More clubs around the country are developing cruiser racing opportunities for young sailors.
It is, increasingly, being seen as vital to ensure that clubs themselves have a future.
The biggest loss to sailing has been when young sailors leave dinghies and the sport itself for other sports, which, they perceive, as offering a better continuing pathway.
The Irish Cruiser Racing Association have been encouraging the formation of Under 25 groups to combat this and develop more interest in cruiser sailing and racing amongst younger sailors.
"Is insurance preventing young sailors from getting into cruiser racing?"
Kinsale Yacht Club in Cork is the latest to launch such a group. It has two particularly interesting aspects to it.
One is that it was young sailors themselves who asked the club for such a development, which has been most enthusiastically supported by older members of the club because, says former Club Commodore Dave Sullivan, the senior members want to ensure that the future of the club is planned for and protected.
Kinsale Yacht Club has identified the J/24 (above) as a suitable boat for their Under 25 project Photo: Bob Bateman
Kinsale has identified the J/24 as a suitable boat for their project, but the former Commodore says that boat insurance is preventing young sailors, who may be interested in buying their own boats, from moving from dinghies into cruisers and that is an issue that must be addressed.
He is my Podcast guest this week, where we discuss the Kinsale Under 25 keelboat development, the support of senior members for the project and the issue of insurance.
