Beat it into them?

Re: Make them skipper and mate?

I'll go with pugwash on this one, mine started sailing @ about 4years old, and while it got a bit hairy now & again, Kingfisher 20, beam reach, full spinny & main, my 5 year old on the helm, 6knots on the log and calmly telling me "its alright dad, I won't hit any of them as we ploughed thru a load of boats anchored of mersea stone, The photograph taken by of of the victims of no2 daughter standing on the side deck with the tiller under her chin a we went by about 10' away is a very treasured momento. 30 years later, its still where's the boat going this year, can we come/borrow for a week/2.....Got a bit costly in the teen years and learnt to bite toungue on occasions, when various boy friends made appearances and had to invest in a stern cabin to avoid being woken at all hours. Wouldnt change any of it....Tony W.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.
 
Re: Make them skipper and mate?

I'll go with pugwash on this one, mine started sailing @ about 4years old, and while it got a bit hairy now & again, Kingfisher 20, beam reach, full spinny & main, my 5 year old on the helm, 6knots on the log and calmly telling me "its alright dad, I won't hit any of them as we ploughed thru a load of boats anchored of mersea stone, The photograph taken by of of the victims of no2 daughter standing on the side deck with the tiller under her chin a we went by about 10' away is a very treasured momento. 30 years later, its still where's the boat going this year, can we come/borrow for a week/2.....Got a bit costly in the teen years and learnt to bite toungue on occasions, when various boy friends made appearances and had to invest in a stern cabin to avoid being woken at all hours. Wouldnt change any of it....Tony W.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.
 
Totally agree...

My kids hated it - then I said right sod it YOU do it then ..... they loved it !! even argued about who was going out on it next ....

Now I apply the rule to EVERYONE ......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
 
Re: Don\'t waste your time or energy

I agree with Charles. I tried with my two elder lads many years ago. They ended up in having a punch up in the River Wyre and capsizing the Mirror dinghy. My eldest now reproaches me for not being interested in golf and the middle son for not encouraging him to be a professional footballer. He is now training his son to play for PNE. I am now wondering whether I should try to interest my grandchildren in sailing.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
How do you get kids to enjoy being cold,wet and seasick ? NOBODY likes being cold,wet and seasick. How about making them feel warm, dry and going out in conditions where they won't feel seasick. It might not help but at least it would be a start. If you're really serious about trying to get them into dinghies I'd start by showing them sailing at its best. Try either a week's charter somewhere hot and not boisterous where they can swim and generally enjoy themselves or alternatively a week at a Turkish sailing school while you all stay in a villa.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Yes, do waste your time.or energy

Try to interest grandchildren in sailing? Yes, absolutely. In my experience, grandchildren are a lot more fun. And, as somebody said, if I'd known how good they were going to be I'd have had them first. The responsibility of watching other people's children is tougher though. After all, they can only react as yours did but my bet is that this is unlikely because the sailing will give them something "special" to do with Grand dad.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Re: Thats what I did

We ended up with a caravan in Devon a beautiful Laurent Giles Jolly Boat and a couple of inflatables. It was OK. The kids would put up with a bit of sailing interspersed with beach time and ice creams. They prefered the inflatables though and never quite got the point of sailing. They turn out to be reasonable boat handlers and quite capable of dealing with the challenges of Salcombe Harbour by day or night. Now they've grown each of them comes for a day cruise in the Solent
once a year, we call it "take your daughter to sea day" and have no interest in boating at all.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Re: It works, sort of

this year at a club i saw the kids go out in picos prompty turn them turtle and climb on top of the hulls chanting and singing and pushing each other in
it was all very lord of the flies
what a great sight tho
the fat kid didn't look too happy tho

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>
 
Re: It works, sort of

As far as most kids are concerned, cruisers are boring. Sailing with Dad is deeply uncool. And trying to get them to do anything is counterproductive.

So the best recipe to get them sailing is to (apparently) try to stop them sailing a dinghy on their own or with their mates.

Or bribe them - most of the little bl**ders are quite mercenary.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top