Challenges in gathering to sail in groups in the inland West

[johnmcneely]

Anyone who has driven from the Midwest to the West Coast can appreciate the problem...vast distances!!

Since 2003, a small group of Pocket-Cruiser skippers have been experimenting with how best promote sailing in the Inland West. Currently, we think the answer is two-fold:

1) Create a sailing community available online and gain experience in a local active fleet, and

2) To help form local groups of sailors who want to sail in a group.

To be sure there are plenty of sailing organizations in the major cities of the West like Denver and Phoenix. And, yes, they vigorously promote sailing at the local level. And, there are also manufacturer-specific groups like those for the Potters and the Montgomery brands. But what is there for people who live in sparsely populated areas or in regions that are not in or near major-population centers? How do they find other owners of similar-types of boats? Examples of such vast areas but where local groups could form are: from Wyoming through Colorado to New Mexico just east of the Rockies (active fleet exists)? What about places like Southern Nevada and Lake Havasu (yes, Havasu has the annual gathering of Pocket Cruisers and a fine event it is)? What about Western and Southwestern Colorado and Northwestern New Mexico? What about regions like Southeastern Idaho, Northern Utah and Western Wyoming? We have heard from boaters in these areas interested in forming local groups. There could be others.

So if you are a sailboat owner in an outlying area and you think you would have more fun sailing with a group (and be safer too), you might believe that there's not much support out there for you.

But there is an organization that is at least trying to provide you with a sailing community you can be a part of and real help in locating other owners of Pocket Cruisers in your region. Their name is the Rocky Mountain Pocket-Cruisers Association. Their most active fleet is in the Denver-to-Pueblo area. If you traveled to one of their events, you would have a group to go sailing with. But what if that is too far? They have maps of boats, lists of owners and the online technology to help you form a small group, plan events and keep interested parties informed. There is still no substitute for you reaching out to these boaters yourself once you have their names and contact info. But you will get plenty of encouragement and will find yourself in contact with boaters trying to do the same in their communities. The group's motives are purely altruistic: to promote the enjoyment of sailing. There is no interest in building empires. Proof of that is that local fleets are completely autonomous and self-governing. RMPA has no dues, no meetings, or bylaws...nothing to distract from organizing members to go sailing, which many do and proudly flying the RMPA burgee.

The group has grown to 47 members and some are from outside the 8-states of the Rocky Mountain West (which are Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado). Members range from California to Jamaica and from the Midwest to the East Coast.

We are always learning. We ask the SCA community to post a reply to share your best practices and experiences with us in forming local sailing groups. We will take these to heart and pass them along.

Our members join me in inviting you to visit us on our website and if you are one of these "lone eagles" trying to find others to go sailing with, contact us about how we can be of service to you in helping you form a local group. See our site at http://rmpa.info

Fair Winds and Safe Sailing,

John McNeely