 16's they pretty much have been the glue to move the cat scene from the 60's to now. May not be on the very edge of technological development but they still blast past the monoslugs and their sailors still have a smile on their faces as we share a Bundy in the bar. As to the main discussion here - I agree with the get out and do it philosophy - and with co-operating with all the sailing community to advance our sport. We may feel very hard done by in the Olympics decision but most monohull sailors i've spoken to reckon it's a dud as well. Lets not blame them all for the folly of some. At my local club there is a strong junior training program in monos. It is well run and very successful. This season a club member has arranged to buy three Arrows and an Arafura. The kids are loving the new boats and things are progressing well. There are a few tensions with the mono group but we'll get through it. I'm giving up my sailing this weekend to do jobs at the mono regatta just like they did a few weeks ago for us. None of this will happen unless we get out there and do something not just talk about. We can do that in the bar over a Bundy after the job's done. John Dowling Not a Hobie sailor - just a sailor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slammer Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Brilliant, Let's get on with it. Register with: http://livesaildie.com/ http://seabreeze.com.au/ Send current pics and articles to these two sites. I have written and posted a report of the Wildcat and about 50 pics on CD to Multihull world. Can someone write to that David Lockwood or whatever his name is at the Sydney Morning Herald and get him to promote cat sailing. I live in hope that one day the inside back page of Saturdays sport section will have an article about affordable sailing and not a stinkpot or a glorified infomercial on a cruising yacht. Can someone also put their hand up and write an article about cat sailing to the AusSailing mag. With a positive spin. An article about the recent Hobie 16 worlds, the success of cat sailing, rig tension advise good simple stuff that might lure a monohull dweller across to multihulls. How to sail fast with the wing mast. PEAK BODY- is another organisation where a few individuals take most of the responsibility to do all the work. Write letters, reports, take pic's attend meeting. We need a touch of AL QAEDA about the program- lots of people acting for a common goal but independently. No we're not sabotaging monohull venues, we are all working in separte locations and putting forward our presence. My mantra is YOU NEED TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED. There's sailing this Sunday and I challenge the contributors to post a copy of their sailing report on this forum. Write it today, then edit it later. HEADLINE- 15% SWING GETS THEM OVER THE LINE. Some say that politics and sport don't mix, but they may have a few things in common. Beyond the big talk before the main event, it's out on the course where the results are decided. -See I've started the report for Mondays paper What looked like a certain podium finish at the end of the race was thwarted by bad tactical errors by the Pretzel Logic team as they headed too close to the right and lost all advantage as the wind swung 15% to their disadvantage. (Iknow the wind would have to swing to the right to disadvantage them- but that's just confusing) The younger guns maintained a run up the left side of the course and held great boat speed, with hulls gently licking the waves and a powered up rigg it was the crew on Another Toy which took the winnings on the day. See it's not hard. And I'm making it up as I go. Something like that will happen on the weekend. While Pretzel logic dominated the front of the field it was the crews on Green Field and Independence Day that had the biggest race. The two crews maintained their speed across the course and both boats had huge speed downwind with the bows driving hard into the water as the boat responded to the power in the sails. As the afternoon sea breeze built they remained close all day and at times the boats were so fast cross the water they looked as though they were chasing each other with murderous intent. Finally it was the a personal best result for the Independence day team with who overcame green fields and cross the line just in front with a 12 second margin. SEE no reference to number of boats (could have only been 4) or the fact that these two boats were fighting over last place) Current Score in the Heiniken Commodores Trophy Winner series: Chilli Jam 26, XScite 22, JJ's Adult Toys 16, Cafe 240 16, Another Toy 14, BBB (Bulls Balls Butchery) 12. Note: I wish my boat was called Bulls Balls Butchery cheers Scott [This message has been edited by slammer (edited 29 November 2007).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berny Posted November 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 All good stuff Scott, you certainly do have a way with words. Now if that would translate into a 'way with ch....'.... never mind Ok so I do detect some momentum, a 'moving forward' to put it in the current vernacular, which is encouraging. How about everyone here takes a camera with them this w/end and posts some pics here and/or, maybe we could do a story which would cover what went on 'Throughout Australia in Cats' this week, or similar headline in whatever mag/forum/news media etc. Where are the heavies, the entrepreneurs of OTB cat sailing? Macca, Glen, Darren, et al, your help is needed for this campaign. How do we become more professional in our approach to racing, how do we gee up the guys at Kurnel, and GLCC, and Koonawarra Bay, Mannering park, Toukley, Concord Ryde, how can we get two training cats into each of those clubs,. We're talking about 12 boats @ 5k, not a huge amount of money. Where's the sponsor who wants his logo on 12 cats which would be sailed every w/end covering an area from Forster to Woollongong. You could probably include Port Kembla in there and Tanilba Bay, maybe Vincentia, Batemans Bay. There's plenty of potential there, it just needs the rocket placed in the suitable location to get it 'moving in the right direction'. A song title maybe? Na, it'd never get off the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slammer Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Yep, And today I posted 10 pics from the Wildcat on LSD. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Editor at The Advocate Newspaper in Forster. I have a good friend (She's 30 tomorrow) Renee Valentine, she writes sport in the Newcastle Herald. I'll talk to her about what papers want and then talk to her some more about promoting sailing, she did a great job with the Jagers and now the Mariners. I've produced a 20 min DVD of the Wildcat, some of you have a copy. We have given it to the visitor information center who play it on a loop. We've given a copy to the Hogs Breath cafe who also play it. What's happening this weekend??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoom Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 ladies and gentlemen you just can't buy people like this!! relax already, I was just having a little fun on a serious note though, you can make as many mandates as you like. but as far as I can see the situation (at least here in WA) nothing is going to happen until you can plonk a few junior friendly multis in an accepting yachto. having said that and as much as I am jaded towards multihulls.. I still believe that a forgiving uncomplicated mono (such as the afforementioned p-class) is still a necessary evil if you like as far as being a vehicle to teach the fundamentals of sailing. there is a swing towards 2 up training boats i've noticed but you tend to have less pupils continuining on for various reasons than you would with singlehanders (and no less safe when you are training at close quarters with usually more than one instructor.) anyway I really think we shouldn't try to segregate ourselves and create associations upon associations, we want to bring ourselves out into the open afterall.. something like having a multihull choice for AYF's get into small boat sailing program. anyway this is all a bit taxing for this time of morning.. goodnight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becjm Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Check out this little ripper. Phill Brander is makeing. http://www.catsailor.com/bb_files/125870-PBBlade12cb9w.JPG [This message has been edited by becjm (edited 30 November 2007).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Change Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 This is a great subject, one that I have followed from the start and apart from one slight derailment which has now corrected itself, everyone that has written on the subject has been very passionate about promoting sailing. To attract kids into sailing you first need to find out what really makes kids tick these days. I just had a look at the Manly Junior web site, lots of kids, lots of boats and more importantly ... lots of girls sailing. Here are all these kids sailing till they reach the age of ??? ..whatever and then they drop out. Why? If you see lots of girls sailing in MJ's why doesn't that transition to other classes as they get older? Here at Vincentia there are two Hobie Waves that spend most of the time in the clubhouse, once again, why? Could it be that most club members are more interested in sailing than in the longevity and growth of their club? As for the costs involved of acquiring new boats, once again I mention the MJ a brand new one of those is just under $8000 without extras, a not insubstantial amount I think you will agree. I believe that sailing should be taught as a school sport by any high school that is close to water but unfortunately that is only a pipe dream as in the cotton wool encrusted world we live in no school principal is going to jeopardise his insurance policy or his students by allowing it.. tut tut .. oh no, much too dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berny Posted November 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Yes, but cats are far safer because they don't capsise easily. It has been done before with some success. Takes some effort but it does work. I've wondered why ppl like RIPCURL and BILLABONG don't jump in and offer some trendy 'sailing specific' casual gear. That would give sailing a lot of credibility amongst the youth. I think sailing clubs in general are not really a good place for youths to hang out. The ones I've been to particularly cat clubs are very average on the youth entertainment side. Usually a basic building with very basic amenities, no music, or TV, not much 'social' activity at all. Most people turn up and sail and go straight home. So, What would keep people around? What could be done to make our sailing clubs nicer places for all of us? Our club [CRSC] has a nice deck on the river with a roof, a canteen, boat storage, a beautiful grassy area for picnics etc., and mostly on a Saturday, the place is empty and locked up before the sun goes down. What is that? Yes a nice looking little boat. [This message has been edited by berny (edited 30 November 2007).