The Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghy Association: A Community of Practice Dr Neil Witt & Ed Bremner

Authors Dr Neil Witt Technical Director – Higher Education Learning Partnerships Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning, University of Plymouth, UK [email_address] Ed Bremner Consultant – Bremweb Imaging, UK Commodore – Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghy Association, UK [email_address] http://www.cvrda.org [email_address] http://www.bremweb.co.uk

Dr Neil Witt

Technical Director – Higher Education Learning Partnerships Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning, University of Plymouth, UK

[email_address]

Ed Bremner

Consultant – Bremweb Imaging, UK

Commodore – Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghy Association, UK

[email_address]

http://www.cvrda.org

[email_address]

http://www.bremweb.co.uk

Summary The CVRDA represents the interests of Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghies Established in the 1990s the internet is used exclusively for all communication It has become a Community of Practice

The CVRDA represents the interests of Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghies

Established in the 1990s the internet is used exclusively for all communication

It has become a Community of Practice

The CVRDA The CVRDA was established to: Get Classic & Vintage dinghies racing together Share & disseminate information Keep classic dinghies on the water Raise public awareness of dinghies & the nautical heritage they represent Help & support all owners of these dinghies Help & support class associations

The CVRDA was established to:

Get Classic & Vintage dinghies racing together

Share & disseminate information

Keep classic dinghies on the water

Raise public awareness of dinghies & the nautical heritage they represent

Help & support all owners of these dinghies

Help & support class associations

The History Roots traced back to mid 1990s Classic boats not welcome in modern racing No fair way of handicapping Still some very keen & competitive owners Creates demand for ‘classic’ events Bristol Avon Sailing Club, Fairey Marine 50 th aniv, Shotley Classics, Uffa Fox Centenary… … but then what next?

Roots traced back to mid 1990s

Classic boats not welcome in modern racing

No fair way of handicapping

Still some very keen & competitive owners

Creates demand for ‘classic’ events

Bristol Avon Sailing Club, Fairey Marine 50 th aniv, Shotley Classics, Uffa Fox Centenary…

… but then what next?

The Format Talking with classic boat owners suggested: Racing craft must race not cruise Handicaps must provide good racing Events must be well run – but friendly Events must encourage all to take part Association must remain low-key & fun Organisational overheads must be minimal A community must be made to support aims

Talking with classic boat owners suggested:

Racing craft must race not cruise

Handicaps must provide good racing

Events must be well run – but friendly

Events must encourage all to take part

Association must remain low-key & fun

Organisational overheads must be minimal

A community must be made to support aims

The Boats The CVRDA divides boats into three wings: Vintage Classic Old

The CVRDA divides boats into three wings:

Vintage

Classic

Old

The CVRDA divides boats into three wings: Vintage Classic Old The Vintage Boats Traditional methods Using nail & pin – no glue Mainly solid wood Most pre – WWII Wooden spars Examples include: Uffa Fox 14s Holt Merlins

The CVRDA divides boats into three wings:

Vintage

Classic

Old

Traditional methods

Using nail & pin – no glue

Mainly solid wood

Most pre – WWII

Wooden spars

Examples include:

Uffa Fox 14s

Holt Merlins

The CVRDA divides boats into three wings: Vintage Classic Old The Classic Boats Designed & built pre-65 Mainly plywood or moulded veneer Use glue in construction Some metal spars Examples include: Fairey Marine Boats Glued Clinker Ply Hard chine – home builds

The CVRDA divides boats into three wings:

Vintage

Classic

Old

Designed & built pre-65

Mainly plywood or moulded veneer

Use glue in construction

Some metal spars

Examples include:

Fairey Marine Boats

Glued Clinker Ply

Hard chine – home builds

The CVRDA divides boats into three wings: Vintage Classic Old The Old Boats Over 25 years old From pre-65 development class Some original – Some very modern Examples include: Any of the established classic classes

The CVRDA divides boats into three wings:

Vintage

Classic

Old

Over 25 years old

From pre-65 development class

Some original – Some very modern

Examples include:

Any of the established classic classes

Catamarans The CVRDA does not have a separate wing for Catamarans, they race with the mono-hulls… … when there is enough water!

The CVRDA does not have a separate wing for Catamarans, they race with the mono-hulls…

… when there is enough water!

