Do you need Crew - Try Crewing Day

Try Crewing Day 2010

12 September 2010

The Sailing Industry Association (SIA) as division of the Boating Industry Association has identified a need for more people to be exposed to the activity known as Crewing.

The need has arisen with sailing clubs finding it difficult to find and retain crew to participate in sailing, be it recreational or competitive.

The SIA believes that an annual free activity that is complemented with some light education will be able to fulfill the needs of sailing clubs, sailboat owners and people wanting to crew by bringing the groups together.

Benefits to skippers

•    Opportunity to get new crew
•    Support club

Benefit to sailing industry

•    TCD will inform people that participation in boating is possible without a boat.
•    TCD will introduce people to sailing education.
•    TCD will entice people to further their participation, leading to equipment and possible boat purchases.
•    TCD will encourage more people to go boating.

Event outline

TCD will run from selected clubs that can provide the facilities and vessels needed for the event. The clubs can be geographically placed around NSW.

People (18 years & older) will pre-register through the BIA website: http://www.bia.org.au/events/Try-Crewing/index.html

On the day, participants will attend a preliminary briefing and beginners guide to crewing in the club with an opportunity to interact with their allocated skipper and crew.

This will be followed by a safety check, tour of the boat and sail.

On the completion of the sail, participants will meet back at the club where club representatives can explain club membership, possibilities for further sailing tuition and a briefing on which sailing activities they can register to crew on and how to go about this.

The TCD program will incorporate an invitation for participants to sample twilight sailing (1 to 3 evenings) at the club. This ‘next step’ is critical to nurture people into crewing. On these nights, participating clubs are asked to act as TCD ambassadors to provide a special welcome to this batch of future sailors and club members.

Try Crewing Day (12 September 2010) timetable:

Time                                            Activity
10.00 – 11.15AM (1 ¼ hours)    AT CLUB Preliminary briefing
                                                    Beginners guide to crewing
                                                    Meet & greet skipper & crew
11.15AM – 1.15PM (2 hours)    ON BOAT
                                                    Safety check
                                                    Tour of the boat
                                                    Sail
1.15PM – 1.45PM (1/2 hour)    AT CLUB
                                                    Informal debrief & light lunch

Group size will depend on number of vessels available.

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