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmatelot Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 We have heaps of cats here in OZ, we just need to get people on them, having FUN,FUN,FUN. AS I have said earlier, "Sailing should be seen to be FUN." It does not have to be racing, social sailing is a great starter,families meeting, children socialising,and that may be the start. LET'S DO IT. pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryK1200LT Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 There have been some great suggestions on this thread so far. At a quick count there have been about 20 contributors to the overall discussion about increasing interest in cat sailing, and the primary discussion has focused on ways of getting more "juniors" involved in the sport. Looking at it from the perspective of a guy who has a fairly busy life, with a wife and two kids and has to juggle all of the usual other family and life commitments that we all face, I don't know where we'll find the time to train someone elses kid to sail? How many of the 20 or so people who have contributed to this thread so far, feel that they are in a position where they could regularly put in the time to teach someone elses kids to sail on a weekly, fortnightly, or perhaps even a monthly basis? I'd sail every weekend with my kids if I had the opportunity. But the reality is my family has no interest in sailing, so sailing is a self indulgent sport for me, and I'm lucky if I can get out for a sail twice a month. So would I be prepared to fore go one of my monthly sailing days to teach someone elses kid to sail? The answer would be No! The point I'm leading to is that while its a great idea to promote cat sailing as a fun and exciting sport in a bid to get more juniors involved, focusing on the "juniors" alone requires a lot of time, effort and dedication to run. And lets face it, "time" is the thing that we all seem short on these days. While I'd support any effort to attract more juniors to the sport of cat sailing, it's probably also worth promoting cat sailing as a fun and exciting alternative sport that the whole family can enjoy and spend quality time together. As a parent I'm always keen to spend quality time with my kids away from the computers, TV's and Playstations, and I suspect that a lot of other parents probably feel the same way. In this day and age, with the relative cost effectiveness of cat sailing as a means of a days entertainment for a family, if we're going to attract more numbers, I wouldn't limit yourself, by focusing all your attention on just attracting more junior sailors to the sport. If we are to promote cat sailing as a great "family sport", if we get more families, then we will likely get more juniors anyhow. An easy place to start would be for all cat sailing clubs to introduce a few extra "fun" trophies to their club championship awards? We could have a trophy for the best Father/Son or Father/Daughter combination throughout the year, or maybe best Mother/Daughter or Mother/Son combination, or even better, a best sister and brother combination? Maybe we could look at the idea of clubs holding regular Parent and child race days or regatta's. These might lead to interclub, or perhaps even an annual parent and child national regatta, somewhere the kids and parents all meet up to see who's the best of the best in parent child sailors based on a VYC yardstick for their particular boat. But that's thinking a bit far ahead of the present challenge. If at club level cat sailing can be promoted as a family friendly sport, we could have parents sailing with their kids, the kids then become friends with the other kids in the clubs, who in all likelyhood will then want to team up and sail with their new friend, and on it goes. All that would need to be done is to first create the catagories, and see how it goes. At the moment cat racing is more focused on having the best newest and fastest boat in your class. Perhaps if we can create a number of catagories that average Joe and his kid can have a chance of winning just by turning up and having a bit of fun, then I think that will appeal to people who can perhaps afford to go out and buy an old Mari, Windy or Hobie, and then get out there on the water with their local club just for the fun of it. While my kids aren't interested in sailing, I think my daughter would be keen to have a go if there was the possibility of winning a trophy for best father and daughter combination, and she knew there were going to be other kids her age out there sailing. There are a lot of different types of people out there that could be attracted to cat sailing that would get more people involved in the sport. The juniors are just one of them to focus on. Just my 2 bobs worth Cheers Barry [This message has been edited by BarryK1200LT (edited 02 December 2007).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berny Posted December 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Did anyone see the two page spread in the Satdy Telegraph? Two pages on sailing at clubs as good recreation. Many clubs were nominated, but no cat clubs [except Yarra Bay] and no pics of cats . Good stuff for the sport in general though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgh Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 The contributions continue , and there clearly is an opportunity here to move forward. There needs to be some structure. It seems that there isn't a National group to promote and co-ordinate multihulls (of all sizes) ..and there needs to be... united we stand divided .. etc etc blah blah.... The web master/moderator is seldom seen..so perhaps pete could facilitate at least a sticky thread .. or even a separate topic category... Something from the sponsor to express some interest and commitment would be useful AND would set a small example that otheres could be encouraged to follow. Someone (ahhh the magic someone has appeared already) then needs to co-ordinate a list of who is interested , where they are , who they are... etc. I'm happy to do this.. although in multihull terms I'm really very much nobody rather than ... anyway ... My email is tgh05@bigpond.com .. and I suggest that we start a little group emailing to kick around ideas and think about prospective recruits for the "cause". Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgh Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 This rambling list of ideas was published on the US multihull Association section of Cast Sailor.com ... in december 2005. It got 0 replies. The current post count for the general section of cat sailor is 7964. The post count for the association section is ...25 .. with the last post in January 2007. Am I missing something here ?? Did the US sailing reps effectively vote the multihull out of the Olympics ?? What part did the US peak body for multihulls play .. zilch ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgh Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 duuuuhhh .. left out the catsailor post.. A directed conversation over lunch generated the following ideas: For Regional Clubs… Swap boats… spread the knowledge. The Southern Circuit program of three events in a 10 day period for Lightings. A 2 day Cult like race… Off Day … a 2 Day Intense regatta… then a relaxed event for 3 days and then home to winter. Lots of class history associated with the event that keeps it growing. Events larger then Just Sailing… EG Leukemia Cup… Open the social event to the Public. (The Low Rent Regatta ran for 20 years on Labor Day in Virginia Beach and was a huge drag race with an even bigger party attached that the public came to and the proceeds went to a local charity.) Version 2.x hosted by fleet 32 has replaced this event when the previous organizers retired after their 20. Tie into the local town with open ceremony’s Hype the venue as a place you want to visit and experience. Entertainment for participants… but more importantly spouses and sponsors. Music and Video where noted several times. Media sponsor fulfillment… Make sure sailors KNOW to buy stuff from the Sponsors. Portsmouth racing for small fleets… (otherwise known as the Dead Boat Society) The Brits run a pursuit race for all Portsmouth classes that gets over 200 boats… (Sounds like the Florida Mug race) TESOD… Always at 6 pm Tuesday. 3 starts, short courses, no scores kept, lots of grief and applause dished out by the SINGLE PRO on the hailer. If the mark needs moving… Move it hey…the other half the fleet will round the mark when you put it down again.… there is no score… the other classes will appreciate the new course. Lots of races a night. Emails to come… Email Wed AM about who did what to whom. TESOD = Tuesday evening Sailing One designs. Lunch on the water, hits the spot AND it means more time racing and socializing at the party later. Entry fee… 1/5th of rum for every 3 people on the boat… No Rum leaves the premises in a bottle.! Great Venue’s offer great sailing, but keep people together and out of cars! On line Registration with who’s coming updates WORKS… The 505 class had their largest east coast event in 15 years after they manually updated the who’s coming list daily. The Albacores manually updated their list and ran it through paypal … great results. CRAC almost doubled the alter qualifier turnout with online reg as a major factor. Personal Handicaps work… In Australia… the Line honor winner in a one design class gets a trophy for first… THREE other trophies are awarded to the Personal handicap winners. Some one design fleet is doing it here and it works. Vocal Race Committees make life easy, keep everyone in the game, and generate energy. Start on time.. Develop a reputation…. People will comply… don’t get sucked down! Ensure the fleet gets there by starting your mark boats out last and sweep up the stragglers to the starting area. The welcome you receive when you arrive at the venue is remembered for YEARS to come and makes a difference DEBRIEF THE WINNERS…. Share what happened out there. Mentors Lending boats to sailors grows the class. Lending SAILS as a fleet to owners who lend boats REALLY GROWS The class eg 505, Vipers Insurance is now able to deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slammer Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 Originally posted by tgh: The contributions continue , and there clearly is an opportunity here to move forward. There needs to be some structure. It seems that there isn't a National group to promote and co-ordinate multihulls (of all sizes) ..and there needs to be... united we stand divided .. etc etc blah blah.... I was thinking about this need for a peak group/ body to represent Multi hull sailors. I agree that it now is important, but there still needs to be more converstation/ discussion about what it really is that the peak body Australian Multi Hull Assocation (AMHA) purpose. Check out / google Multihull Association of the Northern Territory MANTA http://www.manta.org.au/ and read their association page. It's there. Scott Please read the association aims. It's well written. Staying focused on the promotion side of things is essential. The association should work with media groups, have key contacts with association, manufactureres of all sailing products, and other sailing associations. The association should develop a range of resources for associations to use- promotional flyer templates. A database of cat sailor emails. Not be a coordinating group and deciding when each association will run regattas- Hobies at Easter, Maris during Anzac weekend, etc. The association should be a coordinated voice for the promotion of sailing. [This message has been edited by slammer (edited 03 December 2007).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slammer Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 Back to the basics- RE Who's out there... So how did we go on the weekend. FORSTER NSW 7 cats 4 Taipan 4.9, 1 NACRA 16sq, 1 A-Class, 1 Hobie 16 Three races and areport to the paper with an attached pic. Reply with quotes to give a snapshot of the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmatelot Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 the Australian Multihull Council is having a meeting this Friday. Who is going??? pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgh Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 Google hits for the term Australian Multihull Council = 0 (I did give up after 5 pages....) Cat Sailor.net search engine hits for ..you guessed it .. AMC = 1 bingo ..we have lift off .. oh oh .. 3 dec o7 by Xmatelot ... Where is it being held pete .. (windorah??) Why hasn't there been a notice of meeting on cat sailor ?? Does the AUSTRALIAN MULTIHULL COUNCIL ... actually want anyone to attend ?? Are you having a lend of us and promoting a multihull crossword puzzle in ten word grabs pete ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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