It won't be much consolation pointy, but you were unlucky, probably more with the person you asked than the club itself. I had several similar experiences in my younger years, but you'll just have to be a bit persistant, Is there a local model shop whose advice you can ask? There have been a few local clubs in my area, but all but two have died, they were mostly a bit specialised and couldn't cope with newcomers who had different more mainstream interests. The main survivor, probably one of the oldest clubs in the UK, sail mainly class yachts, and they can be a bit elitist at times. The sailing water is in a public park, so although some of the members try to claim exclusivity, the water is free for anyone to use at any time. They sail round buoys though, and even when they're racing, which is most weekends, there is always enough room for others at one end of the lake. They can be a bit possessive with frequencies, but it's always possible to borrow a peg if you ask the right person, and ask nicely. You shouldn't have to knuckle your forelock exactly, but it won't help if some senior member thinks you're treating him as a coffin-dodger, so see if turning on the charm a little helps. Surely even the most crusty of the lot you approached must have enough sense to realise that he was a beginner himself at one time.
