Where are we going this year?

[Ru88ell]

Spring is sort of here, summer is just round the corner, and only my Yarmouth to Poole event in May is listed, and a trip to Greece. The forum is pretty much dead with just 16 active users, and to add insult to injury, two 'active' members have sold boats and moved on.

It's been said a number of times that people use the forum just to get their boat sorted, but it has to do more than that. It's supposed to have an annual newsletter posted, but I've yet to see one. Perhaps its a viscous circle; no newsletter to promote events, so no attendees, so no events to write about, so no newsletter. If we did a newsletter it must be posted out - otherwise only 16 people will know about it.

We have to engage the other owners and hook them to want to visit on a regular basis - otherwise any event will go unsupported because only 16 people will ever know about it. You never know, if they knew about events they might come, and they might join, which would raise more money to do more things with.

What do people think? Or am I the only of the handful who'll read this who wants the class to progress and grow?

Just as a reminder, this is the offer I joined for, but see little of:-

Aims of the Association

The aims of the Association are as follows:

• To help owners gain more enjoyment from their boat

• To hold rallies for both new and existing owners, and to sail in company. There are rallies designed for new owners to gain experience with handling the Cape Cutter 19. Rallies are held across the UK and Europe, including cruises.

• To share information that will enable an owner to improve his or her boat by the provision of modifications

• To keep an owners register

Other Benefits of Joining the Association

• Discounted advertising costs for selling both boats and accessories on the Association web site

• Access to the members area of the forum which includes provision for "Wanted Items" and other topics only available to Association members, such as Adhoc sails, Crew wanted, Association Business etc

• Yearly e-Newsletter, Published in the members area of the forum

[Dennis]

Hello Russell

I also share the view that there should be more activity both on the water and on this forum.

I have already had my first sail of the season, yesterday, on Kielder Water. Bloody cold but dry, good to be back on the water though.

Today I have booked a ferry to take "Mary Ann" to Friesland in July, really looking forward to the trip. Anyone out there any advice on where to launch, and park the car and trailer for 10 days?

Cheers

Dennis

CC19 #100 Mary Ann

[Simon Head]

Hello

I think that the forum does a good job- there are lots of info re mods, quite a few boats have been sold through the site. At the moment there are very few second hand boats out there. For a class that only has just over 100 boats I think it is exemplary!

1 The annual newsletter has not been done as there is only myself and 2 other users (David Peck and Chris and Kathryn Wicks) who have contributed articles. This is in spite of at least 3 requests! lack of articles=no content for news letter! Simple!
2 Rallies. Remember there are only just above 100 boats scattered across the UK and the rest of the world. There are not that many boats out there. A rally was organised in the Solent but failed due to lack of demand and other commitments from crews. Geography (i.e access) also played a part.
3 A posted newsletter would require an annual subscription to cover postage and printing. Most small groups are looking to can this type of communication off. I was at the Drascombe Association AGM last week- they produce the excellent Drascombe Association News but are concerned about the ever increasing costs of production and distribution of the paper magazine.

We could improve the Association site with more articles but these have not been forthcoming even after many requests!

Kind Regards

Simon

[Ru88ell]

Hello

I think that the forum does a good job- there are lots of info re mods, quite a few boats have been sold through the site. At the moment there are very few second hand boats out there. For a class that only has just over 100 boats I think it is exemplary!

[color="blue"]That depends on what job you want it to do. Perhaps this is where we have a disconnect. Yes, it does a good job of selling boats, but it's not doing a good job of promoting events.[/color]

1 The annual newsletter has not been done as there is only myself and 2 other users (David Peck and Chris and Kathryn Wicks) who have contributed articles. This is in spite of at least 3 requests! lack of articles=no content for news letter! Simple!

[color="blue"]Feel free to lift anything you like from my blog. [/color]

2 Rallies. Remember there are only just above 100 boats scattered across the UK and the rest of the world. There are not that many boats out there. A rally was organised in the Solent but failed due to lack of demand and other commitments from crews. Geography (i.e access) also played a part.

[color="blue"]There are around 70 in UK, many of which are on the south coast, but how many knew about it? Only those who come to the forum will have known, and we know that number to be very small.[/color]

3 A posted newsletter would require an annual subscription to cover postage and printing. Most small groups are looking to can this type of communication off. I was at the Drascombe Association AGM last week- they produce the excellent Drascombe Association News but are concerned about the ever increasing costs of production and distribution of the paper magazine.

