Sail in Stunning Northumberland

KWSC News Articles

(Article from July 2004)

Why Bother? - The KWSC Open Meeting September 11th and 12th

Every year the club goes to great lengths to plan, organise and run a sailing Open Meeting in September.  Every year there are appeals for volunteers to help with this event or preferably sail in it.  Every year it seems to fall to the same core of people in the club.  So, I pose the question why bother?  To answer this I need to look at three different viewpoints: the club viewpoint, the viewpoint of the members and that of the competitors.  Hopefully, when you have read this you will be willing to rush forward with your valuable assistance (even if it's only a few hours you can spare) - every little bit of help is warmly greeted and shares the load.  If you feel so inclined please contact either Viola Scott or Steve Gibbon - a list of typical tasks is included below to give you a flavour of what you could do to help.  We have a good club, but we cannot sit on our laurels and expect this to continually be the case.

Benefits to the club.

A club that stagnates is a club that will die.  A club which changes, evolves, is attractive to potential members and competitors is a club that grows, prospers and people want to be part of.

Clubs which stagnate, or are dying, fail to attract new members, existing members leave, there is no money to invest in new equipment or training for the benefit of new and existing members.  Services such as the galley wither and die. The clubhouse deteriorates and is no longer a nice place to be in.  You see the same old tired faces time and time again.

Thriving, growing clubs attract new members and retain existing ones.  There is money to invest in new equipment.  There are new faces to see, friends to make, new experiences to share.  We can learn from others with new experience and expertise.  New ideas help the growth and soon we are in a virtuous cycle.  This is the place to sail!

Without a good Open Meeting(s) club's like Kielder cannot easily advertise their good sailing water, their friendly club atmosphere, their excellent facilities and organisation, we cannot attract new members, we stagnate and die.  With a well organised and well run Open Meeting the opposite is true: we attract new members with new ideas, we grow, we have money to invest.

Open Meetings, such as ours in September, are a valuable source of income - we need a successful Open.  We need your help.

Finally an Open Meeting stretches a club such as ours to limit - so running it keeps equipment and processes properly reviewed which benefits everyone. We stay fit, so to speak. A medical!

Benefits to you as a member.

The bottom line is financial.  A successful Open Meeting helps the Committee to keep fees down to attractive and competitive levels.  We currently offer very attractive and competitive fees at KWSC and we would all no doubt like this to continue.  Some of the other club's in the region charge over three times our rates.  Not an enticing prospect!

Look at an example.  The recent Soling Open Meeting made enough profit to enable the club to purchase a second hand Topper Dinghy for our Young Sailors.  This helps member's with children, especially new members, in that dinghy's are available to sail on day one of membership - without expensive outlay.  If you have benefited from this perhaps you could offer some assistance in return?

New members means new friends and experiences with people of similar thinking to add to life's rich tapestry.  It potentially means new friends for your children in a safe, clean environment.

Open Meetings are a chance to learn.  Watch others, perhaps more experienced than yourself and see what you can pick up (on or off the water).  Talk to people and get new advice.  See different boats and find out what they are like and whether they are for you.  Expand your sailing knowledge.  Get invitations to visit other clubs and events - expand your horizons.

Benefits to you as a competitor.

So you cannot help at the Open?  Then you help by entering the Open.  Here you benefit from the Open Meeting by competing and learning and even winning (well someone has to - it might as well be you!).  Sailing is a life long learning experience (my father-in-law still sails at 75, still enjoys it and is still winning, but never stops learning - it is a passion).  Learn from other boats, helms, crews - improve your personal sailing, boost your self-esteem, tell your friends how well you did.  The first and hardest step is entering - the rest is easy!  Most of all you have a good time!

But it's all about fast boats and experienced sailors isn't it?  NO, absolutely not - everyone starts somewhere.  We do have some fast boats but we also offer fast and slow handicap races and if there are 5 or more boats of one class they can have their own class racing.  So you will be racing with similar boats with a wide range of crews from very experienced to just beginners.  There is also a Junior class for those under 18yrs old on the day so youngsters can take place in shorter races as well. In recent years we have had a well attended Junior race with boats from both our own club and Newbiggin Sailing Club.  Could your son or daughter be interested?

I haven't done this before - I'm not sure I will be of any use or do very well if I race!  We all have to start somewhere.  All help no matter how small is very gratefully received.  If you wish to race then more experienced members will offer help and advice and talk you through the event.  Contact us and we will put you in touch with someone.  In my first Open I do not think I finished one race and remember a dozen capsizes - it was great fun and I learned so much.  You cannot do any worse!

I'm convinced - what do I do now!

Either enter on the day (entries from 1000 and briefing at 1200) or volunteer to assist.  We need help in the following areas (part or full day):

Preparation on the Friday before the event:

    Help preparing course marks and patrol boats

    Getting the committee boat onto the water in its starting position

    Help preparing meals and snacks in the Galley

Saturday/Sunday

    Getting patrol boats on the water

    Laying race marks from Patrol Boats in the morning.

    Welcoming and directing visitors and managing the boat and car park.

    Taking entry forms and money.

    Help in the Patrol Boats during races (pm Saturday, am Sunday)

    Recording results in the Race Office as they are relayed from the Committee Boat

    Help clearing up patrol boats at the end of the day

    Help in the galley, preparing or serving

    Say goodbye to our guests and thank them for coming.

REMEMBER - EVERY LITTLE BIT OF HELP IS WELCOME AND NEEDED - THANK YOU.

Please Contact either Viola Scott or Steve Gibbon with your offers of help.

Steve Gibbon

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