BLUEMOMENT

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The RYA is holding a series of Consultation Meetings "the length and breadth of the country" (sic) throughout March.

Anyone got any idea why there are meetings in Inveraray and Fort William - both yachting 'dead ends' really - but not one in Oban?

'Cos they are cheap-skate gits who can't be arsed driving a few more miles to get abused by disgruntled members?

I went to the Port Edgar event.

Most of the chat was about elite racing and squads of this and that, high performance stuff. All a bit dull really.

It turns out that the RYA Scotland spends about 40% of its dosh on this high performance carry on.

It would be interesting to know what percentage of the country's boaters are involved in that sort of sailing.

Fortunately nothing was said about diesel and its various colours.

The chap also said they were "risk assessing" the implications of independence: I would have thought "opportunity assessing" would have been more appropriate but I suppose we are dealing with the "establishment" mindset.

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Oh my god - does Eck know about this RYA risk assessment? Could be a real Indy show-stopper if the RYA say no.

Not exactly well publicised. There is one in Banff tonight, but this is the first I've heard of it.

TBH, I won't be going, as the RYA do the square root of FA for me.

I appear to have missed the Falkirk meeting, but according to Nick's link it was a "closed meeting" so I presumably wouldn't have got in anyway. Like others, this is the first I've heard of this "consultation program" - despite being a "Gold Personal Member" since I've paid the sub since 1985. OTOH if it was all about racing then I'm happy to miss it.

I would have thought that some input into the notions of closing off chunks of coastline for "conservation" would be a bit more to the point.

DaveS wrote: I would have thought that some input into the notions of closing off chunks of coastline for "conservation" would be a bit more to the point.

There is an easy to complete online consultation form half way down this page

I think the more non racers who complete it the better

I struggled to complete the survey as I found it mostly of no interest to me personally. If you are racing etc I expect the RYA do a reasonable job but otherwise a non event. Even when involved with RYA sailing courses I find the organisation very distant. Perhaps if they came down from the top of the flagpole for a wee while some common ground could be found.

They're coming up here next week. Will go along as I am involved with the regional development group that the RYA have set up, although I'm a bit worried that nobody else will turn up!
Not too bothered about racing, would like to see more support for kids-in-dinghies stuff, so we'll see what they say about that.

[quote="Ocklepoint
There is an easy to complete online consultation form half way down this page

I think the more non racers who complete it the better[/quote]

I did just that a while ago, bleating about lack of cruising interest and general southern focus of the RYA. They published a survey result feedback thingy recently that certainly did not reflect my views.

So, maybe there's just the two of us Okkie.

sahona wrote:

Ocklepoint wrote: There is an easy to complete online consultation form half way down this page

I think the more non racers who complete it the better

I did just that a while ago, bleating about lack of cruising interest and general southern focus of the RYA. They published a survey result feedback thingy recently that certainly did not reflect my views.

So, maybe there's just the two of us Okkie.

Come on the rest of you cruising peeps, make it more than just the two of us.

Fill in their survey. Tell them what you think. It's you they claim to represent and it's your money they're spending.

Ocklepoint wrote:
Fill in their survey. Tell them what you think. It's you they claim to represent and it's your money they're spending.

Well I did my best. It is a really poor research instrument and unlikely in my not at all humble (in this particular area) opinion to produce very useful data.

Green Boat wrote:

Ocklepoint wrote:
Fill in their survey. Tell them what you think. It's you they claim to represent and it's your money they're spending.

Well I did my best. It is a really poor research instrument and unlikely in my not at all humble (in this particular area) opinion to produce very useful data.

Agree.

There was one question that I really did not understand...........
.........but given my ever dwindling intellect that's not really surprising

I tried but found I was feeling ever more negative towards RYAS the further I went - I shall return to it tomorrow. I realised that their relevance to my sailing was almost nil. It may be that the English bit organise lobbying and info to prevent the more loony effects of the Westminster Gov. on boating, they certainly administer the RYA training scheme but what does RYAS do that affects a cruising, occasional racing, old tub sailor like me? After reading their strategy plan I don't feel included.

OK I've done it and I hope they cherish my opinion.

Does anyone else remember the RYAS newsletters of a few years back which looked as if they'd been composed by a toddler who'd just discovered word-processing? There were so many different fonts, sizes and colours that it gave me a headache just to open one, never mind actually trying to read it.