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This Article Last Updated: Oct 14th, 2010 - 15:13:49 

Results of Star Class Survey
By Bill Allen, ISCYRA President
Jul 24, 2005, 09:13

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During April and May, 2005, there was a detailed survey on the website for members to indicate their feelings about the class. Below is a summary of the responses received from 218 of our members. While this is a small segment of our total membership (7%), it appears that all of the geographic and demographic groups were well represented.

In general, you all feel that our class is among the best in the world; a great boat, the best competition, and wonderful people, and that no major changes should be undertaken. In particular, we should strive to reinforce the qualities that have made the class great, namely, a boat for both top level international (Olympic) competition as well as weekend club racing.

In the area of sailing, it is apparent that the quality of racing is most important as an attendance reason, and in most cases the expectations of excellent racing are being met.

There were some comments about making the racing format more flexible, with perhaps shorter races and more of them in a day. I note that the new resolution for rule 34 addresses this aspect, so please be sure to vote on this item in November.

Some sailing related concerns were expressed, mostly regarding the cost of the boat and the need to recruit more new and younger sailors to the class. The class management team is committed to keeping costs in check, and does not envision any further use of exotic materials. We are also trying to help local fleets to recruit new sailors, although much of this effort must be done by the local sailors themselves. Tom VanderMolen, our marketing manager, is working on ideas to spur interest, with special events and promotion activities.

Another major area of the survey concerned class communications. We have re-energized communications over the past year, and the changes seem to be well received. Over 75% of responders gave a good or excellent rating to the LOG, Starlights, eStarlights, and the web site. There is some feeling that we have overlap, but all four received significant support. Accordingly, the class management team will continue with all four communication vehicles, and has NO plans to charge a subscription fee. We would like to save mailing costs of the Starlights, so please let the central office know if you would prefer to receive your copy only on the web.

Many people indicated they would like to see more sailing tips, technical articles and people stories, including pictures both in Starlights and the web site. A more international focus was also requested. We will try to improve in both of these areas. Of course, we need help from you all to do this, so please send in reports and suggestions for articles to either David Bolles (Starlights) or Melinda Berge (eStarlights, website and LOG).

It was also interesting to see that over 50% of those responding own another boat, either power or sail, and that so many of our members are active in other sports.

Good luck to all for the rest of the sailing season. Hope to see many of you on the course.

Bill Allen
ISCYRA President


Star Class Survey Results

 

Total surveys submitted: 218 with 48 the average age (17 youngest, 85 oldest)
This is 7% of class membership of approx. 3025 with
94 respondents (43%) from D1, 4, 6, and 12 – US/Canada border.

District Respondents Average Age
1 28 52
2 17 55
3 0  
4 20 42
5 13 53
6 23 47
7 2 47
9 15 51
10 14 43
11 2 45
12 23 48
13 17 41
14 11 40
17 13 42
18 5 33
20 4 71
21 5 65
Isol 3 57
unknown 3  

USA and Canada:  134 responses
29% of total membership with 877 members but 61% of survey responses

Europe: 70 responses
65% of membership with 1981 members but 32% of survey responses

SA/Australia/Isol/unknown: 13 responses
5% of membership with 167 members and 5% of survey
responses

Publications:

Star LOG ratings overall
excellent – 73
good –  102
average –  29
poor - 1

Star LOG ratings US/Canada
excellent – 48
good – 59
average – 14
poor - 1

Star LOG ratings Europe
excellent – 21
good –  35
average – 10
poor - 0

Star Class website ratings overall
excellent – 78
good –  97
average – 23
poor - 3

Star Class website ratings US/Canada
excellent – 40
good –  60
average – 10
poor - 1

Star Class website ratings Europe
excellent – 26
good – 30
average – 10
poor - 1

eStarlights ratings overall:
excellent - 47
good - 94
average - 32
poor - 9

eStarlights ratings US/Canada:
excellent - 33
good - 43
average - 17
poor – 4

eStarlights ratings Europe
excellent - 11
good – 35
average – 12
poor - 3

Starlights ratings overall
excellent – 48
good –  96
average –  39
poor - 5

Starlights ratings US/Canada
excellent – 39
good –  51
average – 19
poor - 3

Starlights ratings Europe
excellent – 7
good – 35
average – 18
poor - 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISCYRA ratings

ISCYRA ratings overall
excellent – 78
good –  105
average – 17
poor - 1

ISCYRA ratings US/Canada
excellent – 41
good –  51
average – 6
poor - 1

ISCYRA ratings Europe
excellent – 20
good –  38
average – 8
poor - 0

Publications read: 1 is best, 5 worst

Star Class website
90% (196) read it, rating is 1.65

Starlights: 148 receive it, 63 (42%) would pay for it, 105 want it by mail, 58 by email/.pdf and 14 don’t want it.
78% (170) read it, rating is 2.65

eStarlights: 181 receive it
63% (137) read it, rating is 2.75

Star LOG
77% (167) read it, rating is 2.9

Scuttlebutt
47% (101) read it, rating is 3.03

Fleet website
44% (96) read it, rating is 3.07

District website
55% (120) read it, rating is 3.35

Sailing World
44% (96) read it, rating is 3.66

Forum
34% (74) read it, rating is 3.7

List Serve
23% (49) read it, rating is 4.5

Content of eStarlights
Sponsor – 73 
Fun – 69  
Profiles – 131 
Fixture List - 104
Results - 162
Tips - 167
Events - 113

Schedule of eStarlights:
twice a month -  45
monthly - 113
every two months - 34

Content of Starlights:
Sponsor – 58  
Profiles – 112 
Reports – 130
Tips - 135
Events – 115
Schedule of Starlights:
monthly - 49
every two months - 50
quarterly - 64

 

Starlights Comments

better photographs and technical tips

Between the Website and eStarlights and log, there's not much else necessary. The quarterly Starlights are nice but, not necessarily current. I don't see the need with the other forms of communication.

