Would the RYA accept that they have a major PR problem in relation to Cruising Boat Owners.

Whilst the RYA manages appears keen to ally itself to the cosy positive issues surrounding Dinghy Racing, Yacht Racing & the Olympics. The Cruising Boater, who by his nature is a loner, has no natural path to demonstrate his views to the organisation that claims to represent his views to Government & increasingly feels deserted by that body.

The Cruising Boater must represent the major part of the RYA’s individual membership & the information & offerings, in terms of their website & publications are woefully inadequate, bordering on condescending. Indeed it is often difficult to believe that the author, of much of the ramblings in the RYA publications, sails with the same kind of budgetary constraints that most of us have to contend with.

The issues of User Licensing, Boat Taxation & Light Dues, all serious cruising issues, are major threats to the long term future of leisure boating in the UK & the RYA seem deafeningly quiet on these matters. Why?

Martin

Edited by kimhollamby on 14/01/2003 17:07 (server time).