2012 Satisfaction and Participation Survey Results (Skippers)

Replies to Question #1

to spread the knowledge and joy of sailing to others
learn about boat maintenance -repair
to help with a club I value

Replies to Question #4

The skipper card should add "Practice docking at a center buoy" 10 times. (Not the tie up buoys.)
Just frustrated with this. There are not many times I could sail this year but when there was good wind and I was available....retrieved the boat..rigged it and a part was broken...a ring or a pin or the hatch was broken.

Replies for Question #6

I think it would be good to have a gentle evaluation, coaching session for skippers who want to strengthen both their sailing skills and and approach to teaching. 10/27/2012 3:51 PM
I joined late in the season and skippered out just before the end, so does not apply to me yet. 10/26/2012 7:27 PM
I skippered out but haven't skippered anyone except SFAD yet. 10/21/2012 10:43 PM
Ride-alongs with other experienced sailors/skippers are great, if only because they help me recognize when I might be taking a particular skill or concept for granted. Sometimes you forget the most basic things! 10/19/2012 1:42 PM
The handouts and manuals are useful, but I did not use them as much as I wanted to. 10/17/2012 6:58 PM
I have read a lot of books on sailing, and have taken various ASA sailing courses before and after joining the club. 10/15/2012 2:42 PM
I missed the skipper-only sail week. One problem I see with new skippers is that once they skipper out, they may find less opportunity to go out with more experienced skippers to continue to improve their skills. Instead, in the role as skipper, they are taking new members out. 10/15/2012 11:30 AM
Skippered out late in season, never instructed anyone except my "skipper for a day" 10/14/2012 11:09 AM
The Skipper-only sail week and "How to be a better skipper" may have been helpful but did not work in my schedule. 10/13/2012 1:05 PM
More skipper only sailing. 10/13/2012 10:43 AM
I lost interest in the club when I went to the initial board meeting in the spring and time and again there were little side or little jokes about putting up with inexperienced sailors. Mostly by men. I was a first time skipper and that dynamic was intimidating to me. I never volunteered to skipper because I felt I wasn't good enough. 10/13/2012 10:19 AM
Ongoing classes. I don't remember "how to be a better skipper" meetings as I skippered out in July but that sounds like the kind of thing I'm thinking of. "How to be a Better Skipper" sounds like teacher training though. Maybe it is. Maybe rename it to Advanced training for Skippers or something that indicates you are teaching sailing skills as well as how to teach. 10/12/2012 11:34 PM


Replies for Question #7

Sailing! Responsibility/Accountability. And, that the club is thoughtful to its members and very well run. 10/27/2012 3:51 PM
Becoming a better and more confident/competent sailor. 10/26/2012 7:27 PM
Sailing, experties 10/21/2012 10:43 PM
The sailing. (Duh!) Beyond just the pleasure of being on the water, I take a great deal of personal satisfaction in knowing that we are introducing a lot of new sailors to the sport. For a major urban area that's about as far from coastal as you can get, the Twin Cities have a great resource here, and I'm happy to be part of it. 10/19/2012 1:42 PM
the members.....very diverse 10/18/2012 4:58 PM
Teaching new sailors 10/18/2012 12:37 AM
Friendly, Great People...Diverse interests/careers and yet very accepting, welcoming group of people. 10/15/2012 10:26 PM
It's great to be able to choose among fifteen boats and take one of them out sailing almost at any time. And I particularly enjoyed teaching new members how to sail, especially those who have never sailed before. Being a skipper means having responsibilities and I like that. 10/15/2012 2:42 PM
having boats to take out on my own. 10/15/2012 12:59 AM
boat availability, group sailing days, socializing, Apostle Islands, new friends as a result of all of these. 10/15/2012 11:58 AM
social aspects. 10/15/2012 11:57 AM
Sailing. 10/15/2012 11:30 AM
Sailing, social interaction, fun times armanda. 10/15/2012 10:59 AM
The opportunity to sail with friendly and knowledgeable people. The opportunity to use club boats freely once I skippered out. 10/15/2012 9:32 AM
Interacting with interesting people and sharing a fun past-time of sailing. 10/14/2012 3:33 PM
racing, socializing 10/14/2012 2:32 PM
Great organization, great people. I love the "co-op" nature of the club 10/14/2012 11:09 AM
Socializing after Tuesday night sail 10/14/2012 7:04 AM
I am very happy with the Club and only regret not having been able to be more active/sail more/skipper more/sail the Fun Times Armada this season. 10/13/2012 8:51 PM
I enjoy talking to others about sailing and learning from other skippers when sailing. 10/13/2012 1:05 PM
I especially enjoy teaching new sailors and working on my own racing skills. The Apostle Island trip was a great highlight! 10/13/2012 1:04 PM
Skipper only sailing. 10/13/2012 10:43 AM
Last year it was so friendly---I loved it. This year there were so many barriers I just stopped caring. 10/13/2012 10:19 AM
Learning to race. Instructing new sailors. 10/13/2012 10:00 AM
Being on the water! 10/13/2012 9:45 AM
Racing 10/13/2012 8:15 AM
Learning in a helpful but not overbearing environment. Having a sailboat available without a lot of trouble and expense. Meeting cool new people. The Apostles! Parties. All of it. 10/12/2012 11:34 PM

