FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

Fairhaven Lake, Inner Prommenade, Lytham St Annes, United Kingdom
Posted by leobluebird ·
15 replies 40 likes Last activity: 3 years ago
#16

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

The name of the club at Bury Lido (Gtr Manchester) is Bury Metro Marine Modelling Society (BMMMS). It is an active club with sailing on Weds, Friday and Sunday mornings at which time the small club house will be open. There is a large carpark next to the lake.
Liked by Cpt-Pugwash and hermank
#15

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

I have to agree with a lot of the comments on youngsters. I’m one of the few “younger” ones on here, having started the website in 2007 when I was 18.

The hobby was a little more prevalent then, model shops still around and we had Maplin, an electronics shop that sold components, not just ready to run plastic boats.

Unfortunately it’s true that too much time now is spent on computer games and social media. Everyone is becoming shallow, the thirst for attention greater and attention spans weaker. Most people strive for the next endorphin hit, needing to scroll mindlessly and endlessly through thousands of videos, thousands of rose tinted posts of other people’s lives, the pressure to conform is greater and without a hobby or interest, I do think people get deeper and deeper into depression. Their sense of purpose dwindles and they sadly start believing they’ll never be good enough or relevant enough.

It’s a really sad state of affair.

I don’t think our hobby will ever completely disappear though. They’ll always be practically very good people and the average age has stayed reasonably consistent over the last 16 years. Although maybe less people in general. I think a lot of it is about having time back to spend on hobbies too. I couldn’t dedicate hours or days to anything at the moment, life and work is just too busy, but I’d imagine come retirement that’ll change.

Wrong thread for this topic really, but it is an interesting one.

Stephen
We may not be able to control the wind 🍃 but we can always adjust our sails ⛵ - MBW Admin
Liked by LewZ and johnf and
#14

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

How should I interpret this last paragraph🤔?
Lew
Florida, USA 🇺🇸
Lew
Florida, USA
Home page: https://www.RCFlorida.org/lmb
#13

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

Lewz and Dgos999
I think it is à world wide « problem » or « issue » with thé exception of Germany may be?!
Most of thé people on this forum are over 50 or even more and what you see Thérèse no «  compétition » or jalousy. You havé a problem you mention it and dépending on thé country or thé time différence you receive an Answer or suggestion with in minutes.I think this is thé beauty of elderly people. We have. Seen it all. Our club is on of the oldest world wide. Next year we celebrate our 125 th year. 2x à month we organise à regatta 1 for steam driven boats and 1 for electric ones the average number attending is 9 to 11 members.we have organised shows, open days but thé number of people interested is not really growing.All clubs whatever they group do are suffering from thé same disease people are not interested dancing,music, whatever you name it and they will all say the same. Regarding our” lake” it has been built especially for our club. You can see the pictures on the forum. The pond is completely in concrete 2 levels down groundlevel to have not to much problem with the wind. Parking 30 meters away and between your feet and the waterlevel 10 cm. Whatelse can you want. People pass by find it fantastic have a chat and walk on. I m shure in 20 years time what will remain of our hobby? I m not a negative person but it’s reality.

[Admin Edit: re-word]
All we can do is hope for the best and continue to enjoy our hobby 😊
Liked by Cpt-Pugwash and DuncanP and
#12

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

Youngsters today are more competitive than I was all those years back. They compete for jobs, girls, friends on social media. They compete for 'likes' and hits on social networks. Most of their leisure time is competing on computers, this with very little physical effort. I believe there isn't the high visibility competitive spirit in model boating to make it more than a minority passtime. We oldies thrive on minority pastimes and always will!
May4th be with you!
Liked by hermank and DuncanP and
#11

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

Here in Florida we have a high percentage of the population being retired. Considering we have many ponds and lakes, year round good weather, at least better than many other places, the SSMBC (free, no rules and regulations) members attending meets is quite low, 4 - 6 on an average day.

The pond we use is free, easy access, great launching platform, and a very short walk from the parking lot to the shelter (with tables) and down to the pond. Back in the 1990's and early 2000's (2000-2013) the previous club (BAEB) would frequently average about 15 at meets and much more for regattas. 2013 Photos here show one of the last "large events" at this location.

In addition, many people mention "Why not have a regatta?" - but no one will volunteer. I was the last chairperson for a regatta at Lake Seminole Park.

I attribute some of the downturn to Covid and gas prices, but it goes beyond that. Attitude - but I will not go any further here. Also, in a previous discussion on this blog we went into the downsizing of hobby shops.