[color="blue"]I know that posted newletters are out of fashion, but you won't use what is in fashion, and free, either. Are we to just hope that people will come to the forum? We have to drive traffic and users to the forum - not just sit and hope they come. Imagine if event organisers didn't tell anyone their event was planned, and just hoped people turned up. That's what we do. [/color]

We could improve the Association site with more articles but these have not been forthcoming even after many requests!

[color="Blue"]Again, Simon, the same point, your message isn't getting out there. You could ask that question in a new post every day; if owners aren't visiting the forum you won't ever get any feedback - like talking to an empty room[/color]

Kind Regards

Simon

Since what we are doing isn't getting us moving, maybe it's time to try something different to see if it works. Have we got a Facebook page? (free) Do we have a Twitter acct? (free) Have we e-mailed forum members to survey them regarding activity / ideas / plans?

I think there's a lot we could do. I've been there before. I developed the Laser2000 Millennium Mutterings newletter which is sent out via e-mail. Every member had it, and it drove numbers at events and stimulated people to want to contribute to it. I had more copy than space sometimes.

Click here for example.

Because it was pushed out, and everyone received it, it pulled people to the forum and got them to attend events.

Here is a link to the report on my blog for 2011. The most of the traffic came to my site from the class sites; that is proof that people are looking for more to read, looking for pictures and video. They then subscribe to my blog, and each time I update it they get an e-mail, and I can see them come back.

There is heaps of free technology we could use. It might not hit the spot with our more elderly owners, but at 50 I'm using it every day both personally and at work. In time people much younger than me will want Cape Cutters - and they'll find them from the web, via these new ways and means.

I had a great sailing year in 2011, but I'd like a better one in 2012. A stated aim of the association is to organise events, and I see a large part of that being that we tell people that we're doing it. If we don't, we will have failed on a key tennet.

I'm happy to help.

Russell

[Simon Head]

Hi Russel

I think that it is the time for you to take over running the site.

PM me.

Thanks

Simon

[Ru88ell]

Simon

I said I'm happy to help. I didn't offer to take over the site.

Rgds
Russell

[Dennis]

Hello

My! this is an interesting thread.

Russell, you have rocked the boat big time!

You clearly have ideas/experience, why not accept Simon's offer (to run the site) or come to some arrangement with Simon which will allow some/all of you proposals to be implimented.

Cheers

Dennis

CC19 #100 Mary Ann

[Simon Head]

I will be quite happy to hand the lot over, lock stock and barrel.

Kind Regards

Simon

[seasickwhale]

Hi evry1,

I think it is time to take a more buddhist approach to the matter. Take a deep breath, relax and let life flow.

To me this site is too valuable (even though my name doesn't pop up to often in posts, I visit almost daily) to get wound up in an argument where I think all involved parties actually have the same basic goal.

All we all want - albeit everyone in a somewhat different way - is to get enjoyment out of our fantastic little boats. Some want rallies, some want newsletters, some want to chat, others exchange technical advice etc. etc.

Simon, to you I extend my thanks for taking up the task (bigger than it looks) of setting up the site and regular chore of keeping it tidy and clutter-free (read SPAM).

Ru88ell, to you I extend my thanks (as the probably most active member) for many interesting posts and helpful comments. Even if I don't reply or can make time for rallies (t is a long haul from Germany) I read every line that is posted and have drawn much helpful advice from this forum through you and others.

None of us can get all they want for a perfect day. I would like a lot more time on my hands ot actually sail "Herr Nilsson". Some want this, some want that.

For all our benefit, I urge all of us to look at the positive side of the coin. There is a lot of value in what this forum offers to the 100 or so CC19 owners. It may not be perfect, but very valuable nonetheless.

This is just my very personal view of things. All I can shout to everyone is to keep up the good work. Every contributing member puts in a piece of the puzzle in his way - some more some less - but the mountain of information just keeps growing.

[seasickwhale]

Today I have booked a ferry to take "Mary Ann" to Friesland in July, really looking forward to the trip. Anyone out there any advice on where to launch, and park the car and trailer for 10 days?

Cheers

Dennis

CC19 #100 Mary Ann

Hi Dennis,

we have spent a lot of time in Friesland and I am sure you will enjoy your time there.

I usually moor and park my trailer in the small village of Gaastmeer at "Camping de Poel" (for places ses attached kmz.files in ZIP.file - they offer Streetview as well) - a welcoming place with nice hosts. They crane and have a marina. Gaastmeer ist just off the Flussen/Heeger Meer which is the largest of the frisian lakes. In Heeg itself you will find all the facilities you could possibly ask for. Another place to note is Oudega with a free slipway that i normally use (about 4 miles from Gaastmeer via lakes and canals)