POLL: are you a US Sailing member?

Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
I just got an email informing me that my US Sailing membership just auto-renewed for 2015. I'm a member because I race in lots of regattas where it's required, but I wonder if others are. Beyond the benefits for racers, US sailing is tying to reach a wider range of sailors and make the membership fee worthwhile to everyone.

So, are you a member? Have you looked into it? If you looked into it and didn't join, why?

http://www.ussailing.org/
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
I am a member. Became one because of racing but their youth programs are terrific... and sorely needed.... and I had not known that before joining. BTW, I think their recommended offshore equipment list is ludicrous. It's as if professionals who don't have to pay for equipment or don't care had a wish list.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
No, any way you look at it, these organizations are usually about competition. No matter how much they try to appeal to the general sailing population, there usually isn't enough reason to join. I may have been a member so that I could take my Hobie 16 to events in the past. Used to be a member of AWSA to enter water skiing tournaments. I joined a Mountain Bike organization (IMBA?) for a few years when I raced locally.

I was most involved with US Ski Association but never kept up with USSA after I stopped ski racing and coaching, either. It takes a lot of dedication to keep up with these organizations when there is no reason to continue paying dues.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Scott T-Bird said:
No, any way you look at it, these organizations are usually about competition. No matter how much they try to appeal to the general sailing population, there usually isn't enough reason to join. I may have been a member so that I could take my Hobie 16 to events in the past. Used to be a member of AWSA to enter water skiing tournaments. I joined a Mountain Bike organization (IMBA?) for a few years when I raced locally.

I was most involved with US Ski Association but never kept up with USSA after I stopped ski racing and coaching, either. It takes a lot of dedication to keep up with these organizations when there is no reason to continue paying dues.
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Scott,

I agree, it is really competition focused. They ARE trying to broaden the scope and bring value to non-racers, but have not been too effective at that. I was wondering what others thought/saw.
 
trainmanjess

trainmanjess

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Dec 7, 2012
515
Kittiwake 23, Irwin 43 .. Indianapolis / indianatown, fl
hello all

i am not part of the ussailing, as said before it seems more for the racing scene... i am more into the liveaboard and cruising setup....

I found a good organization for sailing... it is called the seven seas cruising association... they have members all over the world... they have reviews on anchorages and ports and marinas... activities for cruisers to participate in.. and much more.... they do not have much on racing... they are more dedicated to the cruisers out there and the liveaboards... I like the organization...

sincerely
Jess
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Rick D said:
BTW, I think their recommended offshore equipment list is ludicrous. It's as if professionals who don't have to pay for equipment or don't care had a wish list.
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Rick,same as you I think the new OSRs are 'Cover Your Ass' based. As do a lot of the USsailing thought-leaders. If you look at the latest fatalities in racing, Aegean, Low Speed Chase, Uncontrollable Urge.... they were caused by gross errors in judgment. Lets work on fixing people not making bad calls, and not on adding gear to get them out of the jams they create for themselves.
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
I joined in 2010, and only renewed this year. (2015).

mostly I re-joined, just to get a new rule book. (same reason I joined 1st time).
 
cb32863

cb32863

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Jun 29, 2010
1,287
Beneteau First 235 Lake Minnetonka, MN
I am a member as well as I race on the same local lake.
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,722
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
No. I am a member of the American Sailing Association.
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
No but I am thinking about Boats US...oh and was a member in good standing of "Tap a Keg a Day" at one time......
 
Jumpstart

Jumpstart

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Jan 13, 2009
394
J Boat 92 78 Sandusky
Long time member. There is a misconception is that US sailing is all about racing. I joined initially because of the racing. I found that USSA does other things that are beneficial to the sailing community as a whole. The Safety at Sea program is a worthwhile endeavor that all should look into if they are going offshore. Junior Sailing is also helping with the grassroots of the sport along with the community sailing programs and instructor certification programs. Oh and it involved with our Olympic program.

I agree with the statement that USSA is racing focused but it is not all about racing.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Wednightracer,

I agree and a great point you make. USsailing IS trying to let the world know it is more than just racing, but perception sadly lags reality. They do much more than people know in sailing education and creating best practices for running sailing organizations.

Every year that hold a Sailing Program Symposium. I attended on behalf of our club last year in San Diego and it was amazing. This year in New Orleans.

The National Sailing Programs Symposium (NSPS) is the premier event for sailing education in the United States. NSPS is the only conference of its kind that brings together program directors, instructors, volunteers, parents and industry representatives to share and learn best practices with one another about running, maintaining and improving sailing programs. Our goal is to have participants coming out of the symposium with ideas to apply to their sailing programs to make them better and help them grow.
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My hope is that anyone that cares about the future of sailing in the USA would at least look into it.
 
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