Lew
Lew
Florida, USA
Home page: https://www.RCFlorida.org/lmb
Liked by DuncanP and Colin H and
#9

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

Hi Herman,

I read your comments regarding the lack of young people interested in model sailing - and even less joining our Clubs.

I think we all feel similarly at times' but we really should not be despondent.
Indeed, I have been a member of various model boat clubs for all of 15 years now - and I have certainly heard such comments all too many times.

Despite this a steady stream of new "old guys" have been joining those clubs - with overall numbers hardly changing.

Enjoy this wonderful hobby and spread the word - new enthusiasts and hopefully young members will result!!

With best wishes Dr John F. L&B BBC. 😁😁😁😁😁😁
Liked by hermank and Colin H and
#8

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

picture of the pond
Liked by Colin H
#7

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

gentlemen skippers
just to make you a little ..... Our pond is made by the government in the early 60 ties.
completely in concrete -2 levels down to avoid the wind disturbing the sailing 50 inch deep
based next to the yachting harbour on the leftside of the river Schelde. with camping facilities next door... and even then we are glad if there are 10 people on a sunny sunday morning😊
Liked by DuncanP and Colin H
#6

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

Sure wish we had something like that in my local area! Is there a fee paid to the keepers of the park?
Liked by hermank
#5

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

What's the name of the club/lake in Bury ?
Red Budd
#4

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

a good morning,
Out of my 3 grandchildren only the youngest who is almost 5 is" interested" and like to hold the futaba transmitter 😊 so hopefully this is the beginning of a new story with the successor
regards
Liked by Colin H
#3

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

Hiya,

My 9 year old grandson likes sailing my RAF crash Tender when they come to stay with us for a few days. I've tried to get him interested in building a simple kit but to no avail as yet! We had talked about it for a Christmas present but a games console won out! I suppose he will need some guidance with the build but we live too far away in Shropshire and the nearest model boat club is about 1 hours drive away.

The Fairhaven Lake is about 40 miles away from where I live but if we are ever in the area I will definitely make an effort to pay a visit. I personally visit a club near Bury (8 miles away) and they sail on Weds, Fri and Sunday mornings. There is often a good turnout on a Sunday and Fridays is also popular with informal yacht races.😊
Liked by Colin H and hermank
#2

FAIRHAVEN LAKE MODEL BOAT CLUB (FORMERLY BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE MODEL BOAT CLUB))

A GOOD MORNING
what a difference in action!! You mention that you gather at the lake 3!!!!!! times a week. We ( ROYAL ANTWERP MODELYACHT CLUB) gather once a week ( on sundays) and even then we have trouble to find a lot of people :( In summertime we got our monthly regatta one with steam engines and one with electromotors and we welcome max 10 members. All around the same age which means over 70 😊
It is a pity that youngsters are not interested more in modell building. A friend of mine is flying with drones which is the newest thing and even there there is not intrest. It is ashame but i think that our hobby is slowly dying...... I m not a negative person but this is reality unfortunately. one thing it s' not our fault as all clubs face the same problem.
Liked by Cpt-Pugwash and DuncanP
#1
B&FMBC/FLMBC was formed in 1996 by a group of people who enjoyed making and sailing model boats, and doing the latter in the pleasant surroundings of Fairhaven Lake and Gardens
We Sail in, and from, an area at the North West end of the lake by the Life size Spitfire Replica. We can sail any time that the weather is fine, but members usually gather Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings during the sailing "season", which is April through to October, starting at 6 PM until dusk. More formal gatherings, such as regattas, happen on Sundays 11.00am onwards. The Sunday evening sessions are sometimes missed if there is an event that the club is involved in that weekend, such as a Sunday afternoon sailing session at the lake, or an exhibition elsewhere. All of this is, of course, weather permitting. The club has use of the Water sports centre where there are toilets ,showers ,tea/coffee making facilities and use of meeting rooms etc. To which the club has a meeting every 2nd Wednesday of the month unless notified different
Members' interests vary considerably, from small-scale warships (1/120th scale PT boat about 6” long) through tugs, trawlers and launches to various sizes of yacht. There is very little interest in competitive sailing, we do it mostly for relaxation and the enjoyment of seeing a good-looking boat in its proper element, water. The exception is, of course sailboats. Put more than one on the same stretch of water at the same time and you automatically have a race going on. But generally nothing formal.
As there is easy access to just two sides, radio control of any type of model is a must.
For several years past, after the season end, normally 3rd weekend in October, we have hosted the Blackpool Model Boat Show.
Liked by Cpt-Pugwash and hermank and

Sign in to add to this club.

Delete this post?

It will be removed from the site.

Discard this draft?

Your draft will be deleted and cannot be recovered.

You have an unfinished draft

What would you like to do with it?