Weston Skiff Open 2011

[simon_jones]

                   Southern Travellers Event

                    July 30th/31st

                    Weston sailing Club

[simon_jones]

Hopeing to build on a great weekend at Thornbury, Weston have sorted out individual prizes for us. Could all who are going please post here to give an idea of numbers.

So far I think it's
Riot Van
Eleanor
Yusagi
Ronin
Shiney
Exultant

Please feel free to add to this as Weston have supported the class for a number of years

[Graham Bridle]

Yes come on guys, this is the last chance for racing before the nationals so it would be great to see more than NINE !! - so fix what needs fixing, get the weekend passes and put the tent in the boot. This is an open event so we'd like to look strong and show the class in the best possible light. PLEASE !

If I have to, I will buy all attending cherub sailors a pint, but we have to beat the magic NINE....

[Eggbert]

Having just derigged Slippery and put her on the trailer ready to bring home  have realised that she needs a bit of work before the nationals so I'm not going to make Weston however it may be my weekend off so if I can convince the wife may put in an appearance  as cheerleader / beer faster we will have to see

[Stuberry]

Crikey! £50 entry...

http://www.weston.org.uk/pdfs/2011/events/NOR%20Assymetric_Skiff.pdf

I don't know what meal is included, but that still seems VERY expensive.

[dave_ching]

Thanks Stu I wouldn't have noticed until I go there.
Sorry that is the new bargin price Shiny (shamless plug) out.
Hope to see you at the nationals

[Graham Bridle]

hmmm ...includes a non-refundable element for an evening meal on Saturday.

I guess theres two schools of thought here.

1 - Entry + a curry for two at any other event would easily top £50, if not £70 or greater - so you could see this as a bargain.

2 - Seems a bit cheeky to tie participants into the meal when they may not want it; I wonder if they have all eventualities covered, veggies and other awkwards etc - and now I think of it ...kids pricing ...

Its pretty obvious why the club do it, they want everyone in there buying beer and it makes ordering food quantites easier.

I am usually a supporter of staying with the club if they are laying on food as i believe its only polite to support them if they go to the effort. However for me it all changes when the choice is taken away.... bloody commies.

I suggest :-

1 - Whichever of my esteeemed officers organised it, talk/write to them explaining this is a) unusual and b) going to hit our attendance figures (see above at least)

2 - We roll call this event

3 - Work from there.....

[Graham Bridle]

blimey ....The starting time of the first race will not be before 10:30 on Saturday ..... aggressive starting time too !

[Graham Bridle]

DC, please dont totally dismiss it yet, we really really need some numbers - remember, I am buying everyone a pint so you're down to £46.50 already. We will be petitioning the club to rethink, so keep the weekend free please !

[dave_ching]

It is not a coment about anything just a fact that 50 is too much money for us.
Obviously with Elliot we are unlikely to be joining in with the meal anyway.
For us the events this year are more a social with some sailing.
Personally I think 35 is the most I would normally pay and then I agree we would then spend 30 to 40 on a curry but to be honest this still sounds like a better deal than 50 with some kind of buffet that never seems to have quite enough to go round.
We will be sailing at poole and still at home after that if the weather turns bad we are still welcoming lost soles a place to stay.
Weston is agreat club with good sailing and easy camping so please go if you can.
We are very happy to boost the numbers when we can hope you get a good turn out

[simon_jones]

While I am happy to speak to the club about this, I feel we are on a hidding to nothing. At best it's not a bad price if the meal is excellent. However if the meal is rubbish they are likely to put off future entries, from loads of classes. I will ask what the meal is and what options are available. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that although we could back out of this event, we would almost certainly turn an excellent and very supportive club against the class, and make ourselves very unwelcome at future events.

[simon_jones]

One other thing to think about is the free camping. At Filey this was an additional £12.00 and parking £5.00. How much did the ferry cost last weekend. My point being is £25.00 per head really expensive for an open meeting with a meal and accommodation.

[Tom K]

If the class are still going I will attend with Beans. Floor space available at my flat which is 3 miles from the club.

[Graham Bridle]

I dont think theres any hint of the class not going; just that we'd like to register that the "unusual" arrangements may deplete the numbers, well already have as they dont suit everyone.

[phil_kirk]

A few points.

Weston is a great place to sail.
The grand Slam (3 day event) entry £35 (+£5 a head for a hog roast provided by an outside contractor) =£45.
If all the cooking and serving is done by voluenteers a meal like this will cost about £2-3 per head.

(At Frampton we used to cover our costs with a £11 entry for a 1 day open for 10 + boats including a 2 course lunch).
From experience at Easter, Weston have a small number of dedicated voulenteers who were doing all the planning organising and results, running the bar etc.
Normal catering at Weston is done by paid staff.
The likelyhood is that paying staff will double the per head cost of food.

I think that including the food in a £50 entry fee would be reasonable if Weston are paying staff to cook and serve the food.

It is a shame that some clubs leave all the organising and running of the club to a small few and depend more and more on paid staff for catering, secretarial work, sail instructing and in some cases rescue provision.