Replies for Question #8

Emphasize the proper care and respect our boats require to maintain their value and sail-ability. 10/27/2012 3:51 PM
Mentoring new members. Instruction on HOW to be a good instructor. 10/26/2012 7:27 PM
We've made good strides toward making new members feel welcome, and I'd like to see those efforts continue. I think it's important that we make it clear that our newest members are every bit as important as our salty dogs. 10/19/2012 1:42 PM
boat repair 10/18/2012 4:58 PM
The racing program seems in need of improvement. It was disappointing that a member found out only after he was involved in crash during a race that he was expected to pay for the damages to the boat. Our members deserve better! 10/18/2012 12:37 AM
Skippers should be encouraged to sail with more experienced skippers throughout the season so they can continue learning. 10/17/2012 11:55 AM
Honestly, the Boat Captains do an outstanding job keeping our fleet of 20 - 30 year old boats in great shape. Newer boats, I use to think, was the answer, but the wear and tear on the boats is great and new boats seem to get "dinged up" pretty quickly. As long as the Boat Captains are able to keep our "vintage boats" afloat, two things: more power to them & second, we really don't need better/newer boats. 10/15/2012 10:26 PM
How about the club adopting a two-tiered skipper system? I know that this has been brought up before during Excom meetings and I think it's time we moved on it; a junior/senior skipper program would give new skippers another ready goal to work for, as well as impress upon the more experienced ones that the club has greater expectations of them. 10/15/2012 2:42 PM
general maintenance of the boats. Overall it is good, but some of the rigging (various lines) on some boats are different colors. Meaning the same line has two pieces of line and they are different colors. They should all be the same. 10/15/2012 12:59 AM
boat (and trailer) inspection and maintenance. I have submitted suggestions and volunteered to help with this. 10/15/2012 11:58 AM
Tuesday club sailing started too early for me because of my work schedule. 10/15/2012 9:32 AM
Maybe socials on nights other than Saturdays for those who have consistent conflicts with that night. 10/14/2012 3:33 PM
lead off each club sailing time with an announcement or short dry class. It seems so disjointed for new people, just a bunch of folks milling about, old friends chatting with each other, new people standing around looking awkward and waiting for someone to notice them. 10/14/2012 2:32 PM
Continual learning for skippers is helpful. Laminated cards on the boats would be great to show some common how-to steps (Man overboard drill, for example) as would having a "Skill of the Day" to focus on. It never hurts to have an expert go over how to do something. How to tack using the tiller extension (tip: put your left foot on the other side of the boat when preparing to tack on an MC), how to reef a sail, knot review, Ways to perform a dock return with today's wind - one of the benefits of laminated paper is that it can be used like a whiteboard. This might even work with the plastic sleeves used in the binder. I have wondered where all the new members are on Saturday mornings. Attendance seems to die down the last half of the season. 10/13/2012 1:05 PM
More skipper only sailing. 10/13/2012 10:43 AM
A little more sensitivity to new sailors. A little more awareness of gender; I would have loved to be on a crew that fixed the boats or kept them maintained. I went to the boat launch date and tried to help, the boys didn't acknowledge me. It was obvious the girls put the sails out on the lawn and the boys put the boats in the water. I ran into this dynamic over and over. No encouragement to learn how the boat is put together....I felt more like I was in the way than encouraged to learn. Also I was "hit on" by one skipper. He kept calling my home phone to schedule sailing dates, I really just wanted to learn how to sail....so I avoided him. 10/13/2012 10:19 AM
The written test was very bizarre. After filling out a skipper card, it's laughable to entertain the notion that someone still wouldn't understand the points of sail. I think the written test should cover more sailing theory, etc. 10/13/2012 9:45 AM
No improvements. Recommend keeping it as it is. Keep membership about where it is. It's sustainable, manageable, and there are always boats available. It's small enough to get to know everyone. I love it. Ideas: Plan a winter sail in the BVI to quench our need to be out on the water? Do I dare ask for one larger daysailor? Something cool looking like a Victoria 18? 10/12/2012 11:34 PM