I like it, but as a pro writer, I'm often looking for a warmer feature on one of our great sailors. With info for sure, but mostly a glimpse of their livers and their lives within sailing.

I liked the old, ordinary paper, non-glossy format.

I liked the quarterly magazine style format of the previous Starlights much better. There was a more professional, quality appearance when compared to the cheap paper newsletter look

it is very important to have in hand the monthly activity of the star class you can communicate to other sailors interested by the star

Less duplication between printed and e-Starlights

Mailing is costly I know, but Starlights and the log are the only communication most members get from their ISCYRA membership. The websit is great but a hard copy to a member reminds them that they do belong to the organization.

Nice big picture on the front cover, pictures of the competetive boats inside the cockpit as well as hull shots

The colour Starlights of a couple years ago was a great magazine. Up to date regatta info can be found on the web, but there is still something enjoyable about sitting down to read a magazine over coffee.


eStarlights Comments

A bit more international orientated

A little short on content, but still nice to receive

Best thing that has happened to the class and really the only necessary expense

Consider using e-starlights to communicate the latest in regatta results/notices and particularly important class news that needs to be communicated prompty. More…

eStarlights can be used toward relaying regular communications from the class to it's members at a low cost. Use this and the website for distributing everyday info to the members and make the printed Starlights a more quality publication.

In its current form I see nothing that is not already posted on the website--also What is a fun element? How is a German or Italian who also uses limited English suposed to interpret that frivolous piece of North American jargon?

Links to website info most important

Love getting it on-line. Save the paper on mine. Sailing tips are the most helpful for me - especially making the star go fast in all winds and points of sail is the biggest challenge.


Other Communication Comments

I think the website is great, current and topical. I like the log for the tradition and the hardcopy records

classified section is great - self administered results timely and easy

I find the website perfect. Don't change anything! About the Log, I find the new much better than before.

Invaluable reference. A little less regatta results and more informative articles would be nice. Updates on new boat designs, retrofitting upgrades etc.

It would be good if either Log or website carried addresses of members

Need to solicit more how-to's from the experts in the class. The level of technology/performance tips should be spread across the levels of the class more, to improve quality in all.

Try to send the LOG as early in the year as possible. It's a great book for almost a century with lots of history!


Sailing

Planning on attending 2005 events:
Star Class local events - 181
Multi class events - 93
Districts - 131
Silver Championships - 69
World Championship – 17
Not sure – 14
None – 6

Number of events attended in 2004:
7 plus events - 64
5-6 events – 37
3-4 events – 39
1-2 events – 34
none – 1

Rating of 2004 Worlds by 18 who attended: (1 is best)
Club facilities – 2.66
Pre event info – 2.61
On Shore facilities – 2.35
Level of Competition – 1.1
Race Management – 3.2

Rating of Silver events by 64 who attended: (1 is best)
Club facilities – 2.14
Pre event info – 2.26
On shore facilities – 2.03
Level of competition – 1.71
Race management – 1.82

Attend event factors: (1 is the high rating)
Quality of racing – 181 chose it, average rating of 2.0
Wind water quality – 167 chose it, average rating of 2.4
Short Distance – 157 chose it, average rating of 2.8
Anticipated attendance – 150 chose it, average rating of 2.7
Learn – 149 chose it, average rating of 2.5
Social Events – 130 chose it, average rating of 3.5
Weather forecast – 121 chose it, average rating of 3.7
On-shore facilities – 121 chose it, average rating of 3.6
Cost of entry fee – 114 chose it, average rating of 4.0
Family friendly – 108 chose it, average rating of 3.5
Quality of Prizes – 92 chose it, average rating of 5.1
Subsidies – 75 chose it, average rating of 3.5

Number of days sailing a Star in 2004:
None - 1
1 - 9 days - 10
10-19  – 36
21-29 – 46
30-39 – 31
40-49 – 28
50-59 – 14
60-69 – 5
70-79 - 5
100 - 2
200 – 2

Star Boat quality (1 is best, 5 is worst)
Value for money – 3.14
Detailing quality – 3.06
Rigors of sailing – 2.39
Build quality – 2.18
Hull – 2.2

Description of Star boat:
Grand Prix - 91
High Performance - 106
Sport Boat - 3
General Purpose - 13

Profiles:

Members' Professions:
48                   Company Owner
39
                   Management
35
                   Professional
27
                   Retired
17
                   no response
17                   Sales
11
                   Technical
10
                   Consultant
8
                   Financial
6                    Student

Other professions mentioned:

1                   architect
1                   education
1                   Government
1                   graphic designer
1                   human resources
1                   lawyer
1                   Marine Science Educator
1                   photographer
1                   Pro Sailor
1                   Sail Maker
2                   self-employed
2                   teacher
1                   Writer

Sailing Ability:
District racers – 104
Club racers - 55
Gold-silver racers - 48
Professional - 9
Fun – 2




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