Lost Classes The CVRDA also does its best to support & remember any lost class These are boats of which only a few were ever made, but never caught on

The CVRDA also does its best to support & remember any lost class

These are boats of which only a few were ever made, but never caught on

The Events The format was established in early days: An easy and non-stressful sail Competitive racing based on an adjusted pre-65 PY handicap Well organised on the water, but low-key off the water Welcoming to all levels of ability Plenty of opportunity for socialising

The format was established in early days:

An easy and non-stressful sail

Competitive racing based on an adjusted pre-65 PY handicap

Well organised on the water, but low-key off the water

Welcoming to all levels of ability

Plenty of opportunity for socialising

A Virtual Association Always planned to use Internet & email for ALL communication: Avoid cost of real-world meetings/newsletters Little bureaucracy – High transparency Minimum of work for committee Expected problems with accessibility – very few Internal communication was good… External communication was incredible!

Always planned to use Internet & email for ALL communication:

Avoid cost of real-world meetings/newsletters

Little bureaucracy – High transparency

Minimum of work for committee

Expected problems with accessibility – very few

Internal communication was good…

External communication was incredible!

Website & Community First forum set up in 2000 Soon became overloaded with posts and queries as its popularity far exceeded initial expectations In 2004 the old forum content was transferred to Snitz Open Source

First forum set up in 2000

Soon became overloaded with posts and queries as its popularity far exceeded initial expectations

In 2004 the old forum content was transferred to Snitz Open Source

CVRDA Community

CVRDA Community

CVRDA Community

Community of Practice Initially set up as a simple discussion forum the CVRDA forum has rapidly evolved into a Community of Practice (CoP) “ Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” [Wenger]

Initially set up as a simple discussion forum the CVRDA forum has rapidly evolved into a Community of Practice (CoP)

“ Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” [Wenger]

Community of Practice A CoP is formed by people who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain of interest and requires the following characteristics: Domain Community Practice

A CoP is formed by people who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain of interest and requires the following characteristics:

Domain

Community

Practice

Community Members The CoP members: Share an interest in a topic Understand the pertinent issues Agree on common approaches Interact & build relationships within the community Help solve problems & answer questions Network across geographical & social boundaries

The CoP members:

Share an interest in a topic

Understand the pertinent issues

Agree on common approaches

Interact & build relationships within the community

Help solve problems & answer questions

Network across geographical & social boundaries

Community Members The CVRDA members share & develop knowledge by sharing information, insights & best practices to build a knowledge base 160 members who have made in excess of 6,500 contributions At least 1200 other monthly visitors to the community forum who, whilst not contributing, are viewing the material, knowledge & discussions & benefit from the community activity

The CVRDA members share & develop knowledge by sharing information, insights & best practices to build a knowledge base

160 members who have made in excess of 6,500 contributions

At least 1200 other monthly visitors to the community forum who, whilst not contributing, are viewing the material, knowledge & discussions & benefit from the community activity

Typical CoP activity Problem solving “ How do I rig the Merlin Rocket I’ve just bought off eBay?” Requests for information “ Where can I find a pattern for my centreboard?” Seeking experience “ Has anyone repaired a boom that has split in two?” Re-using assets “ There’s a guide to varnishing technique on the CVRDA website that will help you.” Co-ordination and synergy “ Can we combine our purchases of Le Tonkinois oil to achieve bulk discounts?” Discussing developments “ What do you think of the Spearhead dinghy? Is it really a design that worked?” Documentation projects “ We should document the history and current status of the Pegasus class dinghy.” Visits “ Can I come and see how your boat is rigged?” Mapping knowledge and identifying gaps “ Where can I find out the history of my boat?”

The Future Supporting the N ational S mall B oat R egister Working with the National Small Boat Collection at Falmouth Register has always been key aim of CVRDA Best method for ongoing curation of privately owned national heritage Extending the Community of Practice

Supporting the N ational S mall B oat R egister

Working with the National Small Boat Collection at Falmouth

Register has always been key aim of CVRDA

Best method for ongoing curation of privately owned national heritage

Extending the Community of Practice

Do Drop By Please do come and visit us at: http://www.cvrda.org/ And follow link to ‘Forum’

Please do come and visit us at:

http://www.cvrda.org/

And follow link to ‘Forum’