Replies for Question #9

Any boat that is fast, has a decent sail and moving parts work properly. 10/27/2012 3:51 PM
Just more comfortable sailing the day sailor, but probably because I'm more experience on this type. 10/26/2012 7:27 PM
Don't get rid of the c scow. It is a fun boat to sail 10/25/2012 7:53 AM
doris 10/25/2012 7:36 AM
A little more room to move 10/21/2012 10:43 PM
I love Pedal Pusher, because her boat captain takes such excellent care of her. (wink wink) 10/19/2012 1:42 PM
chill.....works well. 10/18/2012 4:58 PM
My favorite boat is the MC, handles so well. I put down the Day Sailors as my least favorite (what other choice did I have?), but if your out on a relaxing sail either getting to know someone or strike up a conversation with an old friend, Day Sailors can be "the best." 10/15/2012 10:26 PM
Well, hell, my favorite boat was the one that I spent the most time working on. 10/15/2012 2:42 PM
The MC points better in the wind, but the Day Sailor is great to take out guests. I do not use the MCs unless I am going out with other club members and prefer only two total people on them. 10/15/2012 12:59 AM
The club boat types all seem appropriate. "Trouble" is my favorite because it is the one for which i'm currently responsible, therefore I have a sense of familiarity, "ownership" and control. Those are good products of the boat captain system. 10/15/2012 11:58 AM
Naked Ankles - Hot Name! Chill - Sweet boat 10/15/2012 11:57 AM
I would actually like to see more variety of boats. I believe that this is a way to improve your sailing skill--by sailing different kinds of boats. I realize, on the other hand, that this makes maintenance more difficult, and could make it more difficult for new members. It may also create undesirable competition for certain preferred boats. 10/15/2012 11:30 AM
easily sailed single handed 10/15/2012 10:59 AM
Any of the newer daysailors: Naked Ankles, Clam Digger and probably Voracious ( I don't think I sailed her!) 10/14/2012 3:33 PM
I like the social aspect of the Day Sailor and hiking out in high wind on an MC Scow. There has not been an opportunity to sail the C Scow yet. The reason for selecting "Other" is because I really do not care what I am sailing as long as I get to sail. I appreciate the opportunities made available by the club. 10/13/2012 1:05 PM
I enjoy the responsive handling of the MC and the sense of controlled power. 10/13/2012 1:04 PM
No particular preference. I can't keep them all straight anyway. Probably my favorite boat to race is Thrill just because it's in good condition. I would like Voracious more if it did not have that large cover. 10/13/2012 10:00 AM
don't have a particular favorite, but the MCs are simpler to sail, and I believe, harder to capsize 10/13/2012 9:45 AM
Thrill. Clean, close to the dock, always in great shape. 10/12/2012 11:34 PM

Replies for Question #10

Rhetorically, one's future is always uncertain. 10/27/2012 3:51 PM
I won't just join -- I'll take it over and use it as a springboard in my plan for world domination. 10/19/2012 1:42 PM
Next year I will be gone for 6 weeks (June - July) making my commitment to "the deal" hard to fulfill. I probably will talk to Commedore Walton and see if I can work something out... 10/15/2012 10:26 PM
14 / 2012 TCSC Satisfaction and Participation Survey Results (Skippers)