Too much to race?

[tommays]

When i started racing about 1982 ? and bought the first J24 and had very little money i do not recall the fees being much money

Now its 2012 and to be honest i cant say money is no object BUT i sure have a LOT more pocket money and right now between the PHRF/YRA/US-Sailing and to do the 15 Wednesday nights would run in the 600 dollar range so i just do a few charity races as it does not bother me when the money is going 100 % to them

We use to do many more big events on OPBs like Block Island race week which would be a shared cost event and you cant really sleep 7 guys on a 35' boat for a week and i believe in 2009 when the total cost got to over 1000 dollars a head we just said NO


For another example the wife and myself also run and for 60 dollars each we get EIGHT MONDAY night races with food and drink which might explain why they hit the multi thousand entry limit

 

[william24424]

I appreciate the input, my perceived high price of races is subjective. Seeing other locations/prices and attitudes of racing is helpful. I like charities recieving money. Bourne community sailing recieves our Wednesday nights profits, and I'm guessing big race events generate big money for the community. Some charity organizers like Billy Starr (Pan Mass) can make $500k a year on a bike race, small change since he's raised over $239 million for Jimmy Fund, but that's for another thread....

 

[Tim R.]

Aside from the prizes, most races cost very little to run. We often made money by accident. We would budget based on an unknown number of participants and sponsors. Our budget would include food, beverages and a great party with a live band. But if more folks showed up or more sponsors signed on at the last minute, we would upgrade the awards. Sometimes we would come out on the plus side. However, the money would always stay in a racing fund only to be spent on more regattas and better prizes. Other times the weather would kill us and we would lose money. Luckily our race kitty would cover that.

Our 16 race summer series costs $60 with dinner provided by a different crew every week. The money collected goes towards maintenance of the flags, shotgun, shells, etc and also to pay the committee boat crew.

 

[Gail R]

When it comes to racing, the value you get from the entry fee is pretty subjective. For a while, we had a guy that was promoting a lot of the local races as his business and the fees jumped considerably. He tried to sell us on the "bag of cool stuff" (swag that was sometimes cool, sometimes less so) and the fact that the fee covered dinner tickets for crew. We told him when you are racing cruising class with two on board and pay an entry fee similar to a boat that races with 12, that sales pitch doesn't quite pass the straight-face test. He altered the pricing structure after that.

Our race fees range from $60 for a simple day race to $120 or more for some of the bigger two-day or overnight events. Sometimes swag and/or meal tickets are included, but usually you buy them separately. We've stopped attending one race due to the high cost and organizers' insistence on starting it on a Friday.

If you would like to race but are put off by the cost, please, please provide that feedback to the organizers. That goes for feedback that is not cost-related as well (things like race format, scheduling, etc. etc.) Race participation is down just about everywhere, and the people who are trying to promote it don't want it to die.

 

[Gudenuph]

The annual race fees at our club are $35 plus one service as committee or mark boat. This covers 28 races from 4 to 30 NM each including a 'Jack n Jill' and a 'Single Handed' race. These last two races plus one PHRF race, as a sampler, are free to club members. The fee for a single series of 4 races is $15. Throw in a couple of Hamburger nights and it's an overall good deal. OK, maybe I'm bragging just a bit but the key is volunteer participation and modest trophies (gaudy bobbles). We are the South Sound Sailing Society at SSSS.com if you are interested.
FWIW. Geohan

 

[MrBill_FLL]

the only race I can remember over $100 is the hospice, and that is a justifiable expense.

on a supply/demand evaluation: you have too many race boats, or just too many rich owners.

Only when they have trouble getting entries, will things change.


*except nassau miami - that was 300 (understandable, since dinner banquette / awards and distance covered) - nice swag too. (+free monkey rum)

 

[william24424]

My thoughts: better BYOB & food. I'm for lower fees and better eats. I'm hoping the next meeting on the race, more will listen... BBQ's, clambakes, and catered meals sound great, until your standing in a 45 minute chow line, and racing my cruiser means I'm well behind the Swan's & J-109's in the beer line too.