Making changes to increase participation

If Annapolis is in fact America’s sailing capital, then Annapolis Yacht Club is the headquarters. And like any good emperor, AYC is eager to increase participation in local sailboat racing.

Just over a year ago, AYC Commodore Debbie Gosselin created a Sailing Committee that was charged with analyzing the current racing scene and recommending methods of improvement in terms of organization and outreach.

Sailboat racing participation has been on the decline over the past decade and Gosselin wanted Annapolis Yacht Club to show leadership by addressing the situation and finding some solutions.

The AYC Sailing Committee conducted surveys, requested feedback and performed other outreach to determine what the sailboat racing constituency wanted. Committee member John White reports how the committee found there was a divide between two factions of the Chesapeake Bay scene.

“It appears most of the one-design classes want to stick with the typical windward-leeward events we have so often,” said White. “However, most of the handicap classes prefer point-to-point racing to an interesting destination with a good awards party to follow.”

Bill Wagner reports in The Capital Gazette on what AYC is doing to increase racing participation on Chesapeake Bay: click here.